Release
date: April 13th
2018. Label: Noisolution.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
VUG
– S/T
– Tracklisting
Lose
Garden
Prophecy
Awaken
Poseidon
White
Room
VUG
Members
Phil
Octowhale, Bass
Max
Pank, Guitar
Bommi
Pelletier, Guitar+Vocals
Nick
DiSalvo, Drums
Review
VUG
offers an uncompromising raw sound on their self-titled debut album.
Taking refuge from the modern hard rock world and adapting a more
classic seventies Psych/Hard Rock sound merged with a thumping
Proto-Metal delivery. VUG album has a raw punk/progressive feel with
the band playing very loose and free with their music.
Opening
track - Lose - is a heavy affair with the vocals from Bommi
having a decidedly vintage feel to them. The music takes influence
from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy at times. The whole
sound of the album is one perhaps more suited for the classic/retro
rock fan than the modern day listener. As VUG embrace the legendary
sounds of the seventies. When the guitar solos appear on Lose, they
never feel forced or out of place. The song can be quite mellow in
parts and you know for a fact VUG will soon return to playing a
heavier style of music that you can't but help lose yourself in. The
song-writing arrangement is impressive on this song and throughout
this album as VUG merges the different musical elements that make
their overall sound.
Second
track - Garden - carries on the psych classic hard rock vibe but one
that adds heavier strands of classic heavy metal. This is where the
proto-metal influences kick in and allows VUG to play a more
confident style of music. The vocals from Bommi are impressive but I
would have liked to hear more variety from him. Though he puts in a
top-class vocal performance on the entire album.
Third
track - Prophecy - opens with a soulful blues rock sound and never
strays far from that style of music. There a few nice touches of
psychedelic rock appearing along the way. This is Perhaps VUG's
"mobile phone/lighter in the air" song compared to the
other songs on the album. I did admire how VUG brought in a classic
"Thin Lizzy" approach during the middle of the song. As
there is some impressive dual/twin guitar riffs being played on this
song.
The
rest of the songs on the album all last around the four minute mark
and this sees VUG leave the progressive rock sound behind and play a
more direct Proto-Metal/Hard Rock sound with elements of Vintage Doom
Rock being played as well. Standout tracks on the second half of the
album are: Awaken, White Room and VUG. Another highlight of the album
is the production. It may sound very raw sounding to some listeners.
However I feel the production is handled superbly well. As it
captures VUG's vintage, raw and unapologetic sound the way it's meant
to be heard.
I
forgot to mention that VUG has Nick from Elder in their ranks playing
drums. Just another reason if you want to check VUG out and see how
Nick's how superbly well Nick plays the drums.
VUG
has released a brilliantly entertaining slice of Hard Rock/Heavy
Metal that you will find very hard to beat. As no doubt the
Classic/Hard Rock community will go crazy over this album.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Nick
from VUG for
the promo. VUG
debut album will
be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Noisolution
from April 13th
2018.
Links:
