Monuments channels modern psychedelic prog rock with retro ’70s nostalgia!
Virtuosic ‘70s rock guitar ruminations encounter an irrefutable mixture of astonishing modern elements and classic psychedelic / progressive rock trademarks: Icelandic frontrunners The Vintage Caravan return with their fifth studio album, Monuments, out April 16, 2021 via Napalm Records.
After countless high-voltage live performances at festivals such as Roadburn, Wacken and Hellfest, and touring with Opeth, the Icelandic band’s new full-length impressively demonstrates that they have matured both musically and lyrically – presenting their very own potent mixture accented by bold, nostalgic nuance.
On 11 diverse tracks, these youngbloods from Reykjavik truly cast a spell on fans of bewitching, guitar-driven classic and blues rock influences. The album opener, “Whispers”, clearly showcases the band’s musical progression without sacrificing their tried-and-true, retro-inspired sonic trademark. “Crystalized ” convinces with light blues influences, encircling the listener in enchanting guitar lines and quickly rising to the full extent of its power while evoking anecdotes of retro nostalgia.
“Can’t get you out of my mind” takes its listener on a blistering ride through pounding drums, intense guitar solos and an undeniably catchy chorus, while tracks like “This one’s for you” represent a stunning blueprint in The Vintage Caravan’s musical universe with unconventional, surprisingly calm melodies and Óskar’s gripping, tranquil vocal power. In contrast, bold drumming merges with fast-paced riffs, enveloping an impressive galloping vortex and pronouncing tracks like “Dark Times” and “Said and Done” as top notch rock pieces. The soft plugging, atmospheric sound of album closer “Clarity” symbolizes the crowning culmination of a 60-minute journey through the eternal landscapes of Iceland and the poetic lyricism of the trio.
With their new studio-album Monuments and its captivating, stellar arrangements, these rising stars definitely know how to put their very own stamp on the retro rock wave!
Tracklisting: 01. Whispers 02. Crystallized 03. Can’t Get You Off My Mind 04. Dark Times 05. This One’s For You 06. Forgotten 07. Sharp Teeth 08. Hell 09. Torn in Two 10. Said & Done 11. Clarity
The Vintage Caravan are: Óskar Logi Ágústsson – lead vocals, electric guitar / Alexander Örn Númason – bass guitar, backing vocals / Stefán Ari Stefánsson – drums, percussion