Black Butterfly: Into The Exosphere

Melodic rock with a firm, modern twist.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Given that Into The Exosphere has a ring of cosy familiarity, yet also somehow sounds strangely oblique, it’s perfectly logical that Black Butterfly were formed from the ashes of a tribute band.

With the engaging vocals of Chris Rees, the Swansea four-piece appear to have one foot planted in the melodic hard rock territory of Def Leppard and Tyketto, while daring to gaze lovingly (and jealously) towards stadium-conquering modern rock outfits such as Muse.

Black Butterfly’s choruses are nimble, compact and memorable, accompanied by the economical yet clinically effective guitar work of Scott Tancock.

From the rousing Tears Of The Sun to the overblown Into The Exosphere II (The Return), this self-financed debut may be flawed by the occasional slip-up but it suggests there something interest to come.

Dave Ling

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.