Album Review: Under Black Sky, Bad Blood

By Justin Bauer, OOTB Publications

A solid mix of contemporary hard rock with sleek electronic elements that are utilized to fill up space, Under Black Sky offers a dense excursion through a story they’ve crafted and woven throughout the lyrical context of their debut full-length record, Bad Blood, released today, Friday, Oct. 24.

These songs hit hard, but with an accessibility that has the potential to attract a larger audience.

A particular vocal part in the opening song, “Bad Blood,” reminds me of Linkin Park.

The conjecture of metal and electronics on the intro of the concluding track, “Parasite” reminds me of the raw power of a Fear Factory production.

The way the guitar solo replaces the electronics in the bridge is a crisp playfulness in the production of “ Devil Is Me,” one of the most introspective songs on the record.

The influence of late 90’s and 2000’s nü-metal is evident and a real pleasure for fans who grew up in that time, while having a certain quality that will appeal to younger fans of contemporary hard rock.

The concept explores the complication of how, over time, one comes to find the problem in the mirror, even in working towards and in the aftermath of change. Acknowledging this is more than some people are willing to do. Lyrics like, “Don’t recognize the person that I knew/I don’t know what to do,” at least admits an attempt to face these issues.

The concept explores a tech based dystopia and a crusade to destroy it, only to find it’s embedded deeper than in some physical thing that can be destroyed.

There are 17 pages of text that accompanies the record (The Codex: Bad Blood—Chapter 1), and it’s the kind of deep dive that makes me think of records that came with all these interactive things you’d hold in your hand.

I poured over the details and throughly enjoyed the dedication to the concept as I read, First Published in the United States of Dystopia, 2025.

Under Black Sky delivered a solid debut, and the music world will have to reckon with this act.

There are no tracks to skip, as it’s worth a full start-to-finish listen, but my favorites are “Pull Through” and “The Devil Is Me.”

I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this band.

Get Album

https://underblacksky.komi.io

Concept Story

https://underblacksky.com/enter-the-codex

They are known only by their roles:

• KRYSIS - The Prophet — voice of the unspeakable (Vocals)

• BEAST - The Executioner — fury without apology (Drums)

• ONYX - The Seer — eyes that pierce the veil (Guitar)