German hard rock quintet Vvlva are back with their sophomore release for World in Sound, titled Silhouettes, containing seven new songs bristling with '70s inspired heavy rock, prog, and psychedelia. For Silhouettes the band are Tobias Ritter (Vocals), Phillipp Muschal (guitar, backing vocals), Dr. Michael Hock (bass), Julian Rocco Lepore (drums, backing vocals), and Christian Karl (keyboards, backing vocals). As on their debut Path of Virtue, expect some influences ranging from Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Iron Butterfly, Black Sabbath, Lucifer's Friend, Grand Funk Railroad, and other heavy hitters of that era.
Thick wah-wah guitars and Hammond organ propel the groove laden opener "Cosmic Pilgrim", a must hear for any fan of early Uriah Heep, while the moodier "What Do I Stand For" again allows the Hammond organ to shine freely, supported by some pounding drums and tasty guitar licks. The haunting "Tales Told By a Gray Man" will take you all the way back to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" with a touch of Black Widow's "Come to the Sabbat' thrown in for good measure, a spooky, proggy, psychedelic gem, with Ritter's vocals floating over the top of some heavy riffs and menacing organ. Easily one of the albums highlights. "Gomorrha" is pure late '60s psychedelia, while "Night By Night" ups the prog-rock ante in spades, complex organ and guitar riffs doing battle over nimble drums and excellent lead & backing vocals...superb! Bluesy rock with swirling organ and bombastic rhythms is the name of the game on the engaging "Hobos", and Silhouettes closes with its longest track, the epic "Dance of the Heathens", a smoldering, boiling classic dripping with ominous organ and Ritter's anguished vocals, Muschal's guitar eventually jumping into the fray like a cross between Ritchie Blackmore and Mick Box, the band firing off to a bombastic finale with a powerhouse arrangement before the Hammond and a bluesy guitar solo fades into the distance.
As strong as their debut was, Silhouettes is a step up for Vvlva, a band who are really firing on all cylinders here and giving anyone with a love for '70s styled hard rock/prog/psychedelia something to sink their teeth into. Another late 2019 release that you won't want to miss!
Track Listing
1.
Cosmic Pilgrim 04:53
2.
What Do I Stand For 05:46
3.
Tales Told By A Gray Man 06:33
4.
Gomorrha 03:59
5.
Night By Night 07:33
6.
Hobos 05:34
7.
Dance Of The Heathens 08:06
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