The band from Vigo, Spain Zålomon Grass returns two years after the previous one, with a new album between Psychedelia, Heavy Rock and Cosmic Blues. Entitled “Trouble in Time,” it was released on March 10, 2025 and contains eight tracks ranging from 3 to over 7 minutes in length with guest appearances. The opener “A Thing Of The Youth” is an energetic and engaging Hard Rock track enhanced by Iñigo Bregel’s Hammond intertwining with guitar riffs. A solid and accelerated rhythm section with a killer bassline, a dynamic and incisive vocal, and solo guitar and organ inserts enrich the sound. The band returns to their more classic sounds with “Ruins Of The Modern Past,” always keeping the intensity high and offering a mixture of Heavy Rock with Blus overtones. The guitar protagonsita of valuable solo interventions, distorted and scratching, while the rhythm section is enhanced by continuous changes of time that evolve the structure of the song with technique and quality. The vocal parts are also excellent, always involving and incisive. “Bad Combination” is a gritty track that shows a more Rock and Roll side of the band, with a retro imprint and enhanced by an elaborate and refined structure. The band’s personal style permeates every passage of the track, displaying an original sound that manages to bring classic rock sounds into a modern context. In the second part, vocal parts and intense instrumental parts intertwine, concluding the piece with intensity and Blues veins. Continuing to explore Heavy Rock sounds by combining the classic with their own modern and personal style, “Twelve Labors” is another track that enhances the band’s performing and compositional technique. Long instrumental textures evolve the song’s central theme with tempo changes and guitar solo inserts, ranging between Rock and Psychedelia, between past and present. The album’s shortest track “Across 110th Street” features percussion in the rhythm section and traces that late 1960s sound with Latin veins. An excellent vocal performance, with a warm and expressive vocal, while the track is reminiscent of the more Rock tunes of artists such as Malo or Mandrill. Continuing the retro atmospheres of its predecessor, “Trouble In Time (suite)” and developing a sound that explores the different facets of the band’s style. In the second half to the finale, the band delivers an energetic and engaging blend of Garage and Rock and Roll with alternating vocal and instrumental parts. “I’m Feelin‘ Lonely” is a track that takes us back to proto-Hard Rock sounds, with a rough and dirty guitar and vocal. The rhythm section is enriched by a killer bassline, deep and driving, and then develops into an extended instrumental section that takes the sound to another level and enhances the band’s technique. The album ends with “Contradictions,” the longest track, exceeding seven minutes in duration. The sound is solid and combines rock energy with melodic choruses and engaging passages. Vocal and instrumental parts intertwine, with pleasant guitar work, tempo changes and the band’s personal touch that leaves us wanting to listen to this work again in the future. An engaging and energetic album, with a mature sound that shows how the band is able to bring the atmosphere of Classic Rock in a modern and personal context. Heavy Rock, Blues, Garage and Classic Rock blend through this intense lineup. A recommended listening for lovers of retro Rock sounds, skillfully brought in a fresh and modern context by the band.
Tracklist
01. A Thing Of The Youth (Feat. Iñigo Bregel) (03:46)
02. Ruins Of The Modern Past (04:52)
03. Bad Combination (03:43)
04. Twelve Labors (05:43)
05. Across 110th Street (03:16)
06. Trouble In Time (suite) (05:55)
07. I’m Feelin’ Lonely (05:07)
08. Contradictions (07:07)
Lineup
Gabriel Mckenzie / Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Main & Backing Vocals
Mauro Comesaña / Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals
David Rodd / Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar & Backing Vocals
Additional musicians that helped in the making of this record:
Iñigo Bregel / Hammond Organ on “A Thing Of The Youth“
Ramon Figueira ‘Figui’ / Blues Harp on “Bad Combination“
Alfonso Garcia ‘Eski’ / Latin Percussion on “Across 110th Street“
Thank you very much for the review!!!!
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