Blacklist Union return swinging hard with Slay the Dragon, their explosive sixth studio album and the long-awaited follow-up to Letters from the Psych Ward. Produced by Christopher Johnson (Evanescence, Scott Weiland, Josh Todd), the record distils everything that has defined the band since their 2006 debut: grit, swagger, intensity, and honesty, while taking their sound into darker and more transcendent territory.
From the opening riffs of “Mississippi Moonhound” to the raw fire of the third lead single “Dyin’ 4 U”, Slay the Dragon is a visceral ride. The album brims with the jagged edge of Stone Temple Pilots, the anthemic firepower of The Cult, and the sleazy stomp of Guns N’ Roses, all filtered through Blacklist Union’s signature no-bullshit authenticity. At its core, though, this record is deeply personal: a cathartic outpouring shaped by frontman Tony West’s ayahuasca journeys in the Amazon and his battle through heartbreak and healing.
West’s vocals hit with unflinching conviction, delivering lyrics that cut between pain and redemption. Johnson’s multi-instrumental production wraps each track in a cinematic sheen without losing the rawness that has always fueled the band’s spirit. From the snarling “Up in Smoke” to the reflective grit of “Can You Heal Me” and the rallying cry of “Rock N Roll Soldier”, every track feels like a step in a larger journey of transformation.
“This whole record is about expelling pain from a hideous divorce and breakup,” West shares. “It runs deep.” And that depth is palpable, whether in the jagged riffs, the howling choruses, or the moments of almost spiritual release that pierce through the heaviness.
Blacklist Union’s sound is sharper and more focused than ever. Slay the Dragon is both a battle cry and a rebirth: proof that even in the aftermath of loss and struggle, rock ’n’ roll can still burn brighter, louder, and more defiantly than before.
