The musician contacted me on Myspace with a friend request. I had finally gotten savvy concerning the music players there, so I went and listened. Surprise Surprise, what a nice surprise. I like what I heard: I like it a lot. I punched the friend button, and promptly bought the EP Disease. It was a great deal. I am listening to it now. If I had a tail, I would be wagging it. In fact, consider it done.

The bands name is Blackcentr, and the 5 songs on Disease are some of the better musix I have heard. The song Down seems to be everyones favorite, and it is mine too, though Salvation runs a very close second, with Disease a nearby third. The other songs on the EP are a remix of Disease by DYM, and a fourth called Misanthrope. All these songs are kicky tricks, and my hats off to Blackcentr and what they have going on. Its rare, these really good sounds. You can hear it.

Blackcentre is Johnny Bonnett, and Ryan Layne, and they list their location as Orange County USA. Thats Los Angeles ya'll. Johnny is the music, and Ryan the vocals, according to the basic Myspace website information, but there is a lot of mix and match going on in the creation of these songs, brainstorming, as it is described by Johnny in a recent interview with Cyberangels of the Netherlands (www.cyber-angels.nl/InterviewBlackcentr.html).

The bottom line is that Blackcentr is a collaboration between these two men, and this is a collaboration of synergy, the total being greater than the sum of its parts. Johnnys mastery of his tools is nothing less than awesome, and Ryans voice is just about perfect for the music being made. From the sounds of things, both of these guys seem to be naturals at what they do, and that probably explains a lot right there. Blackcentr is any listeners good fortune -- check it out at www.myspace.com/blackcentr -- you will see.

Not too much has been said about the bands previous experience. Johnny started his own project after a concert where he saw KMFDM and Combichrist performing. After a few false starts he found Ryan by advertising his need for a vocalist on Craigs list. Sometimes, Light Happens. Yes, Thankfully, Light Happens.

Blackcentr is working on new music as this is being written, and they are also planning some roadwork, though a tour schedule has not been decided on yet. For anyone who is lucky enough to hear this new good music, that can only mean one thing: get tickets. Blackcentr has also joined forces with Sigsaly Transmissions, a tight label and decent, experienced group, who may facilitate growth for this band and its musical gift.

This band has had some good experience in the industrial scene so far, good meaning not always pretty, but definitely meaningful. Blackcentr's last singer, the one before Ryan, had a big problem with ego, and quite frankly, he blew his chance at something good. If Johnny and Ryan can avoid that pitfall of pitfalls, the ego thing, then survive the road, along with the straight-up malice derived from the petty and not-so-petty jealousy of peers and business rivals, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

By My Assessment, They Are Already.

Disease, EP
released 08 July 2010
Music: Johnny Bonnett
Vocals: Ryan Layne

www.myspace.com/blackcentr
twitter.com/blackcentr
blogs.myspace.com/blackcentr

sigmedia.us
myspace.com/sigsaly
sigsalytransmissions.wordpress.com/


Review by Bill Gallagher
www.luxefaire.com