Release
date: August
21st
2020.
Label: The
Sign Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Radical
Waves –
Tracklisting
Welcome
Where’s
the Time?
Super
Duper Van
I’m
Off
Stoneman
Snowman
Sushi
Sam
Mountain
M.O.O.D.
Got
Game
Lights
Members
Samúel
Ásgeirsson- guitar, lead vocals
Dagur
Atlason- drums
Þorsteinn
Árnason- bass
Review
Radical
Waves is the debut album Desert/Stoner Rockers Volcanova who hail
from Iceland. These cool Icelandic Rockers formed in 2014 and it’s
quite hard to believe they’re just releasing their debut album now.
As their debut album is packed full of many different sounds with
Volcanova playing genres such as Prog Rock, Psych Rock, Sludge Rock
and even Space Rock within their normal style of Desert Rock/Stoner
Metal.
As
debut albums go, this will be one of the best debut records of 2020.
As the band take many different creative risks and choices on this
record which ultimately pay-off for a more well rounded experience
which is top-heavy with spectacular riffs. The band seem to take
influence from bands such as Kyuss, QOTSA, Truckfighters and even
Mastodon on this album.
The
opening two songs Welcome and Where’s The Time showcase the band
playing a fast-paced and addictive style of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal
with the band adding a subtle Psychedelic groove to keep things that
slightly different. The vocals from Samúel are your standard style
of Desert/Stoner Rock vocals with that allow him to add a lot more
variety on the later stages of the album.
Things
go into overdrive with the stunning 3rd track – Super
Duper Van – with Volcanova moving slightly towards a more classier
style of Prog Rock with some fantastic lyrics and vocals allowing
Super Duper Van showing at first hand the band’s true talent at
writing action packed songs with thrilling lyrics and melodies to
match.
Fourth
Song – I’m Off – is where the band start adding a more heavier
Sludge Rock sound that works superbly well against the Desert Rock
textures featured in the opening songs. This song has a more
“Post-Doom” or “Post-Rock” approach that settles down to a
more heavier vibe. The band are seasoned road-warriors with the band
constantly touring over the last few years and you can tell they’ve
picked up a few tricks along the way touring with The Vintage Caravan
and ELDER. This song does have those band’s DNA on this song but
this still remains Volcanova’s show and you can’t help be
instantly drawn into their hazy Psychedelic world.
Fifth
song – Stoneman Snowman – is my favourite song on the entire
album with Volcanova playing a brilliantly clever style of Grunge,
Psych, Desert Rock, Sludge Rock and Stoner Metal with a haunting
Progressive mood holding everything together. The vocals are great
but it’s the music and lyrics that are the best part of the song.
There is killer riffs and a blistering sing-along chorus that you
can’t help not but SHOUT along to.
Volcanova
are in fine confident form leading into the 2nd half of
the album and dare I say that the 2nd part is even better
than the first half. The band do play some of the heaviest and most
expressive riffs on the album especially on the final two songs of
Got Game and Lights.
I
didn’t know what expect with Radical Waves before I listened to it
but Volcanova have released a wonderful album that will no doubt make
some actual waves within the Desert/Sludge/Stoner Rock scenes with
it’s wide range of different ideas held on the album.
You
would be absolutely insane to miss this album when it’s released in
August 2020. This will be classed as one of the best Stoner
Rock/Metal debut albums of 2020. Need I say more….
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Radical Waves will be available
to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Sign Records from August 21st
2020
Links:
