Black Lung formed in early 2014 when Adam Bufano (guitar, organ) and Elias Schutzman (drums) of Baltimore psych rock outfit The Flying Eyes joined forces with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Dave Cavalier. Blending fuzz-drenched guitars, driving rhythms, and Cavalier’s raw, blues-inflected vocals, the trio quickly distinguished themselves within the psych doom and heavy blues scene. Their self-titled debut Black Lung arrived the same year, earning them Baltimore City Paper’s “Best New Band” award and propelling them onto their first European tour, highlighted by a nationally televised performance at Germany’s Rockpalast Crossroads Festival.

They followed up their debut with See the Enemy (2016), expanding their sound and occasionally veering into garage psych, a release that supported a headlining European tour and appearances at Freak Valley Festival and DesertFest Belgium. The band returned in 2019 with Ancients, an increasingly adventurous third album shaped by years of touring and songwriting that pushed beyond familiar doom and psych rock tropes. Through the pandemic years, Black Lung pressed on with new guitarist Dave Fullerton, culminating in their fourth album Dark Waves, a career milestone that saw the band shed long-held ideas—most notably their bass-free live setup and the stark black-and-white visual aesthetic of their first three records.

Fast forward to their fifth album Forever Beyond, and Black Lung fully realise the sonic leap first hinted at in Dark Waves, delivering a blend of stoner doom and psychedelic rock that feels both expansive and finely calibrated. They channel melodic riffing, driving rhythms, and Dave Cavalier’s unmistakable vocals into a set of songs that rarely miss their mark, while undertones of anger and defiance surface in lyrical reactions to America’s political upheaval—tackling themes such as the lure of fascism, blind nationalism, and corporate oligarchy.

Listening to the new album, it’s hard to pigeon hole Black Lung, and it is probably best not to, but listeners may initially draw comparisons to Mastodon. Digital music platforms suggest that fans might also like Sons of Arrakis, or Black Rainbows, or others associated with the Heavy Psych Sounds record label that Black Lung were previously signed to. Now with Magnetic Eye Records, a boutique label presenting artists across the spectrum of heavy music, and leaning towards doom, psychedelia, classic and stoner rock, Black Lung are proponents of the almighty riff.

 

The intro track, Traveler, is quite proggy and has that Mastodon feel. It bounces along with some droning guitars before a nice solo cuts in. There’s a psychedelic, time and space theme here before some choral vocals play out for us.

Death & Co. is the shortest track on the album and its simple, fuzzy riff prevails throughout. A short guitar solo is squeezed in, before the riff resolves.

Saviour kicks off with a commanding riff, backed up by a jangly melody that is pleasant on the ears. There’s more choral vocal backup. This song is relaxing with its slow tempo and epic soundscape. A piano interlude adds to the mood before the song slowly chimes out.

Follow has another brooding, proggy intro that initially feels very like that of the first track. A nice stringed ensemble gathers at the end of this song.

Forever Beyond Me mixes things up, with a drum intro that sounds like it’s straight out of ZZ Top. But this song is not that. It has a nice uplifting melody and funky vocal delivery helping this one to just cruise along.

In Border Hoarder, the proggy theme continues. A dreamy intro leads to a snappy melody, while fuzzy wah-fuelled guitars keep up the psychedelic feel. There’s some acoustic guitar going on in there, and a dreamy guitar solo develops just where it’s needed.

Scum is the longest track by far (over 8 minutes). The tempo picks up with an energetic riff and there’s some nicely harmonised guitar work. An epic play out.

This album grows on you, it’s a showcase of versatile styles than span psychedelia, heavy and progressive rock. I found it to be a straightforward, relaxing and easy-going listen. There’s nothing too dark, sinister, or disturbing bubbling below the surface, and if there is a political undertow, it’s not in your face.

Black Lung are openly anti-fascist to the core and make no secret of it. However, they have no intention to become dogmatically boring, rather aiming for live performances that are both cathartic and fun. With Forever Beyond, Black Lung prove that it is possible to rage against injustice with an utmost joyful defiance!

Band Line up:
David Cavalier – vocals, guitar
Dave Fullerton – guitar
Elias Schutzman – drums, keyboard, vocals
Mac Hewitt (live) – bass