Hoodoo
Lightning
– Tracklisting
1.
Blues Science Pt 1 Thunder Rise
2.
Blues Science Pt 2 Hoodoo Lightning
3.
Fool
4.
Rainbow Ridge
5.
Supersonic Universe
6.
Monster
7.
Let It Roll
8.
Stay In The Wind
9.
El Hombre Dorado
10.
A Drifter's Tale
Members
Thomas
Juneor Andersson - Vocals, Guitars & percussion
Tobias
Strandvik - Drums & Percussion
Per
Wiberg - Vocals, Bass & Keys
Review
Hoodoo
Lightning is the 7th album from Swedish Blues/Stoner Rock
legends KAMCHATKA and it’s good to see the guys back after a small
break back in 2017. This album sees the band re-invent their
trademark Blues/Stoner Rock sound with a more grittier edge with the
music being more hard-edged compared to their previous albums.
This
is still KAMCHATKA but it feels they’ve rediscovered their passion
for all things HARD ROCK. As this is perhaps the heaviest the album
has done in years. The songs are more Psychedelic than I originally
expected but their Blues Rock influence remains a constant theme
woven into the fabric of the entire album. Hoodoo Lightning is a
CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM in every sense of the word with KAMCHATKA leaving
no doubt they’re one of the best Blues/Stoner Rock bands currently
out there.
The
songs allow KAMCHATKA to show fans that they’re hungrier as ever
for delivering fast-paced grooves with a twinge of HEAVY METAL
appearing here and there. The opening two-part song – Black Science
– is the perfect way to open the album. As it shows the band’s
new sound whilst still retaining the essence that made the band so
well known in the first place.
Second
song - Blues Science Pt 2 Hoodoo Lightning – is perhaps the
strongest part of the two-part song as KAMCHATKA start to become more
comfortable with their musical surroundings and the superb vocals
just add an extra layer of class to the overall feel of the album.
The music drifts into different styles of music such as Classic Rock,
Stoner Rock, Blues Rock and Psych Rock and still sounds remarkably
fresh and original.
The
album moves along at a cracking pace with songs such as Fool, Rainbow
Bridge and Supersonic Universe with many hard-rocking moments to
worship and admire. Rainbow Bridge and Supersonic Universe are two of
the best songs on the album with KAMCHATKA playing some of the best
grooves on the album especially when the Stoner Rock riffs go into
overdrive.
The
second half of the album sees KAMTCHATKA continue with their grittier
style of Psych/Blues/Stoner Rock with a few surprises along the way.
The instrumental work from all 3 members is good as ever with the
tight bond between Thomas, Tobias and Per being the main strength of
the whole album.
Standout
songs on the second half of the album are: Monster, Let It Roll and A
Drifter’s Tale.
Overall,
Hoodoo Lightning is the album that KAMCHATKA needed to release and it
shows the band have a lot more groovy stories to tell and I’m
grateful that there are bands such as KAMCHATKA still around to show
the world how to release a fantastic sounding Blues/Stoner Rock
album.
If
you’re new to the world of KAMCHATKA then this is the perfect album
to introduce yourselves to this amazing band. Long-time fans will no
doubt embrace this album with open arms and enjoy what is perhaps
their best album to date.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Claire
at Purple Sage PR
for the promo. Hoodoo
Lightning will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Border Music on
December 6th
2019.
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