Super Vintage: Welcome To Mojo Land

After a quick one-two of albums through the retrospective release Rock n' Roll For Your Soul and all new Salvation Road, Greek rock masters Super Vintage return less than a year down the line with Welcome To Mojo Land. With both of those previous discs hugely impressive, they've sure as hell set themselves a high bar to vault with album number three. However, if anything, that pressure seems to have spurred songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Stavros Papadopoulos on to greater heights, the eleven songs on WTML stunning throughout.

Not surprisingly, given they've teamed up with US hard blues rock masters Grooveyard Records, Super Vintage undoubtedly fall into that style and yet, showing their European heritage, what makes SV stand out from the crowd is the slightly commercial sheen that sits atop much of what they create. Think Skynyrd meeting Fuel For Your Soul era Jagged Edge and you'll begin to get a handle on the gloriously rich field from which this band pick their fruit. Having two superb guitarists doesn't exactly hurt either, Papadopoulos tearing out solos that barely leave the skin on your face, while Panagiotis Zabourlis hammers down the mightiest of riffs. The bass slot in the band has remained in flux, Jim Moralis the third four-string man in three albums, but hopefully he'll stick around, because the understanding he instinctively seems to have with Lazaros Simitis behind the kit, is a weapon you don't trade in lightly.

The album starts with a real sense of confidence, "Southern Moon Rising" a slow build that settles into a heartfelt, mid-paced groove, before "Delta Mud" adds an authentic Southern air, Zabourlis providing some scintillating slide guitar. The deep, rich riff which follows, is a reason for celebration, especially when Hammond organ brings another surging layer of power to the whole shebang. The pair make for an instantly engaging, yet unforced introduction, which unlike so many albums these days, allows Welcome To Mojo Land to grow and evolve as the songs keep coming. Therefore when "Let Me Be What I Want To Be" slams into you, Padapopoulos setting the frets afire, the effect is doubled. Following that hammer blow of rock with the grinding shuffle of "Rock n'Roll Revolution", however, is inspired, the female backing vocals from Areti Valavanopoulou an unexpected delight as Papadopoulos unveils a riff so mighty, you'll never have to wonder ever again how it would sound if George Lynch of Dokken joined Lynyrd Skynyrd!

It's quite some time since I've heard a band manage to sound so authentically steeped in the land of hard rocking blues, but still able to add a natural sounding commercial edge (possibly recent Skynyrd being the only band that really spring to mind). But with Welcome To Mojo Land, Super Vintage have arrived to lay claim to that crown. If they can keep releasing music up to the amazingly high standard displayed here, long may they reign!

Track Listing
1. SOUTHERN MOON RISING

2. DELTA MUD

3. SON OF PAIN

4. KISS YOUR BAD FEELINGS GOODBYE

5. STILL ALIVE

6. LET ME BE WHAT I WANT TO BE
7. ROCK N' ROLL REVOLUTION

8. LIVING LIKE A GYPSY

9. MOJO LAND

10. RIVER OF LOVE

11. LIGHT UPON MY SOUL

Added: January 22nd 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Welcome To Mojo Land at The Grooveyard
Hits: 2639
Language: english

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