More classy retro rock from Sweden
There is a plethora of bands recreating a 70’s vibe in their music at the moment and for my money some of the best of these are coming out of Sweden.
The music is not a pastiche of the classic 70’s rock bands, rather they seem to combine the warmth and musicality of the records that inspired them with the added polish of modern recording. Wheel In The Sky are a new band to me and if anything their sound could even have its roots in an earlier decade, with a 60’s garage rock sound running throughout the album coupled with hints of The Who.
The melodic choruses, big guitars and crashing drum fills reminded me of the period when Pete Townsend’s writing was at its peak between 1968 and 1976.
It’s also well recorded with a bright, crisp sound which shows off the songs’ melodies and riffs. The Led Zeppelin style acoustic instrumental title track provides a gentle prelude which launches the rollercoaster ride with the first track proper Death To All, swiftly followed by Jezebel and Rainbow Of Evil. Each of these is better than the track before it, with Rainbow Of Evil proving to be a stand-out track. Damn It All To Hell and Thrust The Night keep up the momentum before A Turn For The Wicked arrives.
This is another of the albums best tracks that is a little mellower in a Foo Fighters kind of way before final track God On High brings to a close a whirlwind 32 minutes of pure class. So check them out, you won’t be disappointed.
