VERMILION WHISKEY
Vermilion Whiskey are a five piece band from Louisiana, consisting of vocalist Thaddeus Riordan, the guitar duo of Ross Brown and Carl Stevens, bassist Jeremy Foret and Buck Andrus on drums. ‘Spirit of Tradition’ is the follow up to 2013's debut, ‘10 South’. And the word 'Tradition' in this release's title is apt and probably entirely deliberate, as this is a record that conveys a very traditional style of rock. Indeed, there is a strong Sabbath influence to the six songs on offer here, which links it back to the beginnings of the heavy rock/metal genre in the late'60s.
'The Past Is Dead', which is also redolent of Mind Funk, and 'Come Find Me' both feature Sabbath style time changes mid-track, while 'Loaded' contains an archetypal Sabbath style riff. I am not trying to denigrate Vermilion Whiskey in any way by saying that they are influenced by Sabbath – indeed, I feel that they have taken some classic ingredients, but have very much made them their own. And although from the Deep South of the US, I would say that there is little here that obviously indicates this to the listener apart from, maybe, the bluesy and slightly gravelly vocals of Riordan.
This is a well-produced and professionally executed release, with plenty of solidity and power in the delivery of the riffs, and one that I recommend. It should stand the band in good stead as they seek to increase their audience and, ultimately, sell more records.
'The Past Is Dead', which is also redolent of Mind Funk, and 'Come Find Me' both feature Sabbath style time changes mid-track, while 'Loaded' contains an archetypal Sabbath style riff. I am not trying to denigrate Vermilion Whiskey in any way by saying that they are influenced by Sabbath – indeed, I feel that they have taken some classic ingredients, but have very much made them their own. And although from the Deep South of the US, I would say that there is little here that obviously indicates this to the listener apart from, maybe, the bluesy and slightly gravelly vocals of Riordan.
This is a well-produced and professionally executed release, with plenty of solidity and power in the delivery of the riffs, and one that I recommend. It should stand the band in good stead as they seek to increase their audience and, ultimately, sell more records.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
10 South Productions
EP
SPIRIT OF TRADITION
Review by Dave Uphill
RUNNING TIME:
28:20
RELEASE DATE:
17th February 2017
TRACK LISTING
1) Road King
2) The Past is Dead
3) Come Find Me
4) Monolith
5) One Night
6) Loaded Up
2) The Past is Dead
3) Come Find Me
4) Monolith
5) One Night
6) Loaded Up
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA
"...there is a strong Sabbath influence to the six songs on offer here..."
