Release Date: September 20th 2024. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Vita Mors: Tracklisting
1.Black Cat Callin'
2.Introduction
3.Evil 03:21
4.Bottom
5.Freelance Fiend
6.Head in a Hole 04:24
7.Never In My Life
8.Low 'N Easy 04:56
9.I'll Be Your One
10.Surrounded by Thieves
11.No Substitutions
12.Watch Our Skeletons Die
13.You Better Get Runnin'
14.Outro (Thank You)
15.Time Moves On
Members
David Angstrom - Guitar & vocals
Zeth Pedulla - Drums
Doug Tackett - Bass
Review
Vita Mors is the new album from Psych/Blues/Stoner Rockers Luna Sol and is their first album in seven years. This is quite an in-depth and wonderfully engaging album to come back with spread across fifteen tracks which offers a mammoth slice Appalachian based Stoner Rock. The music is peppered with Americana, Fuzz Rock, Classic Hard Rock and a rebellious Punk Rock attitude.
Luna Sol frequently brings a HEAVY PSYCH and OUTLANDISH sound to the album that effortlessly moves from areas of over the last forty years of Stoner Rock with the record offering a “TIME CAPSULE” based delivery for the whole album. The guitars can be super freaky and superbly aggressive with the layers of distorted instrumental passages with a sludgy sonic assault on the senses. Luna Sol is deeply emotionally connected with the BLUES. As this record is powered by a megaton of explosive Blues Rock grooves that can demonstrate a classic Heavy Metal appetite which soon almost verge on PROTO-METAL in places.
This album is quite different to their previous albums as they move with the times even with the mighty presence of their style Retro Rock allowing Luna Sol to deliver a fantastic amount of different styles of Southern Rock. The lyrics are quite refreshing to hear as they’re unashamedly vintage sounding and have been written within a Classic Rock timeframe and structure.
I would love to do a song-by-song analysis of the whole album but I would be here all day explaining how great this album is. The riffs flow with absolute purpose and the music can be quite daring and progressive even when firmly rooted within its Classic Hard Rock and Southern Rock sensibilities.
If Vita Mors was released in the 1960’s or 1970’s then it would be considered a landmark record. As it has a similar creative energy to bands such as CREAM, Blue Cheer, Cactus and Led Zepp but with the seminal 90’s Desert/Stoner Rock sound allowing that extra level of HEAVINESS to the party.
Standout tracks include: Black Cat Callin’, Evil (Is On The Rise), Freelance Fiend, Head In A Hole, Low ‘N Easy, Surrounded By Thieves, No Substitutions and You Better Get Runnin’
The final track Time Moves On (With Space) is a very cool sounding and reflective track which is quite different to what came before it. As it’s a semi-acoustic offering which ends the record on a quiet finish compared to the highly energetic and more aggressive tracks that appeared before it. Perhaps not how I would end the album but who am I to judge.
This doesn’t stop Luna Sol releasing a wonderfully engaging and soulful Stoner Rock record that doesn't really come about that often. With first rate production values which isn’t surprising with this being a Ripple Music release, Vita Mors is an emotionally rewarding experience that deserves your maximum attention and one that will soon become considered one of the year’s best Blues based Stoner Rock albums.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Vita Mors will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from Friday 20th September 2024.
Links
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