Canadian punks Black Budget have unleashed a pummeling new track titled “Nine Eyes,” and it's one hell of a ride. Combining the unhinged ferocity of punk rock with the heavy, blues-soaked tones of desert and stoner rock, the band has carved out a vicious sound that's entirely their own.
Their latest offering showcases everything Black Budget do best, standing apart from the seemingly endless stream of hard rock and metal-adjacent releases flooding our speakers these days.
As you'd expect from a band blending punk aggression with stoner rock heaviness, the guitar tones are absolutely massive. Thick, distorted riffs hit like a sledgehammer, while the drums barrel forward like a freight train about to jump the tracks. Meanwhile, the basslines rumble beneath the madness, delivering a filthy groove that holds everything together.
And Black Budget aren't about to dial things back. Throat-shredding vocals and gargantuan riffs dominate much of “Nine Eyes,” keeping the intensity cranked to eleven.
But what makes this track particularly interesting is the band's ability to shift gears without losing their edge. When the tempo slows, and the music ventures into bluesy, desert-rock territory, flashes of Black Sabbath begin to emerge. Just when you think they've settled into a heavy psychedelic groove, the band stomps on the gas, kicks up the BPM, and channels Black Flag's reckless aggression.
It's a combination that shouldn't necessarily work, but Black Budget pulls it off with ease. “Nine Eyes” is loud, nasty, and packed with enough attitude to satisfy punk purists and stoner rock devotees alike.
Listen to “Nine Eyes” below:
