In Droves
In Droves puts the bass close to the front of Black Map's sound. Ben Flanagan, guitarist Mark Engles and drummer Chris Robyn build their songs around firm grooves, heavy guitar parts and clear vocal melodies. The playing is confident and the arrangements have plenty of force. The question is whether the record finds enough variety to make that approach last across a full album.
Run Rabbit Run gives it a convincing start after the brief Transit I introduction. The rhythm section drives the song while the guitar adds weight and atmosphere around it. It is a clear statement of the band's strengths: direct alternative rock played by musicians who know how to make the individual parts work together.
Foxglove makes the bass even more central. Its darker mood comes from the way that moving low end supports the guitar textures rather than simply doubling them. Heavy Waves offers a more anthemic shape, while Ruin increases the sense of urgency. These songs use the band's shared sound effectively without making every arrangement identical.
There are more interesting departures later on. Indoor Kid gives the bass another active role, and No Color answers with a harder guitar attack. White Fence moves towards a more atmospheric character, allowing some space around the heavier material. Robyn's drumming remains an important connection between the direct songs and the more expansive ideas.
The difficulty is that the differences are sometimes smaller than the running order needs. Just My Luck and Cash For The Fears add competent writing without making a strong change in direction. The three short Transit pieces suggest a broader atmosphere, but do less to solve the sense of repetition within the main songs.
In Droves is most rewarding in individual stretches. The bass-led arrangements, Engles' guitar tones and the strength of the rhythm section give its best tracks real character. As a complete sequence, though, it can feel too settled in the same mood and tempo range. Black Map have the skill to make this sound convincing; a more selective set of songs would give the record a sharper overall shape.
