Black Sites are a Chicago band formed with the remnants of the band Trials. I reviewed that album and didn’t like it. Part of the problem was the insistence by others that the songs were well written and the music was somehow progressive. Now we have Black Sites and I’ve read the same about “In Monochrome.”

While I was not as bored as I was when listening to Trials, I still find the songs to be of average quality and the overall prog influence to be marginal. If you like muscular hard rock, then Black Sites is up your alley. If you want to be challenged…at all, this is not the place to look.

Black Sites are talented and there is no denying that. Tracks like “Dead Languages,” “Hunter Gatherer” and “In the Woods” all have potential and are likeable. The problem is with all of the music out there now, I can’t say I would ever seek this album out. The good news is that I do think a lot of people will like this album, the downside is that they probably don’t read my site.

All in all, Black Sites are a big step up from Trials for singer Mark Sugar and guitarist Ryan Bruchert. But while their influence list drew me in to listen to “In Monochrome” (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, 1970s Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, Motörhead, Queensrÿche, Voivod, Hammers Of Misfortune, and Dawnbringer), the output just doesn’t measure up to it.

Rating: 6.5/10

Tracklist:

1. M Fisto Waltz
2. Dead Languages
3. Monochrome
4. Burning Away The Day
5. Hunter Gatherer
6. Watching You Fall
7. Locked Out – Shut Down
8. In The Woods
9. The Tides

Label: Mascot Label Group
Website: blacksitesband.com