Vincent Black Shadow - More Deeper
jordan posted this review onMay 29th, 2008
If you think you have a musical GPS system in your head, then after the first listen of Vincent Black Shadow’s More Deeper you’ll probably pin them under Detroit or somewhere else in Michigan as I did at first. It was my mistake to assume that none of that exhaust emanating from VBS could be from Baltamont, Maryland. Vincent Black Shadow chooses to pay homage to horsepower by bearing the same name as a 1950s motorcycle, a badass vintage speed demon, and potential infringement aside, I believe VBS deserves this title. It just makes sense. There’s plenty of fuzzy guitar wailing, savage throaty vocals, and high-energy psychedelic acid rock to remind you of bands like Boris, Nebula, or Fu Manchu. Frontman Adam Savage also employs the lewdness factor of proto-punk veterans the Stooges. This band kicks out jams like MC5, and gets as furiously funky as Deep Purple, but with speed instead of weed (”Dome City,” “Restless,” “Pac Man Jones”).
Sadly, there are only nine tracks of rock ‘n rolly goodness on More Deeper, cut just short enough to make you crave more. I’m already itching to go see them play live This type of energy demands a better environment than my bedroom. The album was recorded live in the studio and on analog tape, so if you subscribe to all that is loud, dirty, and raw, then you will definitely be pleased with More Deeper. Sure, there are plenty of other bands who boast this super-charged vintage rock sound, but Vincent Black Shadow indulges in it and savors each moment. If you’re into major catchy and groovy hooks, VBS makes sure you get your fix, and sometimes they will beat the rhythm into your head like a brutal hardcore assault (”Volume One,” “Wooden Kimono”). This album is like getting drugged, mugged, and being driven through a tunnel of strobe-lights and razors…if that sounds like something you may not be into, you will be, just give it a spin. “OH YEAH!”
Vincent Black Shadow - Volume One
May 29th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Rock and Roll Jordan. I’m loving these articles, and I know that they will only get better!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Thanks man. The records you gave me were so good overall, you gotta give me something mediocre one of these days!
May 31st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Couldn’t they just write one fucking great song, like Richard Thompson did, and be done with the tribute thing? No… they gotta go and inflict a whole band on us.
May 31st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I appreciate the feedback, Spacey. Actually, there are TWO bands with the name, the other is THE Vincent Black Shadow (www.myspace.com/tvbs), but with their sound the title seems less apropos. But this is just a band choosing a name that’s very relevant to their material, not necessarily an band dedicated all their work to the motorcycle’s namesake…I had a good idea what kind of band they were as soon as I heard the name, and there’s nothing wrong with that. And VBS definitely stands out next to so many other bands with this sort of theme in their music, I think every song on this album is fairly strong.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
hey, thanks for the review! i’m the guitarist for vbs, and we’re psyched on all the kind words we’ve been getting all around. hopefully we’ll be able to play the ATL soon!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
No problem, Dan! I really enjoyed the album, you guys definitely know what you’re doing. VBS in ATL would be awesome!