Black Water Rising – The Edge

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · September 10, 2025

Black Water Rising is a hard driving heavy rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The quartet consists of Rob Traynor on vocals and guitar, Johnny Fattoruso on guitar, Mike Meselsohn on drums, and Oddie Mclaughlin on bass. They have released a Self Titled album in 2008, followed by 2013’s Pissed And Driven, 2017’s Electrified, and their latest, 2025’s The Edge. The band play heavy groove-laden music with catchy choruses and vocal melodies. The Edge was released on August 17th 2025 on Capital T Productions. It contains ten tracks at thirty nine minutes long.

From the opening chords of “Slow Slide”, Black Water Rising are on a bulldozing groove machine of heavy riff rock. The catchy and fuzz driven riffs are met with melody and musical dynamics. The band knows a thing or two about writing catchy songs that will fester in your mind for days. Heavy and bombastic rhythms like “Jokes On You” are blended perfectly with the powerful vocals from Rob Traynor. Black Water Rising has a classic heavy metal attitude infused in these tracks that gives it a gritty and angular twist. The third track, “Hail Mary” is an ear worming delight! The simple rock groove and uber smooth and catchy vocals are mesmerizing. The chorus is as striking and a direct hook pattern of awesomeness! The songs are very memorable and derive the key elements of feel good, take no prisoners, hard rock.

“Cynical” is a fantastic riff machine of rocking proportions. This is metal music before it got tainted with glam and ballads. The vocals are amazing throughout this recording. “Paralyzed” has got to be the most catchy and ass kicking rock song of the year. It’s fantastic with tuneful chorus melodies splashed all over it. Brilliant work which continues on with “You Found The Sun”. The guitar tones and lead work is fantastic too! The whole band are proficient in their respective roles and deliver a walloping of ballsy and melodious heavy rock.

“Headstrong” continues on with the tirade of rocking bliss. The sonic hooks and massive riffs should appeal to anyone into hard rock music. The title track “The Edge” has a doom and haunting tone about it and incorporates cool psychedelic textures also. The singing is excellent and the music is not stagnant on any one style. This is definitely the darkest song on the record and fits nicely to break up the hard rocking flow of the other tracks. “Seething The Shill” rips right back into the mid tempo rage. It’s yet another magnificent song that has all the right ingredients that makes The Edge sound so powerful and engaging. The tenth and final track is called “Danger Zone”. The song has a nice and airy flow that is equally catchy and moving.

Black Water Rising has produced a tremendous riff rocking delicacy with The Edge. This is my first introduction into this band and I am very impressed with their sound and style. Everything magnifies with each listen, so don’t be surprised when these tunes are stuck in your head after a few spins.