Hali Neal

Miami hard rock band Black Jacket may have a new singer in Phil Letizia but they haven’t missed a beat, at least if its newest EP is any indication.

The first track, “Innocence,” is the strongest song. Letizia’s talent is fully on display here, from his emotional performance to a more technical side, like when he shows off the lower register of his voice. It’s also one of the few rock songs on the release that has a prominent bass line as well a great guitar solo.

“No Lyrics,” the second track, follows a current trend of writing angst-ridden lyrics with a positive message tacked on (whether genuine or not). “No Lyrics” doesn’t exactly radiate sincerity, but there are elements that save it from being completely formulaic: from the bass line to the cutting guitar riffs to the pounding drums, the rhythm section brings it home. I’m familiar with Black Jacket’s previous work as well as their live performances and they’re talented enough on their own without having to resort to trends or gimmicks. I feel that this is especially true when a band goes to such pains to make the rhythm section instrumentation different from the typical songs of the genre.

“Resurrection,” the third and final track, has extremely well crafted vocals and shows a different side to Letizia’s voice. The effect used in the intro that then guides the listener into the hard rock surge of the song is a nice touch as well. “Resurrection” is lyrically the strongest of the songs, and seems like a perfect fit for a live show.

The instrumentation on the EP evokes the feelings that the songs are trying to get across, especially with the emotion that the guitar work envelops.

For more information on the EP release date, show dates, or to listen to Black Jacket’s music, visit their website or Facebook page.