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"Black is the White Color", third work by the Greek band Swan Christy after "One with the Swan" in 1998 and "Today Died Yesterday" in 1999 and it is one of those CDs that improve with time, listen after listen. Characterized by paradoxical meaningless titles seemingly, the album is presented by an enigmatic (and even a bit anonymous) front cover and with artwork (created by Spyros Pagiatakis) that is intended to hide generally unknown metaphorical or allegorical meanings.

Anyway more than the imagery what really strikes the imagination has to be the album’s sound, which succeeds to hypnotize with its related similarity to Savatage's heavy metal (there's the rumor part of their name is a tribute to Criss Oliva), to last Metallica's hard rock (from "Load" onward) and to the present day gothic atmospheres. This is accomplished with an intoxicating yet fundamental work of piano/keyboards and through means of a certain alternative/mainstream taste that could decree their commercial success. I found convincing the performance of their singer Kostas (which has just returned from military compulsory service, that in Greece is one year and a half long.), for whom I feel compares favorably to names like Zachary Stevens, the last James Hetfield effort and even the early and more crazy Alice Cooper. One of the best things that the band offers is their symphonic "8?" (in which strings and piano draw sharpened old times melodies) then the electronic "Seven is Enough" (that moves in a more synthetically-gothic field) and the romantic "Love it or Hate Me" (lonely hearts ballad with digital sounds in it), the starting "Because a Motherfucker Said So" (for which they should have had a better arrangements) and the dynamic "Cast in Tears" (with a weak verse but with a flashing chorus thanks to the piano).

If you feel the urge to listen to something fresh and also very, very good, Swan Christy must be your choice. The Greek band moves across different fields and mixed heterogeneous genres, and even if they does not release a necessary album deserves a bit of our time.