It is nearly a year since our last Mayhem Virgins post, where we post artists and bands who have never featured on these pages before. This is the 19th in the series and it is dedicated to West Bridgford sisters, Nyrobi, and Chaya Beckett-Messam. Eagle-eyed readers will know that technically ALT BLK ERA have had a mention before, in my recent preview of this year’s Leeds Festival where I highlighted them as one to watch when they headline the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday. ALT BLK ERA‘s music will defy all your attempts to slot them into a specific genre box. Their sound has metal, punk, pop, electronic, rap, goth, alternative and maybe even emo. The band have said that they are influenced by the Prodigy and Ashnikko among others. I think Baby Metal, Delilah Bon, Bob Vylan and Skindred might play a part too.
I have always been a huge fan and admirer of bands and artists that have a true eclecticism in their sound and for me, ALT BLK ERA can bear comparison with the likes of David Bowie, Prince and, Kate Bush to name a few. In fact, Nyrobi and Chaya are around the age that Kate Bush first came to the attention of the music industry and listening to their music and watching their videos suggest to me that they are also in possession of that magnificent latent talent that Kate Bush showed in her early recordings. The band began during lockdown when their mother encouraged them to learn everything that they could about the music industry. In my opinion that was a very wise move. Eventually they joined the eNGine Room which is a government-funded artist development label that helps to nurture and develop young talent and provide them with experience and skills that will help them as they progress along their chosen musical and performing journey. They have been featured on the radio via BBC Introducing a few times, so it is quite appropriate and well-deserved that they will be heading the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds and Reading this weekend. Tom Robinson described ALT BLK ERA as “Daring, adventurous and wildly original” on BBC Radio 6. Tom knows his stuff! I haven’t seen them perform yet, but I will experience that in just a few days and I am excited by the prospect. I imagine that their stage presence and live show will be off-the-scale special.
I love that they have recorded tracks in what they describe as SOLAR and LUNAR styles. SOLAR tracks are piled high with monumental guitar riffage and rap that is not afraid to challenge the ciphers of the best rappers in the business. Meanwhile, the LUNAR tracks are infused with an air of darkness, menace and, raw emotion by the wonderful use of chilling synth-driven strings and ethereal harmonies. Their debut EP ‘Freak Show’ hits the world on 1st September, I suspect it might already be pencilled in for many of those best of 2023 lists. I have been listening to a lot of ALT BLK ERA tracks and every one of them is a future classic. Right now “Rockstar”, “Mosh Girl Summer” and the incendiary “I’m Normally Like This” are my favourites, but that will probably be different tomorrow. Get this band in your life NOW!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 