Song of the Day: The Black Clouds - Vice (feat. Mark Arm and Jack Endino)

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unrealeased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Vice” by The Black Clouds, from their 2017 album, After All, on Capacitor Records.The Black Clouds - Vice (feat. Mark Arm and Jack Endino) (MP3)Central New Jersey rippers The Black Clouds are thirteen years into their Herculean grunge-capades and are slaying their long-haired-'n'-hard-sound genre now more than ever with their third full-length, After All, which just dropped earlier this month on Capacitor Records. Produced by Seattle legend Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney) and recorded in Foo Fighter's Studio 606, their accolades really don't need much introduction. Moreover, their vice for "play loud, play hard" certainly magnetized an organic and raw collaboration to deliver some back-to-the-licks heavy rock 'n' roll. Harkening to some 90s-era Seattle mania, particularly some Sub Pop classics, the beefed up musical stylings of Dan Matthews (guitar/vocals), Neil Hayes (guitar/vocals), Gary Moses, (bass/vocals), and Cory King (drums/vocals) can be heard as they carve out a finger-blistering sonic sanctuary song after song.

Jack Endino, as well as Mudhoney's frontman Mark Arm, inevitably find their way gutturally growling on a Mad Max-raging track like "Vice." Those are two forces of noisey nature to reckoned with. Dan Matthews quips, "We were really psyched when Mark Arm agreed to sing ‘Vice’. He came into the studio like a punk rock tornado and ripped through it in one or two takes. It was incredible." Clocking in at just over two and half minutes, this Dominated by highly caffeinated and overdriving guitar, melodically riffing octaves, and head-banging drums, there's no way in hell that you'll give up on this "Vice" After All. 

The Black Clouds are playing in NJ tonight, in Baltimore March 18, and in Seattle April 1 (hopefully that's not a joke on us). To keep tabs on more shows and news to come, check out their Facebook and website and enjoy "Photograph" from their 2017 album After All via the video below.