The second Alexisonfire spin-off band ā€“ guitarist Wade MacNeilā€™s side project Black Lungs ā€“ will likely be overshadowed by the established success of the first, Dallas Greenā€™s City And Colour, which is a shame, as this gem is more deserving of attention. MacNeilā€™s guitar and gravelly voice are complemented primarily by Sammi Bogdanskiā€™s upright piano and Ian Romanoā€™s drums, and this combination is so effective that it could be argued that the occasional sweep of strings is superfluous.

The albumā€™s not an instant winner ā€“ opener A Blessing And A Curse frankly doesnā€™t promise much, consisting mainly of a heavily echoed vocal chant, and the following Fire And Brimstone, while more fully developed, might still have seen me go either way. But with track three, When Itā€™s Blackout, the various elements of the groupā€™s sound coalesced to produce a stirring folk-rock anthem and from that point on I was sold.

Although the album takes those first couple of songs to find its footing, once it establishes its niche it doesnā€™t slip up. While leaning at times towards punk and hard rock, the folk-rock core of guitar riffs and piano melodies holds strong, completed by strong lyrics and raw, honest vocals. Hold Fast (Sink Or Swim) incorporates an expansive, affirmative chorus alongside jittery verses, These Moments Define Us is rollicking, and the contrast between the buzzing guitar and crystal-clear piano is at its peak on So It Goes, a yearning and heartfelt standout.

I donā€™t know if Black Lungs has the marketability of City And Colourā€™s sensitive heartthrob image, but on the strength of songs alone, MacNeil will be able to hold his head high when he regroups with Alexisonfire for their next album.

Owen Heitmann