In the world of rock and metal, Wales is a country that punches far above its weight. The sheer depth and breadth of bands originating from that land must be fairly daunting for any young band hoping to make their mark. However, the collective known as Florence Black have risen to the challenge and have built a buzz around themselves with a hard-edged, yet melodic sound. Their sophomore album Bed Of Nails finds them building on the success of their debut and is another sure step towards global domination.

Attesting to a sense of confidence, Florence Black don’t waste time of fancy introductions or lengthy preambles; there’s a brief guitar motif to tickle our eardrums before the band kick in, and when they do it is with some force. ‘Start Again’ is the opening track and it certainly makes its presence felt; this crew are a power trio in its purest sense, and they create a hard-hitting sound that’s far bigger than their constituent parts. Some of the credit must go to producer Romesh Dodangoda, and not since Metallica’s Black Album have I heard a band sound so humongous, yet its also due to the band’s strong groove which ensures cuts such as ‘Don’t Hold Me Down’ swing like a huge wrecking ball, and when combined with Romesh’s studio wizardry, makes for a potent mix.

Maybe it’s the resurgence of vinyl, but it seems like the idea of an album as an art form is making a comeback (rather than a collection of singles), and like an old school album is exactly how Bed Of Nails flows. Subsequently, the turbo-boosted ‘Taxman’ nestles next to the mean and moody ‘Look Up’ effortlessly, the album ululates between all out rockers and groove-laden goodies and this makes for a listening experience that’ll hold you in a vice like grip for 40-minutes.

Having toured with the likes of Ugly Kid Joe, Steel Panther and German legends Bohse Onkelz, Florence Black are no strangers to the biggest stages; and truth be told that’s exactly where cuts such as ‘Beautiful Lover’ should be heard. You feel it’s only a matter of time until they headline arenas in their own right, and what makes that all the more sweeter is that they’ve getting there on their own terms. Bed Of Nails is an uncompromising album that doesn’t pander to fads and trends, and you get the feeling that this is the kind of album that Florence Black have always wanted to make. It radiates an authenticity that many modern rock records lack, and that makes Bed Of Nails a smooth listen from start to finish.

In a rock scene that feels awfully polarised, there’s a huge void waiting to be filled, and Florence Black could just be the band to occupy that space.

• Bed Of Nails is self-released on 2nd February 2024 and is available here.
• Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / YouTube Channel

Track List:

1. Start Again
2. Don’t Hold Me Down
3. Bed Of Nails
4. Taxman
5. Look Up
6. Warning Sign
7. Beautiful Lover
8. The Way Home
9. Solid 9
10. The Forest
11. Back To The End