(CD, Independent, 2026)
I feel somewhat guilty for discovering BLACK SITES only after the recent lineup update and a live performance that finally put the band on my radar. After all, BLACK SITES are from Chicago and had already released four full-length albums before adding “For Eternity” as their fifth, so I should have known better. Still, it is never too late to make amends, and getting “The Promised Land?” on vinyl whetted my appetite while raising my excitement for the new music of “For Eternity”. Not only did “For Eternity” meet those expectations, but it has remained on my listening rotation since the day I received the promo. This gave me enough time to listen, interpret and, most importantly, digest the music, gradually uncovering all those details that have already made me eager to add the album to my vinyl collection. But first things first, right?
It would be a disservice to BLACK SITES to slap a single label on “For Eternity”, although, come to think of it, Metal would probably suffice. The clean guitar opening of “When It Calls” creates the feeling that something is approaching during the wee hours, when whatever veil separates the material world from the immaterial begins to thin. I suppose this is why the press release uses the term ‘Gothic Rock’, but even that description fails to capture the underlying sense that something is about to happen. That something is not necessarily evil. It represents everything that may emerge once the distractions of daylight have been covered by darkness. Following this train of thought, you will appreciate the mid-tempo groove, the bass sitting prominently in the mix and the immediate catchiness of the chorus. Eventually, you may also agree with the lyrics saying, “when it calls, you answer.”
One of the first things I noticed about BLACK SITES was the subtle connection to HALLOW’S EVE, particularly the atmosphere of their “Death & Insanity”, which I would mostly attribute to Mark Sugar’s vocals. What I discovered later, through songs like “Aquarius Betrayed,” was a HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE influence in the welcome complexity of the songwriting. This becomes especially evident around the guitar solo, backed by heavy, almost MASTODON-esque rhythm guitars. All these layers and reference points coexist in a golden balance, taking turns in the driver’s seat and producing music that requires time to be fully appreciated. I particularly love how the song circles back to its opening groove, closing with a Native American-inspired guitar motif whose rhythmic pulse gives it a distinctly ceremonial, almost ritualistic character. That guitar heaviness bleeds into the pounding “Above Soil, Beneath Sky,” where the added grit in Mark’s vocals grants the song an epic atmosphere without compromising its melodic footing. The drum patterns and clean guitar chords also introduce a subtle Progressive touch, once again in a distinctly HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE way.
The music-processing part of my brain likes to make connections whenever I encounter a passage that really grabs me, and the keyboard introduction of “Giving Up The Ghost” gives me strong “Twin Peaks” vibes. That association lasts only until the twin guitars offer a knowing nod toward TROUBLE-esque Doom Metal, bringing the kind of weight that immediately makes you want to headbang. Mark has clearly found in Lee Smith an excellent axeman with whom to trade and harmonize leads, and their chemistry has been captured beautifully here.
BLACK SITES expertly navigate their influences, touching upon familiar bands and styles without making their path easy to trace. You simply find yourself enjoying the music because one passage reminds you of something, only for the next verse to suggest something entirely different. Yet all of this unfolds coherently and ultimately strengthens BLACK SITES’ own musical identity.
The guitars take control during the faster “Blades (For The Chosen Ones),” while the hearty hi-hat work highlights the band’s attention to detail. The bass-driven “Silent Wars” adds a strong Hard Rock groove beneath a lyrical theme summarized perfectly by the line “we’re all fighting silent wars.” It points toward the internal battles every one of us may be facing without ever telling anyone about them.
Speaking of lyrics, I love how the ominous guitars establish the sonic backdrop for the Chicago-based story told in “When Prophecy Fails”. I will only say that it involves UFOs and a cult, while the book bearing the same title has already entered my reading list. Despite its foreboding introduction, the song develops into a true headbanger and begins easing the album toward its conclusion. “Unanswered For Eternity” is a powerful piece of traditional Doom Metal, carrying sorrowful clean-guitar melodies before unveiling a chorus worthy of singing along. I particularly love the mix following the “what I can never be” line, with the lead guitar positioned predominantly in the left channel. Is there a touch of “Fade To Black” in those guitars? Perhaps, but the bass stands slightly farther forward in the mix, adding even more gravitas.
As “Unanswered For Eternity” fades away, it practically beckons you to start the album again, secure in the knowledge that you have missed more details than you managed to capture. BLACK SITES have used a wide palette of colors to paint “For Eternity”, making the album appear different depending on the angle from which you approach it. You may feel sadness, moments of joy and perhaps a touch of nostalgia, but everything is woven together through Metal heaviness and melody.
Now I will wait for the vinyl edition, which I hope will appear sooner rather than later. You just have to check BLACK SITES out.
10/10
Links:
www.FaceBook.Com/BlackSites
www.Instagram.Com/BlackSitesMusic
Tracklist:
01. When It Calls
02. Aquarius Betrayed
03. Above Soil, Beneath Sky
04. Giving Up The Ghost
05. Blades (For The Chosen Ones)
06. Silent Wars
07. When Prophecy Fails
08. Unanswered For Eternity
Lineup:
José Salazar - Bass
Mark Sugar - Guitars, Vocals
Chris Black - Drums
Lee Smith - Guitars