Single Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Black Summer'

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers have released the first single from their upcoming album, Unlimited Love, which is due out on April 1st, 2022. The song, ‘Black Summer’, is the Chili Peppers first new song since John Frusciante rejoined the band, and a testament to the fact that, after a nearly 40-year career, the Chili Peppers haven’t lost their exciting blend of rock, funk, and reggae that set them apart from all other mainstream bands of the 1990s. This song is everything you could possibly want in a Chili Peppers song: funky, melodic music, paired with wonderfully nonsensical lyrics, and a fantastic guitar solo to close the track off. 


‘Black Summer’ opens with a mellow-toned guitar riff, played by John Frusciante. Frusciante uses a Fender Stratocaster, which is a wonderful, mellow-toned guitar. Anthony Kiedis then enters on vocals. Kiedis has a warm, mellow voice, which compliments the guitar and bass. He sounds as good as he did 30 years ago. The bass, played by Flea, acts as a counter-melody to the guitar. This is a popular technique of the Chili Peppers, notably heard on one of their biggest songs, ‘Californication’. There is a small guitar break before Chad Smith enters, playing a simple drum beat. Chad doesn’t overplay, and the drums simply act as the ‘bread and butter’ for the other elements of the song. The track’s volume builds like a crescendo into the chorus. I really like Kiedis’ vocal melody in the chorus, which is very reminiscent of classic rock.  


On ‘Black Summer’, Red Hot Chili Peppers have proven that, after all this time, they have stayed true to their iconic signature sound, and are still going stronger than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that Unlimited  Love will be one of the most talked-about albums of 2022.  

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