A simple coin has always two sides: the good and the bad, the tough and the sensitive, the shiny and the dark. This dictum seems to have YEAR LONG DISASTER on mind when they decided to make their second step with a brand new record after the success the self-titled debut album had, 3 years ago. YEAR LONG... who? It's about the American Hard Rock trio from Los Angeles that were named one of the best new bands for 2008 featured in Rolling Stone magazine and also, Mr. Lemmy Kilmister said about them: "They play Rock 'n' Roll as it should be played". You want more?

It seems that the multicolour butterfly of their previous artwork in the cover spread its wings, hazed our musical landscape for a while and flew away to reveal us a whole new world and the mysterious stories that only Richard Mullins and his company know how to narrate. "Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed" is the title of their new effort, heavier, groovier and more sensitive than ever. The first half of these 42 minutes album is full of groovy attitude and appetite for having fun; so, it can raise of the couch even the most assuming and grouch listener.

The instrumental intro "Black Magic" is enough through its 1 ½ minute to reveal the new, magical land of YEAR LONG DISASTER and to give an excellent pass to the upcoming hit "Show Me Your Teeth" that has already haunted my iPod. What's next? All the best, since the non stop groove of "Love Like Blood" and "Stranger In My Room" spark movement riffs and heavy solos like their table companions RADIO MOSCOW and ROSE HILL DRIVE do. A pure retro rock sound that reminds a lot the golden era of THE WHO, CREAM and THE KINKS with a mixture of stoner tunes of bands like CLUTCH and KARMA TO BURN with bass in lead. The haunting husky voice is the characteristic result that reaches our ears and turns us back to the future of Rock. It's the same sense the debut album left me, only here, is more mature and character than the past. And that is awesome!

But in the middle of the album, the face of YEAR LONG DISASTER changes and becomes darker, more sensitive and more fragile; elements that hide a sweet introversion and an inner melancholy having the power to embrace all the suffering souls out there. For example, "She Told Us All" has a mid tempo ID but can speak so loud and be present like the bluesy "Foggy Bottom" which seduces the hearing and spreads purple and beige bubbles in the air, drawing away any hesitation to say no.

If you are fans of the retro rock sound and you like to spin your heads through bluesy and hard rock tunes, YEAR LONG DISASTER is the ideal company to a groovy trip to the moon and back. And if you would not like to return, of course you can- provided to acquire the magical recipe of "Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed" and see that all mysteries will be revealed at once.