Kristoffer Davidson and Leif Johan Johannessen deliver the goods guitar wise- both rhythm and lead. While I hesitate to invite direction comparison, he reminds me somewhat of Peo Petterson (Levicitus) and Darrell Mansfield but with a touch of David Coverdale thrown in. Mads Pedersen, with his gritty and bluesy mid-ranged vocal approach, brings a perfect hand-in-glove fit to the Sarepta sound. No, nothing I skip over, but “Stop”, as a result of its worship rock flavorings, wears a bit thin while the Petra cover, “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You” borders on the overdone. “Smokin’ Vineyard Part 1” approaches traditional blues rock territory as does the brilliant Julie Miller cover “All My Tears”. The quality is maintained on slower numbers, with “Stick To Your Guns” steeped in bluesy slide guitar and “Thirst Of Life” a metal edged guitar base. “Son Of Man” also hits hard with its unyielding riff action while “Smokin’ Vineyard Part 3” highlights a screaming organ in the backdrop. The group is at its best on more rousing numbers, including the big anthem hooks of “Gloria Patri” and chugging low-end to “Smokin’ Vineyard Part 2”. The quality, as a matter of fact, and I hate to go out on a limb here, is such that Smokin’ Vineyard has the potential to challenge for album of the year- or at the very least Sarepta being voted best new artist. Trust me the albums better material is so well constructed that you will find yourself gravitating to the project time and again. It starts with the first-rate Sarepta songwriting abilities, combining equal parts grit, heart, edge and emotion while affixing melody in just the right amounts to keep things fresh with repeated listen. Released in the spring of 2011, Smokin’ Vineyard is nothing less a musically stellar release. Just take a foundation of traditional blues based sensibilities - think Darrell Mansfield, Modest Attraction and Glenn Kaiser Band - join them with the heavier rock direction of Whitesnake, early nineties Bride and Resurrection Band, thrown everything in a blender and what you end up with is Sarepta! Some heavy 70’s blues rock influences can be found as well. Sarepta can best be described as hard rock with touches of what used to be called metal. Midway through the recording process, however, the group’s vocalist at the time up and quit, leaving Mads Pederson to take on vocal duties- and quite well at that! The three did not put together the first Sarepta line-up until the summer of 2008 when it started performing live but later added a full time bassist, Johnny Nilson, and keyboardist, Made Pederson, prior to beginning work on its full length debut Smokin’ Vineyard. The group can trace its history to the early 2007 jam sessions between founding members Kristoffer Davidsen (lead guitar), Leif Johan Johannesen (rhythm guitar) and Odd Jarle Hovden (drums). Like your metal and hard rock on the bluesy side of things? Then check out Sarepta, a Rogaland, Norway based quartet that plays tribute to its influences - comprising Jerusalem, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and Rainbow - in no uncertain terms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |