Drive By Wire - Spellbound (Album Review)

Release date: February 23rd 2018. Label: Argonauta Records/Minstrel Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Spellbound – Tracklisting

1.Glider 03:26

2.Where Have You Been 04:27

3.Mammoth 03:58

4.Apollo 05:11

5.Blood Red Moon 04:43

6.Superoverdrive 03:44

7.Van Plan 04:00

8.Lost Tribes 04:20

9.Devil’s Fool 03:15

10.Lifted Spirit 04:04

11.Spellbound 04:16

Members

Simone Holsbeek

Alwin Wubben

Jerome Miedendorp de Bie

Marcel Zerb

Review

Spellbound is the new album from famed Dutch Psych Desert/Stoner Rockers – Drive By Wire. The album is full of the usual heavy Desert/Stoner Rock vibes and it’s a highly entertaining album from start to finish. It’s never going to win any awards for originality but what does in the realm of Desert/Stoner Rock. Drive By Wire’s strongest asset is lead vocalist Simone. As she fully rules this album with her highly charismatic, passionate and soulful vocals.

Though Drive By Wire is very much a team effort with Alwin, Jerome and Marcel creating heavy sounds for Simone to match her eerie and powerful vocals to. Songs such as Glider, Where Have You Been and Superoverdrive some of the best songs heard on the first half of the album. As Drive By Wire create some of their heaviest riffs of their career to date. The music drifts from Desert Rock to heavier style of Stoner Metal and it’s good to see Drive By Wire progress from their earlier albums.

The second half of the album is where Spellbound impresses the most as the album fully kicks into life with superb lyrics that have a classic Desert/Stoner Rock feel. If you’re not moved by the heavy grooves of Van Plan, Lost Tribes, Lifted Spirit and Spellbound then there is no hope for you.

The production is impressive. Though there are a few moments where I wanted more VOLUME to make Drive By Wire’s music truly standout. As it feels slightly muted. Other than that minor complaint Drive By Wire have delivered another standout album to add to their already impressive back catalogue. The band have just celebrated their 12^th anniversary as a band. With albums such as Spellbound you can see Drive By Wire being around for a whole lot longer.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Drive By Wire - The Whole Shebang (Album Review)

Release date: January 12th 2015. Label: Konkurrent. Formats: CD/DD

The Whole Shebang: Tracklisting

1 Kerosine Dreams 4:03

2 Woodlands 4:17

3 The Whole Shebang 3:35

4 Five Ft. High 3:14

5 Rituals 4:56

6 In This Moment 2:52

7 River Run 2:41

8 Promised the Night 4:23

9 Rotor Motor 4:03

10 All Around 2:51

11 Voodoo You Do 4:39

Band Members:

Simone Holsbeek

Alwin Wubben

Jerome Miedendorp de Bie

Marcel Zerb

Rene Rutten

Review:

Psych Stoner Rockers – Drive By Wire – may not offer the most original sounds on their new album – The Whole Shebang– but it’s still an exciting listen from start to finish. The hazy vocals of Simone and the fast-paced fuzz-laiden Desert/Stoner Rock grooves have an addictive quality to them.

Opening track – Kerosine Dreams – is a bluesy number with the band creating an intriguing sound that encompasses Hard Rock, Blues, Desert, Psych and Stoner that will no doubt appeal to fans of Kyuss and Fu Manchu. The instrumental work is where Drive By Wire excels at with the band creating an almost angry sound especially with Simone’s heartfelt vocals. Though I know most people will be here for the riffs and this song is full of them.

Second track – Woodlands – sees the band offering an angrier vision. You can hear shades of The Cult classic – She Sells Sanctuary here for the first minute or so. It’s an interesting sound that Drive By Wire deserves credit for as it’s an intriguing mixture of Stoner Rock vibes mixed with a hard-rock angle. Woodlands can be very trippy at times especially with Simone’s vocals as Simone adds an aura of mystery around her vocals.

Third track – The Whole Shebang – now sees the band inject some much needed 70s Classic Hard Rock sounds into the mix. It’s one of the albums more exciting and perhaps original songs the band has written here. This is the song that perfectly sums up Drive By Wire. It’s a bluesy-psychedelic-desert-stoner-rock packed number with the band having fun with their music.

Fourth track – Five ft High – is another soulful blues-laiden entry with Simone’s vocals being the main attraction. Sure the music is good as always but it’s the vocals that keep you interested. As it’s a winning combination of bluesy pitch perfect vocals and a storming desert/stoner rock party-like atmosphere.

It’s going to be hard to offer a track-by-track review as The Whole Shebang has 11 tracks for you to listen to. Drive By Wire have written some fantastic songs here. Especially on the QOTSA inspired – Rituals – which is another fantastic track when the band ventures into heavier psychedelic waters.

Later tracks such as River Run, Rotor Motor and Voodoo You Do sees the band offer heavier riffs where the potent mix of Blues, Psych, Stoner and Hard Rock are never too far way. The production is one of the albums strengths as it sounds superb through-out. You can feel every rhythm and note being played and the vocals make you feel you’re in the front row seeing Drive By Wire in action.

Drive By Wire should be proud of this album as The Whole Shebang has a lot to offer to both the more casual and serious Stoner Rock fan. It’s an exciting and superb well rounded album. Check it out. Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Drive By Wire for the promo.

Words by Steve Howe

Links: 

Official | Facebook