MUSIC REVIEW: LULLWATER – Voodoo

Label: The Label Group

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Rating: 98%

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

I have listened to Lullwater since their debut and these guys are absolutely on fire with the eleven track opus they call Voodoo.  This disc is full of rockers that take their sound to the next level, starting with the opening track “Curtain Call” and these guys don’t let up until the disc has come to an end.  The first track kicks things off in grand rock style and gets the foot tapping, the head banging, and the blood pumping.  I remember plugging this disc into the car CD player after a recent show at The Machine Shop and I couldn’t (and still can’t) get enough of this track.  John Strickland kills the vocals and the riffs / solos are amazing.  “Dark Divided” is another track that draws you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you escape until its end.  The guitars are tight, the vocals blend where the band has been and where they are, and the rhythm section is locked in on this track, thanks to drummer Joe Wilson and bassist Ray Beatty.  Be sure to check out the solo on the bridge.  “Similar Skin” is a great rocker that features heavy handed bass lines, thunderous percussion and drums, and guitar licks that accent the song perfectly.  This is a track that will resonate with you long after you have moved on from this track and onto other songs on the disc.  “Godlike” is a straight ahead rocker that has a killer cadence and vocals that are a bit tame compared to others on the disc, but perfectly matched for the musical accompaniment.  The band has outdone themselves on this addictive track.  “Fight Of Your Life” keeps the modern rock meets 90’s rock vibe alive… but that is to be expected – these guys cut their teeth and cite a lot of those bands as influences.  My favorite part of this track is the way the chugging riff through the track melds with the vocals while the rhythm section provides a killer musical landscape.  Be sure to check the lyrics on this extremely personal and touching track.  Disc  closer “Suffer Not” is an opus that clocks in at over 10:00, but is well worth the listen thanks to the diverse sounds, moods, and overall vibe of the track.  Ease back in your chair and enjoy the ride of this one…

“Empty Chamber” has an anthemic feel to it without coming off as cheesy and poppy.  The song grabs hold with a contagious chorus and keeps you engaged through the bridge that seems agitated, confused, and precise all at the same time.  The heavier vocal on the chorus from Strickland contradicts the verse vocal and takes this song to a new level.  “This Life” features a lot of drums and bottom end that swirls in the mix with the vocals and guitars, but seems to carry the track.  Joe grabs the reigns from behind his kit and takes this track to a new level while Daniel Binnie runs rampant with his guitar over the track, especially when the song hits the bridge.  This is one of the best solos on the disc.  “Buzzards” features guitar work and vocals that swirl in the mix delivering the intensity of the lyrics and the urgency of the track itself.  John steps outside his normal vocals and delivers.  The guitar riffs and solos are full of emotion and perfectly matched to the songs energy.   This song should go over well live, as it seems to have been built for a venue full of rockers.  “Into The Sun” could have been pulled from a lot of different 90’s albums that led the grunge movement except for one thing – the guitars seem heavier to me.  The solo on the bridge drags you in and has you wanting to grab your air guitar before its over.  The overall sound of this track benefits from the time changes that creep into the song during transitions.  “Yellow Bird” is the one song that seems to take a right turn sonically from the rest of the disc.  The chorus is contagious and has Strickland putting his stamp on the track vocally while the drums from Wilson keep time perfectly.  The bass drones on in the bottom end and keeps the song flowing and the guitars add a layer of rock to the song.  Lullwater have done it again and given me another great disc to keep in my collection that I can go back to time and time again.

Tracklisting: Curtain Call – Dark Divided – Empty Chamber – Similar Skin – This Life – Godlike – Buzzards – Fight Of Your Life – Into The Sun – Yellow Bird – Suffer Not

LULLWATER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

VOODOO – ITUNES

Category: CD Reviews