CD REVIEW: RUBIKON – Delta

Label: Round Hill Records

Release Date: August 21, 2015

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Billed as a combination of Wolfmother, Queens of the Stone Age and Lenny Kravitz, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  To be honest, I think Rubikon’s sound is more individualistic and different, keeping itself from being pigeonholed.  “Live That Lie” is a swampy rocker that takes on a cool rock vibe at the chorus and gets the foot tapping from open to close with solid vocals, guitars, and a cool rhythm section.  “Three Days” have a groove laden opening that builds through the verse and into the chorus.  The drums and guitar work are very cool on this track, as are the lead vocals that take on a very Soundgarden-ish quality.  “Sermon” opens with a great riff that takes shifts and accompanies the vocals and helps carry the track.  The songs vibe is accentuated by the heavy bass and drums at the bridge and between chorus and verse.  “Wasting Time” is a different style track that demonstrates the various sounds the band is capable of incorporating into their repertoire.  The guitars are lighter and the rhythm section leads with a light hand.  “Through The Looking Glass” comes straight out of left field with a weird 70’s prog rock groove that seems more like Steely Dan than anything else on the disc.  The vocals are cool and the chorus is catchy and attention grabbing.

“Vipers” builds on the rock vibe created in “Three Days,” but takes it a bit further due to the chugging bass lines and fucking cool slide guitar work.  The mood of this track permeates the disc and helps make it stand out.  “Swingers” is a fun tune that builds on the swamp-groove from previous songs and keeps the vibe positive.  The guitars and rhythm section work together to create a mood that adds punch to a mellower track.  “Captain Deep” brings fuzz and fusion to the table, but it blends well into the fabric of the disc.  The guitars have cool tone and add a different dimension to the band and this collection of tracks.  “Pretty Pretty” is a more aggressive rocker that leans heavier on the vocals than other track have.  The tempo is furious and kicks this track down the road with finesse, thanks to the drums and bass.  The vocals are moody and ethereal at the same time, giving this song a cool vibe.

Tracklisting: Live That Lie – Three Days – Vipers – Sermon – Swingers – Wasting Time – Captain Deep – Through The Looking Glass – Pretty Pretty

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Category: CD Reviews