Single Review: Shade Black

Auckland 5-piece Primacy are one of those bands that don’t try and hide their influences; their new single Shade Black is a healthy blend of all that was good about ‘90s rock, and that’s not a bad thing.

Starting out with a Tool-like intro that soon gives way to a heavier, chugging riff, the song maintains a freshness and urgency throughout. Big, melodic vocals float over that riff through the verses, before dropping into heavier, deeper territory for the choruses, giving the song good contrast and energy, at times reminding me of the song structure that Alice in Chains often used.

It’s been well recorded, and obviously well rehearsed – there’s a lot of polish to the sound, making it feel very professional. I can imagine Shade Black getting into high rotation on several local radio stations, which is okay by me, because it’s a song I feel I could listen to over and over without getting tired of it.

If this is what Primacy are unleashing on the world first, then I say bring it on.