Wow, What A Write Up.

Wow, what a write up.

Vacant Image - Before 12 When I think about Australia, I think about great rock and roll. From the iconic, timeless riffs of AC/DC to the psychedelic grooves of Tame Impala, the land down under is full of great music to discover. Vacant Image, with their in-your-face alternative rock, certainly belongs to that group of talented bands worth checking out.
Their recent release, “Before 12” kicks in with “Mister Bell”, a song that falls somewhere in between the melodies of Soundgarden and the energy of Stone Sour.
On “Double Negative”, you can even hear some more classic influences, which echo the work of masters such as Black Sabbath or Guns N Roses.
“Petals” is a nice mid tempo tune with a 90s feel, while “Eating Dahl Makhani with Paul McCartney”, besides the brilliant title, has a really upbeat energy that drives the track forward.
The middle chunk of the album consists of “Saving Sold Souls”, “Almost Nothingness” and “Mudder Fudder”, which showcase the band’s most aggressive side with searing riffs, blistering tempos and great vocal harmonies. “Ladies and Gentlemen” has a playful introduction, and this song sounds like it would be a true powerhouse in a live situation, with its big, dark textures.
With “Little Abby” and “Broken Blues”, the band resurfaces their love for classic rock and roll vibes. Creating a guitar riff might sound like a simple thing: it’s not about blistering speed or trying to play as many notes as you possibly can, but it is all about playing the right notes, the right way. This is why some of the most iconic guitar riffs in history are so easy to remember and hum along. Think Deep Purple. Think The Stones or even AC/DC. It is never about complexity, but about something simple and direct that keeps your feet tapping and your head bobbing. These songs are chockfull of amazing riffs and they do ignite so much life to a record that is already pulsating with every beat. “Before 12”, as an album, is a straight-up rock and roller, but it does offer an insight on the band’s broad vision and creative scope that extends beyond the tried-and-true formula of rock music, tapping into a whole lot of potential. Closing number, “11.33” is perhaps one of the most experimental and introspective tunes, with beautifully dissonant guitars and a laid-back tempo that is heavy without necessarily being fast. Find out more and listen:
https://vacantimage.bandcamp.com/