London outfit The Riven are a new band with an old feel, keeping the heavy, dirty sound of rock and blues alive. Blackbird is their debut EP, a five track release that sounds like a true encapsulation and harnessing of that raw power of an energetic, live performance, but in the studio. Like all the best ideas, The Riven came out of an alcohol driven writing session between guitarist Arnau Diaz and bassist Max Ternebring, before the coming of the two other powerful forces in the band, drummer Olof Axegard and vocalist Charlotta Ekebergh. The outcome of The Riven being truly spectacular.
‘Ain’t No Doctor‘ takes the bull by the horns and drives through you, to the back of your seat. In the manic chase that is about to ensue, a traditional sound with rich tones and a lose feel blends together perfectly. Charlotta Ekebergh brings an unmistakable sound to the top, the swells and crescendos constantly bringing each member to the spotlight every time you hear it with new things to notice.
‘Tower’ follows and takes it all to a new level, with a huge Led Zeppelin feel, ‘Tower’ reaches heights that’ll have you getting lost in the clouds. Title track ‘Blackbird’ is a masterful and passionate track that pulls out all the stops, with Arnau and Charlotta sounding like Janice Joplin with Jimmy Page performing a blues rock master class together, while Olof and Max really power the sound along in perfect harmony together with great moments to shine.
‘Killer On The Loose’ is a firework of a song, much more down the heavy rock path than blues, it wastes no time in getting going and stops at nothing as it powers through, carrying on that hard rock touch is ‘One Last Time’, making great use of the need not to constantly be pummelled with waves of guitar riffs, it gives room to breathe and soar only when the build up is right. Crashing into a superb chorus, it’s one that showcases the band to their best of their clearly, talented abilities.
After the EP is over, I do feel somewhat disappointed. Nothing with the band, just the fact that it is an EP and there isn’t anything more with from The Riven. With luck, the power behind these four will get noticed and soon be picked up and have a full length on the way soon!
