“Nowadays it’s difficult not to become submerged in the news and negative comments presented to us through all media sources,” said singer Robin McAuley, known for his work with the McAuley Schenker Group and as part of the all-star hard rock collective Black Swan, whose new album Paralyzed is now due on 27th February through Frontiers Music Srl.
McAuley continued: “That feeling of being numb and unsafe with an overpowering feeling of anxiety. Desperate for change, get back to the good old days when things seemed simpler. Craving to hear something positive and yet helpless and repeatedly overwhelmed by so much negative space, leaving us feeling paralyzed.”
So it is that Black Swan, also featuring Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine, Dokken), and Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big), now release the title track of their new studio album as their latest single.
“‘Paralyzed’ is another Robin McAuley story that speaks to that anxiety most of us are feeling about the state of the world right now,” said Pilson. “It’s scary, overwhelming and seemingly never-ending! We need to find the positive in all the negativity and we need it soon! Plus, it rocks!”
“‘Paralyzed’ kicks ass!” Starr added. “This is one of the things that Black Swan does best: hard driving, high energy rock ‘n’ roll with great melodies, tons of hooks, thought provoking, timely lyrics and exceptional musicianship. I’m really proud of this track.”
“With ‘Paralyzed’ I was going for a Black Sabbath ‘Neon Nights’ vibe when I started writing it, and then it blossomed into the title track when Jeff and Robin got their hands on it,” Beach noted. “It’s a very cool song guitar-wise, and I hope we get to play it live one day because it really rocks!”
McAuley expressed his enthusiasm for the album as a whole: “Can’t wait for you guys to hear our new record. We feel we’ve taken our songwriting to another level on this one, with amazing guitar riffs that once again show the brilliance that is Reb Beach. Pounding bass as you’d expect from Jeff, and Matt Starr leaving no doubt about where the thunder comes from. Soaring melodies with strong lyrics are what we do best. Combine that with sheer heaviness and we have a record we think you the fans are going to love.”
“Black Swan is old school eighties rock that is all about good guitar riffs with badass vocals. No one is better than Robin at singing this kind of music. I think the combination of my riffs and his vocals are what makes the band stand out,” Beach said.
“I think the fans are going to love our new record. It builds on the first two records, taking the songwriting, playing and energy to another level. I’m so proud to be part of this great group of musicians and guys,” stated Starr.
Pilson commented: “We’re all very excited for the release of Black Swan‘s Paralyzed and can’t wait for all the fans to hear it. We wanted to come up with a real step forward in melodic heaviness, and I strongly believe we delivered. Enjoy!”
With all songs written and composed by McAuley, Pilson, and Beach, then produced by Pilson, Paralyzed is said to showcase Black Swan at their peak performance. Tracked at Pilson’s Los Angeles studio, the album reflects the tight-knit synergy among its members. Much like its predecessors, the new record is a testament to the individual and collective talents of these seasoned musicians.
Paralyzed is being described as fresh, heavy, and melodically rich: a cohesive and compelling album that feels both classic and contemporary. Building upon the blueprint laid by their debut, Shake The World, the band expands their sonic universe.
Whether you’ve followed these musicians since the heyday of ’80s rock or you’re just now discovering their magic, Paralyzed promises to be a masterclass in melodic hard rock delivered by artists who continue to defy time and expectations.
Black Swan was sparked by a conversation between Jeff Pilson and Frontiers‘ President & Head of A&R, Serafino Perugino, who wanted a project that would not only showcase McAuley’s vocal prowess but have a mighty musical backbone to stand skyscraper tall behind him. Thus, the initial seeds were planted and Pilson ran with it from there, showcasing both the musical talents of the instrumental players in the band as well as McAuley’s powerful voice.
Black Swan released their debut album, Shake The World, in February 2020, described as “a killer slice of melodic hard rock and heavy metal from seasoned players who have gelled musically”. Their sophomore album, Generation Mind, followed in 2022: a powerful hard rock statement that consolidated the sound of the quartet and highlighted their talents.
Paralyzed features the tracks ‘When The Cold Wind Blows’, ‘Death Of Me’, ‘Different Kind Of Woman’, ‘If I Was King’, ‘Shakedown’, ‘The Fire And The Flame’, ‘I’m Ready’, ‘Paralyzed’, ‘Carry On’, ‘Battered And Bruised’ and ‘What The Future Holds’.
Previous singles released from the Paralyzed album are ‘If I Was King’ and ‘The Fire And The Flame’.
