The Vintage Caravan – Voyage
24th December 2013Well before the jolly fat man in a red suit visits us I have a nice review of the debut album βVoyageβ for you from Icelandic band βThe Vintage Caravanβ. After a quick look at the album cover (great artwork) then you should know what this young trio sound like. If not then they show their appreciation for the classic acts from the 70βs and if you want songs that are catchy and inspired by a 70βs heavy blues rock then look no further than βThe Vintage Caravanβ. This is a great album, especially for a debut, and channels the sounds of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Cream, Free, Hawkwind, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Yes and so on.
They produce some crunchy tasty heavy riffs that are supported by a pounding rhythm section that can also add some funk and catchy beats to the mix and topped off by some powerful vocals. The vocalist sounds like a mix between Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes and some of the guitar riffs he produces are searing rock riffs, like the solo on the track βM.A.R.S.W.A.T.T.β is powerful and furious. Some songs have a more heavier blues rock and even remind me of early Judas Priest (Sin After Sin and earlier) like the amazing album opener βCravingβ, βLet Me Beβ and βMidnight Meditationβ. While βDo You Rememberβ is a classic ballad that just blends into the album and βWinterlandβ shows the band melancholy, atmospheric dreamy psychedelic and trippy side. The only downside to the album is that some of the song writing could be a little improved, some songs seem to just change and on the first few listens you might think you are onto the next track as some songs tempo changes donβt fit very well. While the 11 minute epic closer βThe Kings Voyageβ is like Black Sabbath and Hawkwind have merged together to perform an epic song to attack your senses with heavy bruising guitar and bass riffs colliding with trippy sounds and vocal effects, itβs like an insane trippy space metal/rock adventure.
While this isnβt a master piece, however you canβt fault it for a debut album, and I really look forward to how they progress in the future. One thing is for certain, βThe Vintage Caravanβ are a band to look out for in 2014 and I would recommend this album to anyone.
SCORE β 8
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ALBUM INFO
Track List:
1β¦ Craving
2β¦ Let Me Be
3β¦ Do You Remember
4β¦ Expand Your Mind
5β¦ M.A.R.S.W.A.T.T.
6β¦ Cocaine Sally
7β¦ Winterland
8β¦ Midnight Meditation
9β¦ The Kings Voyage
LABEL β Nuclear Blast
RELEASE DATE β 10th January 2014 (EU), 13th January 2014 (UK) and 21st January 2014 (USA)
STAND OUT TRACKSΒ β “Craving”, “Do You Remember”, “Cocaine Sally” and “Midnight Meditation”
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