Release
date: August 31st 2018. Label: Nuclear Blast Records. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Gateways
– Tracklisting
Set
Your Sights
The
Way
Reflections
On
The Run
All
This Time
Hidden
Streams
Reset
Nebula
Farewell
Tune
Out
The
Chain (FLEETWOOD MAC Cover) Bonus Track (DIGI and 2LP only!)
Members
Óskar
Logi - Guitar and vocals
Alexander
Örn - Bass and backup vocals
Stefán
Ari - Drums and backup vocals
Review
Icelandic
trio The Vintage Caravan describe their sound as Classic Rock. There
bio notes that the average age of the band members is around 24 years
old. As this guy just turned 41, my definition of classic rock
(Zeppelin, Who, Boston) differs a bit from theirs (Nirvana,
Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine), which isn't necessarily a bad
thing. Gateways is the band's fourth album, but is my first exposure
to these guys, and I am glad to have finally found them. While their
sound is classic rock influenced, I wouldn’t necessarily say it is
a retro sound, but a bit more in feel. Gateways is a sonically
inspired, excellently played and well recorded record. The guitars
are big and crunch, the drumming is heavy, and the band carries a
solid groove throughout. The vocals are also very solid and cleanly
delivered.
The
record opens with the groove heavy Set
Your Sights
which
delivers on the big time crunchy guitar sound and closes with some
killer soloing and sweet tempo change at the end. The
Way
opens
with a fuzzed out Lenny Kravitz like guitar riff that carries on
throughout the song and features an absolutely wicked solo. A
marching drum sound opens the tightly wound Reflections,
that explodes with an intense, monster riff and a killer bass groove.
On
the Run
opens
with an acoustic guitar opening and a low rumbling intro that gives
way to a killer 80’s rock sound and some more intense solos. This
is an awesome track! All
This Time
rumbles
in with a RATM guitar and bass groove and a super catchy chorus.
Hidden
Streams
follows
and is a song that shows the bands multifaceted range. It is a high
energy rock song with a couple of tempo shifts and changes. Reset
brings
in a bit of an Urge Overkill sounding chorus with a heavy psych
breakdown.
Nebula
opens
with a spacy, acoustic sound that is very Bowie/Floyd inspired and
also brings in elements of Alice in Chains like vocals and vibe. The
song closes with a big guitar outro. The albums closes on a bit of a
darker note with Farewell.
The song has a darker, grungier feel, especially with the chorus. The
vibe continues in to the closer, Tune
Out,
and it’s somber, dark, spacy tempo and feel. The track also
features a bit of mellotron and a psych heavy, Blue Oyster Cult like
breakdown.
(Editor’s
Note - Sadly
our promo review copy didn’t have The Chain listed which the
retail copies will have).
Gateways
is an impressive record with it’s themes of travelling both
mentally and physically showing the band with a mature approach to
their music and songwriting. Whatever era you consider classic rock,
you are sure to find to find elements of those songs with the Vintage
Caravan. The band has a real knack for taking the sounds of others
and making them uniquely their own. I would highly recommend
Gateways! Dig on it.
Todd S - Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou
Words by Todd Stealey
Gateways
be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Nuclear Blast Records from
August
31st
2018
Links: