Friday 16 December 2016

RoadKillSoda - Space Echo & Time (Album Review)


Release date: December 22nd 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Space Echo & Time – Tracklisting

Made Of Stone
Wrong
Set You Free
Drove Away
Out Of Phase
Aura Lake
Can't Take Control
Freebird

Band Members

Mircea Petrescu "Hotshot Eagle" - vox;
Mihnea Ferezan "Panda Elixir" - gtrs;
Victor "Vava" Ferezan - bass;
Mihai Nicolau "Baby Jesus" - drums;

Review

Romanian Stoner Metallers – RoadKillSoda – have decided to release an acoustic album for their fourth album. It's a collection of old and new songs given an acoustic makeover. Acoustic albums can be a hard thing to pull off. As you think certain songs are not suited for an acoustic type setting. Though RoadKillSoda have chosen their songs wisely on Space Echo & Time.

RoadKillSoda released a double album for their last record. Whilst it was a great record, it was excessive in parts. So it's cool that this album only contains eight tracks. The album itself is very good indeed with the band showing a great talent in playing acoustic versions of some of their best known tracks such as Wrong, Drove Away and Can't Take Control. The band even offer new tracks such as Aura Lake and Made Of Stone.

The album has quite a dirty Southern Rock feel to it. As the sound can be very murky at times which only adds to the acoustic feel of the album. RoadKillSoda have a lot of soulful blues running through their music which may surprise long-time fans of the band. Obviously this being an acoustic album, you will miss the band's signature heavy thunderous sound which they utilized so well on their previous albums.

Space Echo & Time shows that the band can play their instruments beautifully well. It's perhaps RoadKillSoda's most grown up and assured recorded performance to date. It took me a few listens to actually enjoy the overall feel and atmosphere of the album. It's a superbly produced record and it shows that RoadKillSoda can play in an “UNPLUGGED” type environment.

It must have been daunting for “new” vocalist Mircea singing tracks that were originally sung by their previous vocalist Sebastian Stancu. Mircea brings his own style to RoadKillSoda. He's more one Grunge/Southern Rock compared to Sebastian. It's a very different contrast but it allows Mircea to confidently grow into the role.

Space Echo & Time is a very good album indeed. It's a daring album for RoadKillSoda to release and I can see why they released an acoustic album such as this. Check this out if you're a long-time fan of the band. As you'll be treated to a highly intriguing album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links: