22nd May 2026

Review: “Radical Views” by BlackMarket

“Genre bending and fierce. This EP is here to showcase our range. The core is classic Blackmarket, jaw-breaking lyrics and electronics that come with a bite. But this time, we’ve embraced our metal influences more. Reaching deep into our contempt and turning it into gut-wrenching, hard-hitting Metal.” ~ Fraser Burrow, vocals

For almost a decade BlackMarket have been smashing together the atoms of pulsing electronics, groove driven riffs and thought provoking lyrical narratives to create a sound that is both undeniably heavy but also incredibly diverse. Dark and immersive with a wealth of easy to pick out influences, their cuts have an instant appeal in familiarity that washes away with the flood as their creativity knows no bounds. Hailing from Watford, vocalist Fraser Burrow, bassist Scott Turnley, drummer Hadleigh Wade, guitarist Danny Leigh and synth master Cary Leigh know all about the London scene. Their self titled album dropped in 2021 and they haven’t looked back since…

The riot begins with “Asphyxiate“, a Molotov cocktail of a tune which blends Seething Akira style electronics with groove driven Nu-Metal sounds, the furious rage filled vocals from Fraser Burrow the single heaviest element. His throat splitting screams are crossed with a rap style flow so you get textural variation without any shift in atmosphere or loss of dynamic. Intentional or otherwise, its genius because the dark brooding atmosphere of impending violence is one that doesn’t deserve to be pierced and if it appeared on the soundtrack to a Hollywood blockbuster, it wouldn’t surprise. Twisting and contorting “Bleed” then lowers the tone with a little less darkness and plenty more feral vocal tirades, the genre blending once again in full effect. Nu-Metal guitars, break beats, electronics and samples are all present and correct, leaving you wondering exactly where the band will turn to next because the creativity engine is in full effect. Furrow’s vocal range is impressive, his ability to shift styles at the snap of a finger mind blowing.

While the first two cuts seem a little more personal “Red on White” is politically aware and socially charged, the band shifting gears like an eighteen wheel juggernaut on the freeway with some The Streets style electronics and Grime flow. It’s like a heavier version of Skindred with unclean vocals has invaded your personal space, elbowing you in the throat when the guitars kick in. Title track “Radical Views” has a bit more oomph in the guitars, the pause break riffs allowing the vocal flow to have more impact as the synths bleed all over the sound. What BlackMarket have manged to achieve is something of both style and substance, their genre blending tactics not something implemented for the sake of it. That results in four very distinctive tunes with very different elements combining to make one homogeneous mass, everything flowing nicely together. It’s not a record for genre purists but then it was never going to be and that is part of the joy of it, part of what makes it fun and for some no doubt a guilty pleasure. Where BlackMarket go from here is going to be seriously interesting [7.5/10]

Track Listing