| CD REVIEW Oblivious |
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Band: Oblivious This is a highly competent retro bluesy stoner rock attack, the production is very good and captures the guitar tones perfectly. Ideas on offer here from the 70s rock gigants such as Led Zeppelin, Bloodrock, Iron Butterfly, Free… to the southern flavors of a Lynyrd Skynyrd, Clutch, Gov’t Mule… this kind of vintage rock has been done so many times that you can’t expect much in terms of originality. But this Swedish quintet comes up with decent riffs, the drummer gets some very good groove going and if Zakk Wylde gets in trouble with his vocals, Isak is a very good replacement and that’s a complement. Oblivous often is the bastard son of Black Label Society. With some chunky layered guitar solos in opener “Egoboy” and "Red eyed goon", it is a promising start to the album... "Masters of time" and "Dead end night" have more southern soul as it drag down and rock in a slower fashion. "Throne” has a riff that brought my thoughts back to the "Easy livin”-period of Uriah Heep “Kicking and screaming” and “Boiling brain” become a return to good ol’ fashioned up-tempo r n’ r with sweaty, boozy hooks, butt-shaking rhythms. Perfect band synergy and various songwriting add up to Oblivious being a winner. File them next to Kamchatka, Half Man, Backdraft, Blowback,… 85/100 cosmicmasseur. |