Motive Black : “Auburn” CD 10th February 2023 AFM Records.

Motive Black: “Auburn” CD 10th February 2023 AFM Records. USA Pop / Rock / Grunge / Hard Rock band.

I came across this band led by Elana Justin, a singer with a lovely and touching voice. Pretty hard to set up in a box, her voice has so many emotions that each track can be settled in different music styles. Surrounded by musicians with experiences in the music, can relate to the hard-hitting difficulties to find a place where this band can fit in.

The album has been turning online as live years before its release of this album. Each song is released as a single.

What’s sure is you fall in love in a second, you are addicted like a sailor hearing the siren’s call. Melodies and power, yet with deep lyrics and feel it brings you down into love. Events in life sometimes help push out talented individuals to the max. In this case, Elana is one of them and dedicates her first album to her sister.

The album features Nick Rowe (Bloodsimple, Vampire Weekend) on guitar, bass, and co-songwriting credits; drummer Ray Luzier (Korn, KXM) on six tracks; guitarist Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.) on the first single “Broken”; and “special guest” Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies) on the song “Lift Me Up”.

“Auburn is a song that means a lot to me. It means so much that I was almost hesitant to put it out. I lost my sister to her battle with addiction. She was one of the smartest women I will ever know. She was a straight-A student who aspired to be a doctor. Addiction does not discriminate. I am angry that she will never realize her dreams. This song is about loss, struggle, and rage, but mostly it’s about missing my sister and all of her potential. I will never laugh with anyone as I did with Mia. We need to end the stigma associated with addiction. People are meant to be loved, not judged. I miss Mia every day, and I will for my whole life.” Elana

Check out this beautiful song :

Influences vary from Drain STH, Edge of Paradise, Soundgarden, Papa Roach, Saraya, No Doubt, Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, and many more.

The song “Lift me Up” might be the heaviest song of the album, at least from the singles I’ve heard so far. Before I saw the video I didn’t think it was with another singer Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies), who obviously brought that anger to spread the song a bit further. On the edge of Metal, the voices are melting so well that it just feels like Elana pushed her voice harder, yet Carla is responsible for this vocal explosion. Starting with a heavy guitar riff, the song still keeps a rocking vibe anyone can love.

The song ‘Broken’ has an edge of Grunge with that teenage nineties touch. This will please the new kids (Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Offsprings, and such). What is sure, the video has some interesting visual power that would be on the first hit of MTV if it was still on. 

The song ‘Fight Alone’ starts with sample sounds used since the early nineties. Always has that entertaining chorus with the guitars playing that dancing vibe.

The album was mixed by Josh Wilbur, known for his work with Lamb Of God, Korn, and Papa Roach. In overall, this is a very good Rock album with edges of over music styles that will fit in for radio airplay as a TV broadcast without trouble. Each track can be a hit single, and the mixing sound is neat. I be the live experience will be much more intense. 

Elana‘s soft and lovely voice in the singles and the sexy photos make her the new Rockstar to hit the world. Eleven tracks with the song ‘lift me up ‘ in two versions, giving you enough emotions and feelings to love this album for years to come.

They aren’t any guitar solos, but much more on the heavy side of power to stick you deep as a birthmark forever. A must-have 100/100.