Saturday 8 February 2020

VESSEL - Vagabond Blues (Album Review)


Release date: February 07th 2020. Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Vagabond Blues - Tracklisting

1.Vagabond Blues 03:15
2.Twenty Twenty 03:48
3.Atacama 06:30
4.Red Witch 06:36
5.Dark in the Light 02:29
6.The Void Tempest 07:45
7.The Devil's Backyard 07:40

Members

Jordan Forster: Guitars
Mason Matheson: Vocals
Adrian Doling-Hill: Bass

Review

Vagabond Blues is the new album from Aussie Psych Doom/Desert/Stoner Rockers VESSEL who include a heavy Fuzz Rock attitude into their overall sound. The album is quite raw from start to finish but remains one of the albums greatest strengths. As VESSEL play a faster style of Stoner Rock/Metal with a “streetwise” attitude that allows the album to be ALL KILLER and NO FILLER.

The collection of songs on this album is quite addictive with the band allowing their talent for writing fast-paced riffs and cracking lyrics to match. The album also has an off-kilter “Punk” flavour to it which allows the different strands of Doom, Fuzz, Psych, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock to grow quite naturally. The spacier elements of the album start to take shape at different parts of the album with psychedelic noises and sounds being quite different in places.

The vocals from Mason have a “classic” feel and flow to them and he puts his own distinctive vibe on the album especially on songs such as: Vagabond Blues, Twenty Twenty, Red Witch, The Void Tempest and The Devil’s Backyard.

It’s the final two songs of The Void Tempest and The Devil’s Backyard is where VESSEL play the heaviest and most aggressive sounds of the album. As the album turns quite dark and sinister in places on the later stages of the album. It’s good to see VESSEL taking chances with their music and Vagabond Blues becomes more of an exciting and destructive album because of this.

You never know which direction the album will follow next. This is an album with a beginning, middle and end with a “loose” narrative letting the band play some epic riffs of their own. It may take a few listens to fully enjoy and appreciate what VESSEL are trying to achieve with this album but you will sure have some demented fun along the way.

Vagabond Blues is an exciting album that has the potential to turn some heads within the Stoner Rock community in the months to come. Get on board with this great band. VESSEL are coming for you….

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for the promo. Vagabond Blues is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp