There's a rock storm brewing in the heart of Cyprus, and it's called BlackStraysBand. On the self-titled track from the NYC-based four-piece, the band not only flirts with memories, but they dive headfirst into the raw soul of classic rock and drag it through the modern edge of 200 punk, while still giving you a taste of cultural flair. "Black Strays" is a statement of intent, a mission statement that presents the establishing act as bold standard bearers for what the genre is and was, yet remains something very much their own.
The track practically explodes from the first riff, heavy, groove-soaked guitar lines that sound like they've been forged in the golden era of rock. It's loud, it's very much alive, and it has a defiant attitude that harks back to the '70s and '90s with unrepentant swagger. BlackStraysBand combines influences from stoner rock, blues, progressive rock, and traditional Greek/Cypriot melodies, creating a sound that is both irresistible and grounded, yet adventurous. The chorus is an irresistible, melodic, and memorable ballad for group-tempo screaming in bulging, sweaty crowds. Vocals come ripping through the mix with roughness and fire, tackling topics with the urgency and grit of someone who means every word they scream. Beneath it lies a rhythm section that knows when to thunder and when to groove, and the song has a pulse that's impossible to ignore.
Many contemporary rock bands aim to replicate the legends, but BlackStraysBand channels them. There's an unvarnished honesty to their delivery, a devotion to the art and form of rock music that can feel increasingly scarce in today's climate. "Black Strays" is an anthem for the outcasts, the dreamers, the loud ones. A pronouncement that rock is growing and, as it happens, with Cypriot soul. This track is a work of art for any hard rock disciple or classic rock explorer in search of a new injection of adrenaline. With this track, BlackStraysBand has staked their claim, and the rock world would do well to take note.