Their self-titled album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. In the Future was a finalist for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and was also nominated for "Best Alternative Album" in the 2009 Juno Awards. The song "Stay Free" from In the Future was featured on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack.
In 2005 the band opened for Coldplay on their Twisted Logic Tour for three weeks, with their final opening in San Diego.
In September 2010 Black Mountain performed in an amphitheater located in the woods of Oisterwijk at the Incubate (festival) in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Leader Stephen McBean also heads another similarly named band, Pink Mountaintops, who are the more experimental side of McBean's musical abilities. Black Mountain is the front line band for Black Mountain Army, a collective of musicians, artists and friends in Vancouver. In an interview the band said "Black Mountain is just the five of us. The Black Mountain Army… which has kind of gotten blown out of proportion, it was kind of just a joke, because everybody thought we were this hippie collective, like we all lived in one house. But it’s basically just our friends at home in Vancouver, just our extended family of creative people that we know."
Several members of the band have, for as long as a decade, worked for organizations that meet the basic living requirements of the chronically poor, drug addicted and mentally ill in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood, such as Insite. In an interview, the band said: "After work we all try not to think too hard about the effect it has on our lives. It keeps us grounded."
Wilderness Heart was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
March 11, 2014 The Black Mountain song "Wucan" was featured on season 2 of the FOX drama "The Following" during the eighth episode entitled "Messenger".
The Black Mountain song "Druganaut" is featured in a June, 2014 Father's Day commercial for J.C. Penney.
Evil Ways
Black Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and there ain't no way I can be freed
I've been imprisoned by your demon lust
Cursed by your black magic touch
[Chorus]
It ain't easy but you've got to change your evil ways
Chased the devil now I've seen the light
Ain't no escape from these evil ways
Sweet Lucifer, I must break free
[Chorus]
Bless me lord from what I've done
Problem child ain't no devil's son
But the hounds of hell keep chasing me
Free the witch and let me be
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Black Mountain's song Evil Ways describe the singer's struggle with a seductive and bewitching woman who has put a spell on him. He feels imprisoned by her "demon lust" and cursed by her "black magic touch." The chorus urges the witchy child to change her evil ways, implying that her behavior is harmful and needs to be corrected.
The second verse of the song suggests that the singer has a history of engaging in sinful behavior, but he has now "seen the light" and wants to break free from the spell the witch has cast. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is seeking redemption from a higher power, asking to be blessed by the lord for his past actions. He maintains that he is not a devil's son, but feels pursued by the hounds of hell.
Overall, the lyrics to Evil Ways portray a struggle between good and evil, love and lust, and redemption and damnation.
Line by Line Meaning
Witchy child put a spell on me
A seductive and dangerous person has entranced me with their unnatural power.
and there ain't no way I can be freed
I am powerless to resist this enchantment, no matter how hard I try.
I've been imprisoned by your demon lust
I am trapped in the grip of an irresistible but malevolent desire.
Cursed by your black magic touch
This person's influence over me is a curse that exerts itself through physical touch.
[Chorus]
Despite the danger, I must resist this person and try to break free.
Damn, you know I've burnt some sinner's fire
I have committed serious sins in the past and am now paying the price for them through this curse.
Chased the devil now I've seen the light
I have pursued evil in my life, but now I finally understand the true nature of my actions.
Ain't no escape from these evil ways
It is difficult to escape from the consequences of my actions and the people I have become entangled with.
Sweet Lucifer, I must break free
I am desperate to escape from this curse and the allure of the witchy child's power.
[Chorus]
My only hope is to turn away from my past and try to live a better life, even if it is difficult.
Bless me lord from what I've done
I am seeking forgiveness from a higher power for my past sins.
Problem child ain't no devil's son
Despite my past associations, I am not inherently evil and should not be judged solely for my mistakes.
But the hounds of hell keep chasing me
I am still haunted by the consequences of my actions, no matter how much I try to escape them.
Free the witch and let me be
I acknowledge that the witchy child's power is not something I can control or possess, and I ask for release from their grasp.
[Chorus]
Despite my struggles and misdeeds, I must continue to strive for a better life and resist the pull of evil.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amber Erica Webber, Jeremy Victor Schmidt, Joshua Mark Wells, Matthew Camirand, Stephen Gordon McBean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
aw hellno
I had my dad hear this track. He goes "oh well this have been late 60's or early 70's" Black Mountain!
Anai Bendai
Wow. This has a real old school Sabbath feel all round - from the guitar sound to the beat to the lyrics to the voicing to... yeah... cool stuff. Kind of reminds me of "EVIL WOMAN" by Black Sabbath - but with a much spookier vibe.
JustLexi
such a good album
Chris Wood
Goddamn such a solid funky jam
Chris Wood
Goddamn this a solid funky jam
chris a
This sounds like proper 60 s psyche, mainly the Monks, if you don't know them look them up on you tube, truly out there and early! Gonna buy this though.
Pedro Machado
Great sound track for "Forum or against em". Congrats.
B L
After listening this song I feel my legs tired
thecuckookid
Yeah, the Monks Chant. Good call.
Lael Peters
Some one mentioned Sabbath.. I hear a subtle sound of classic Iron Butterfly in here too..?