After the experimental leanings of the previous two King's X records, the time came for the band to return to a sound closer to its roots while still offering up something more interesting than Tape Head Part II. Dropping in 2003, Black Like Sunday seems like both a bit of an olive branch to longtime fans that were less than pleased with the last couple of albums as well as a sea change in the group's direction back towards the heavier and more grounded sound of their mid to late '90s output.
This return to a straight-ahead hard rock sound was accomplished via a selection of demo recordings first created during the trio's earlier incarnations Sneak Preview and The Edge, rewritten with 20 years' worth of experience brought to bear. The master plan for the record is revealed right from the opening blast of the reassuringly lumbering title track: we're right back in the middle of groove country, and anyone hoping for a return to the Ear Candy era of King's X recordings will be quickly mollified. Black Like Sunday doesn't lay off the gas much through it's runtime as a procession of mid-tempo bruisers come right after the other, mixed in with lighter numbers that present an arena rock-ish, almost glam vibe - "Rock Pile", "Danger Zone", "Won't Turn Back". Here we also have the first 9+ minute long song since the title track off Faith Hope Love in the interesting "Johnny" which flirts with reggae and New Wave sensibilities, a surprisingly excellent slower number ("Down"), and the usual slab of groovy low-riders we all know and love, and Black Like Sunday is right their with the best King's X records when it comes to these: "Two", "Bad Luck", the title track, and "Dreams". Unconventional phrases and ideas are sandwiched into certain tracks and serve as small reminders of their recent past's forays into psychedelia - the crackling phonographic break in "Two Words", dUg's blistering shriek in "Rock Pile", the slow burning breakdown and buildup of "Johnny"'s later half, coupled with the lyrics which betray the youth of the men writing them most flagrantly, all get stirred into the pot to create a hard rock album that's just slightly off center - goofy, almost.
The production isn't as rich or warm as their previous albums and it isn't as adventurous as Manic Moonlight or Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous, but Black Like Sunday isn't trying to radically experiment with anything - it's King's X putting a fresh spin on the music they've always loved making most, and it's a better experience for it.
C+
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