Review | Black Stone Cherry – Celebrate EP

Mascot Records

In their recording career that started in 2006 with their self-titled CD these rockers from Kentucky have managed to produce eight studio-albums, three live-albums and two very special EP’s (‘Black To Blues‘ and ‘Black To Blues Vol. 2’). I think that the band around singer/guitarist Chris Robertson and second guitarist Ben Wells started out very strong with their first two albums, that are still seen as their finest to date by many. I have always been a fan of this group, as their quality of songs and performances were always far above average. Especially the already mentioned EP’s and also their last record ‘Screamin’ At The Sky’ (2023) offered top-notch heavy rock with a firm touch of blues and southern rock.

STILL GOING STRONG

Black Stone Cherry might not have grown out to be a major act, but their career has certainly brought many smiles to the faces of their fans, as not one of their albums can be described as a failure. The surprise might not be there for the full hundred percent anymore, but nobody can deny that Robertson and Company have always done their own thing, have stayed away from hip trends and never sold out. They are still going strong and their new 7-track EP ‘Celebrate’ states once again that Black Stone Cherry is a force to be reckoned with, whether you like them or not.

MUSCLE AND MELODY

Opener ,,Celebrate’’ kicks off in an aggressive rock style with Robertson’s semi-rough and very recognizable voice leading the way once again. It is a song that deals with daily life and it is worth to celebrate another day you spent on this earth that has become so unpredictable. But you are there and made it through another one today! Black Stone Cherry (as has always been the case in their career) presents a perfect mix between muscle and melody in their repertoire with even a sensitive ballad in the form of ,,Deep’’,  for me the absolute stand out song on this EP. Sensitive and still with balls.

BLACK STONE CHERRY – THE CONCLUSION

The band started out a quarter of a century ago and though I do not expect them to stick around for another 25 years , ’Celebrate’ shows that there is plenty of life, ambition and pure love for rock, blues and southern rock flowing through their veins. This record has seven good to excellent songs. It sounds crispy and determined. Even the Simple Minds-cover ,,Don’t You (Forget About Me)’’ sounds very acceptable as the band has given this track a shot of adrenaline. I think that the original version sucks but this is a big improvement! Black Stone Cherry is a band that just rocks from the heart and they have done that from day one. If you are a fan of Black Stone Cherry, you know what to do.

Release date: 6 March 2026