Release Date: September 06th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Back To The Shop: Tracklisting
1 Silverback - 4:32
2. Kolbenfresser - 4:17
3. Potmodel - 5:51
4. Big dog - 04.50
5. Head Out West (Bonus Track) - 06.45
Members
Bass-T (Cripper) - Bass/Vocals
Steven Broschkus - Drums
Nico Viehl - Guitars
Review
Stoner Metallers Van Groover release their splendid new EP Back To The Shop which arrives exactly a year to the day since they released their previous EP - Back From The Shop. The EP sees the band taking a darker and aggressive creative turn compared to the previous EP. The vocals are slightly Sludge based with a Punk Rock attitude.
The EP is catchy and very fast-paced with a slightly classic Garage Rock style of Fuzz, Stoner and Desert Rock sounds. Van Groover plays fast and loose with the music which has echoes of bands such as 1000Mods, Truckfighters, FU MANCHU and even Motorhead. As there’s a deceptive Speed Metal sound emerging within the shadows of Silverback and Kolbenfresser which manifests into a muscular style of Groove Metal merged within the compounds of Stoner Rock/Metal.
Van Groover still plays small amounts of melodic Psych Rock within this EP with a murky Space Rock attitude forming within the quieter and less rebellious parts of the EP. The vocals are quite straightforward and veer towards the Heavy Metal side of life which allows Van Groover to play a vastly different sound compared to Back From The Shop.
The EP takes another slight detour into Americana/Outlaw/Southern Rock territory within the wonderfully weird third track Potmodel. The production values are lo-fi and abstract with the sound being quite DIY based but Van Groover excels slowing bringing an earthly Blues Rock energy to the track which soon transforms into a classic style of Doom/Stoner Metal set against the killer HARMONICA being played throughout.
The final two tracks of Big Dog and Head Out West round up this hard-rocking and catchy as hell EP with moments of Southern Rock/Metal wandering with a top-notch care-free WEEDIAN PSYCHEDELIC attitude with more great guitar solos allowing Van Groover to impress yet again.
Back To The Shop has a terrific DIY approach with the production values and recording conditions used for the EP. Everything sounds so damn authentic and I can picture these guys sounding the very same on the LIVE STAGE. Let’s hope their aforementioned “VAN” that keeps breaking down within their previous releases still ends up going back to the shop. As this EP is a superb piece of entertainment which should keep the underground masses happy for quite some time.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Van Groover for the promo.
Back To The Shop will be available to buy digitally from Friday 06th September 2024.
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