Wednesday 18 November 2015

Moonbow - "Volto del Demone" (Album Review)

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 28/08/2015
Label: Independent



Moonbow has stepped away from the comfort of distortion and have turned to a stripped down, semi-acoustic affair that digs deep into the well of emotion.  The word ‘stoner’ can’t be applied to this record, that’s for sure, but keep in mind who is behind this record because the heavy, the loud, and the passion is still here, just presented differently.



‘Volto del Demone’ LP track listing:

1) Devils Floor
2) Take me Home
3) Volto del Demone
4) The Wait
5) Memories Ahead
6) Mission 35
7) One Way
to Die
8) Face of the Demon (Featuring Hank 3)

Moonbow is

Matt Bischoff | Vocals
David McElfresh | Guitars, Fiddle, Vocals, Mandolin, Steel Guitar
Ryan McAllister | Bass
Steve Earle | Drums

The Review:

It would make sense to start this off by saying the new Moonbow album comes plowing through like a bull in a china shop. After all, behind the kit sits Steve Earle from Hermano and the bass duties are bestowed upon Ryan McAllister from Valley of the Sun, so a full-fledged record in the red would be a reasonable thing to expect.

But before any more assumptions are made about “Volto del Demone,” Moonbow’s second album, let me lay it on the line; Moonbow has stepped away from the comfort of distortion and have turned to a stripped down, semi-acoustic affair that digs deep into the well of emotion. With the addition of a fiddle to the fold and a guest spot for Hank III on “Face the Demon,” it would even be tempting to say that Moonbow has gone country. And though there are certainly country elements here, like how the pluck-strum rhythm of the title track owes its inspiration to the outlaws of the west, this isn’t straight up country, it’s more than that.

The word ‘stoner’ can’t be applied to this record, that’s for sure, but keep in mind who is behind this record because the heavy, the loud, and the passion is still here, just presented differently.

 ‘Volto del Demone’ is available here

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