Los Angeles, California-based band Vitskär Süden in collaboration with Ripple Music reissue the eponymous debut album, originally released in 2020. Scheduled for release on March 21, 2025, it brings back the pleasant feelings of when we heard it back then. Since I did not publish the review in 2020, I offer it on the occasion of the reissue release. The album opens with “War Machine Crimson,” which combines a dreamy background of keyboards and orchestrations with the energy of Heavy Rock sounds and the elaborate textures of Prog. A solid and elaborate rhythm section develops the theme, on which an intense and expressive vocal is inserted. The interweaving of vocal and instrumental parts immediately shows the band’s aptitude for bringing classical sounds into a modern and personal context, with a refined solo intervention in the middle part and a musical crescendo that accompanies us to the finale. The band explores dreamy sounds in “Painted Faces,” with Floydian atmospheres permeating the piece with refined guitar work. The rhythm section is softer, like the track’s sounds, with dilated melodies and a warm vocal that interprets the lyrics with a melancholic touch. A pleasant journey through the more neo-Psychedelic facet of the band, with the long duration being exploited to evolve the central theme of the song through an intense instrumental section enriched by modulations and effects. A killer, deep, driving bassline characterises the rhythm section of “Blue Alley Filth,” a solid, energetic piece of Heavy Rock. Granitic and with forays into Blues Rock especially in the guitar interventions, with the synth adding more Progressive inserts instead, showing the different original facets that distinguish the band. A very interesting and elaborate track, with fresh and modern sounds and an excellent vocal test, with dynamic and incisive singing. The guitar work leads us to the following “Trickle of the Snail,” characterised by a slow-moving rhythm section and a deep bass line. The guitar works well in the melodies and solo inserts that intertwine with the warm vocal parts, developing this intense piece with dark atmospheres. Very interesting is the musical crescendo that culminates in an instrumental section with the guitar in evidence with solo inserts as sharp as blades. “Dark Passages” features fine layering and guitar work intertwined with synth. A solid and elaborate rhythm section and an intense and very expressive vocal, with the piece combining Prog, Doom Rock and Psychedelia. Lysergic atmospheres permeate the track with choral refrains with a keyboard background, interesting instrumental sections with the guitar in evidence. A prolonged atmospheric intro characterizes “Ice & Haze,” is an enveloping and Psychedelic 7+ minute passage with fine guitar work and layering. The rhythm section is minimal and more delicate, with deep bass lines. The vocal is warm and expressive and interprets with pathos the lyrics of this melancholic song that combines Prog and modern Psychedelia with the band’s personal traits. The choral refrains immediately catch on and stick in the mind in the following “Heathens,” featuring a distorted and hypnotic bass line. Solid drumming complements the rhythm section, and guitar and sunth intertwine, culminating in the development of an effects-enriched instrumental section that enhances the band’s more Psychedelic side. The album ends with “Dawn of the Monolith” with dreamy atmospheres that join the band’s Psycheddelic Prog Rock. A warm vocal interprets the lriche, while chiatrra arpeggios evolve the melodies of this intense piece. The synth offers a fine solo cue, bringing Symphonic Prog into a modern and personal context. A piece that concludes with refined instrumental section and intertwining vocal parts. This album had introduced us to the band’s refined sound, adept at bringing the classic atmospheres of Progressive and Psycheedelic Rock into a modern context with markedly personal traits. This reissue brings to light again a work that surely deserves to be rediscovered, re-listened to at full volume while being captured by the fine sounds created by the band. A solid and elaborate sound, intense and incisive vocal parts but also warm and epsressive when needed, making this work a real must for lovers of modern Rock sounds. Thanks to Ripple Music and the band for bringing us back this excellent debut album.
Tracklist
01. War Machine Crimson (06:21)
02. Painted Faces (08:47)
03. Blue Alley Filth (03:23)
04. Trickle of the Snail (04:40)
05. Dark Passages (05:55)
06. Ice & Haze (07:01)
07. Heathens (05:36)
08. Dawn of the Monolith (05:34)
Lineup
Martin Garner / Bass and Vocals
Julian Goldberger / Guitar and Synths
Christopher Martin / Drums
TJ Webber / Guitar
Debut album “Vitskär Süden” (reissue) available March 21st on Ripple Music (LP/CD) International Pre-Order / US Pre-Order