Here's another retro rocker from Sweden and the folks at Transubstans Records. Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Mailbus are a four piece band comprised of Karl Apelmo ( vocals, guitars), Mikael Pettersson ( guitars), Viktor Kallgren (bass), and Henrik Persson (drums), and these guys play a style that is part hard rock, part psychedelic, and a touch of prog. Bloom is their latest release following 2007's Elephanta. If you can imagine a mix of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley, and Wolfmother, you can an idea of what this band is all about. Jangly, sometimes riff-heavy guitar patterns, occasional Hammond organ, plodding drum work, and semi- catchy songs are all part of the formula, and Apelmo's vocals fall into the higher pitched realm which fits the nature of the music perfectly. "Skin Deep" rocks pretty hard, and the textured "Tales of the Future" tosses up some proggy organ into their mix of psychedelia and hard rock. "IAOA" has some neat guitar effects & feedback to go along with trippy arrangements, and wah-wah guitar patterns wash about the mix on the atmospheric title track. A little bluesy harmonica pops up on the otherwise doomy "Fernando", complete with almost post rock guitar textures and anguished vocals.
Overall, Bloom is not the most uplifting or sensory engaging release you'll hear this year, but Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus have an interesting sound that has something to offer for fans of moody, psychedelic hard rock.
Track Listing
01. Elefanta
02. Skin Deep
03. Tales Of The Future
04. Golden Hours
05. IAOA
06. Bloom
07. Tropic
08. Fernando
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