Following on from their debut album Shake The World in 2020 and Generation Mind in 2022, hard rockers Black Swan release Paralyzed this week. Making the cut as an official “supergroup”, Black Swan are Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group) on lead vocals, Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake) on guitars, Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine and ex-Dokken) on bass and Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) on drums. Offering up some great music, Black Swan celebrate the melodic hard rock of the 1980s while at the same time holding a contemporary edge.
McAuley commented that he “Can’t wait for you guys to hear our new record. We feel we’ve taken our songwriting to another level on this one, with amazing guitar riffs that once again show the brilliance that is Reb Beach. Pounding Bass as you’d expect from Jeff, and Matt Starr leaving no doubt about where the thunder comes from. Soaring melodies with strong lyrics are what we do best, combine that with sheer heaviness and we have a record we think you the fans are going to love”.
Taking a more in-depth look at Paralyzed, the atmospheric opener When The Cold Wind Blows shifts straight into hard rock mode, with thundering riffs elevated by the presence of McAuley’s vocals. Death Of Me showcases some real 1980s vibes and hooks, which is then followed on by Different Kind Of Woman, which really highlights some of Starr’s drumlines.
If I Was King has been acknowledged by the band as one of their notable tracks from the album. Starr comments that “‘If I Was King’ throws down the gauntlet and is what Black Swan is all about. Kick ass, high energy rock music with killer melodies, lyrics and musicianship. Robin is so talented at creating imagery with his lyrics based on the music that Jeff and Reb create, this is a great example of that”.
There isn’t really much else I can add to this description, apart from to say that you can check out the official video here:
Shakedown is probably one of my faves as it’s a real upbeat track that evokes visions (or for some, it may be memories) of massive arena gigs back in the day. Although this is only their third studio album, there is an undeniable authenticity to the Black Swan sound – probably from all of them being rooted in the American/LA scene of the 1980s.
The already released The Fire And The Flame is another one to comfortably rock out to, and of course, no self-respecting hard rock album is complete without a power ballad and on Paralyzed, this is offered up in beautifully in I’m Ready. The pace picks up once more in the title track, Paralyzed, which like the tracks before has some great musical and lyrical hooks. Carry On is another melodic gem and the slower Battered And Bruised has some riffage which deserves a special mention. The album ends with what I think is the aptly named What The Future Holds – I think there is little doubt that Black Swan will continue to go from strength to strength.
All tracks were written and composed by McAuley, Pilson and Beach and produced by Pilson; which also shows just how well they fit together musically. McAuley’s vocals are still 5* and with great lyrics and all-round excellent musicianship from Beach, Pilson and Starr; there really isn’t much else you can ask for from Black Swan.
If you’re already a fan of one of more of the Black Swan musicians from their current/former line-ups, or if you are just starting a delve into the 1980s LA scene, I do recommend you check out Paralyzed at the earliest opportunity.
Track Listing:
- When The Cold Wind Blows
- Death Of Me
- Different Kind Of Woman
- If I Was King
- Shakedown
- The Fire And The Flame
- I’m Ready
- Paralyzed
- Carry On
- Battered And Bruised
- What The Future Holds
Released 27th February 2026, you can pre-order Paralyzed and merch here or stream on the usual platforms, including Spotify. You can also check out what Black Swan are up to on their Facebook page.
“McAuley’s vocals are still 5* and with great lyrics and all-round excellent musicianship from Beach, Pilson and Starr; there really isn’t much else you can ask for from Black Swan.”
Special thanks to Frontiers Music Srl.
