Blacklist Union - Slay the Dragon, BLU Records. Released 12th September 2025

This 12 track album opens up with ‘Mississippi Moonhound’ and gives you from the outset that alternative riff and rock energy we’ve grown to expect from them. I’d heard this one before having been an early release single from the album. Likewise track two ‘Up In Smoke’ was also released as a single. As I said in an earlier review of this single, its a fast paced guitar focussed blast from Raf and Dee supported by quality vocals from Tony. Great track.

So what of the band, the tight lineup of Tony West (Vocals), Raf Ransom (Lead Guitar), Dee Hayes (Rhythm Guitar), Larry Harwood (Bass) and Justin Perez (Drums).

There’s a strong 80’s Sunset Strip vibe about ‘Can You Heal Me’. Love the Tyler-esque vocal soul Tony brings to this one.

‘Dyin’ 4 U’ sounds great, for me this would be a cracker in a live forum has a cool swagger and gentle head bop style to it.

When I heard their 5th album ‘Letters from the Psych Ward’ I immediately got a buzz from the way the band morph punk tones with hard rockin’ power chords. It’s no surprise then that Tony was raised in NY’s Bronx on a diet that included the Ramones and then in his teens moved to the West Coast, hence picking up that Sunset vibe in his writing.

‘Do it for the Song’ lurks in the dark side a bit, moody lyrics and opens up with some great guitar lines, could be set in any rock club on either side of the Atlantic.

The album is produced by Christopher Johnson, recorded and engineered at East West Studios Hollywood and The Village Studios Los Angeles. Christopher definitely brings to the album a punk rock/alternative rock/guitar rock grit and vibe.

‘Free At Last’ slows the pace down to bring you a soulful mid 80’s ballad come indy rocker.

Picture the night sounds of the amazonian jungle and that leads you into ‘All Hail the King’, maybe the short sound bite intro comes from Tony’s sojourn to that part of the world.

Love the powerful heavy guitar swagger from ‘Horns and Halos’ that pulls you back and forward with the edgy vocals.

‘Hey Mr Superstar’ and ‘Rock N Roll Soldier’ continue that Audioslave style that leads you through most the album, it’s a cool sound that Christopher brings to the production.

The penultimate track is my favourite its ‘X Marks the Spot’, showcasing the rhythms of Larry and Justin in a perfect dynamic with Raf and Dee, collectively delivering a quality tune. Although the bending tone fade out at the end was a surprise.

Album closer and title track ‘Slay the Dragon’ introduces a North African/Egyptian melody in parts supporting the overriding bands style that is throughout the previous 11 tracks.

So what of the bands 6th album? Well for me it improves on ‘Letters from the Psych Ward’.

The album gives you a crossover between the edginess/rawness of The Ramones and the heavy rock, alternative metal drift and punchiness of Alter Bridge and Audioslave.

If you like this in your rock , energetic and powerful, then check the band out.