Before popping in the newest release by Chi-town natives, Blackmaker, I hesitated for a second. The band name fooled me into thinking this was going to be metal. Not my usual music taste. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised when I was hit with hard rock music, and growling in place of growling. 'Staggering to the Surface' contains well defined lead riffs, playing hand and hand with a strong rhythm arrangement (utilizing many cords Vs only using power cords) on every track, while heavy drums and bass
support dominate vocals. Blackmaker shifts moods back and forth through songs, creating many atmospheres and a versatile listening experience. I cannot compare this album to their previous releases, since this the first CD I've heard from them, but they certainly made my 'bands to check more into' list. For more information, www.blackmaker.com is the place to go.

Gary Hart