Album Review: Void Vator - Stranded
Reviewed by Jon Wigg
Void Vator from Los Angeles provide some high energy fun on this 30 minute blast. The band is formed of Lucas Kanopa on vocals and guitar, Erik Kluiber on guitar, German Moura on drums and Sam Harman on bass. Citing influences as being Megadeth, Pantera, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Foo Fighters and Soundgarden, many of which can be heard on this album, they don't mess around, bringing metal/rock and roll tracks that will have you banging your head.
Sometimes, young bands like this end up with all the track sounding the same, or at least in the same style. Void Vator avoid this in the main and the flow of the album is good. Kicking off with 'Put Away Wet', which reminded me a lot of London's stoner metal titans Orange Goblin, which bangs away nicely, devolving to a slow doomy middle before exploding back into a high tempo solo and finish. A good start.
'Toxic Waste' has a more grungy 90's feel in the verses and a catchy chorus and 'Nothing to Lose' is a Foo Fighters style sing along. 'Inside Out' starts with a modern Metallica style riff (think Death Magnetic) before dropping back into Foo's territory again.
Ignoring the spelling, 'Everything Suxs' is my highlight on this album. It starts off like many a seven minute thrash epic - a Megadeth slow opening with twin guitars harmonising. A minute in, the tempo builds and the thrash starts. Verse - chorus - verse - chorus - END. A surprising finish but a welcome track.
'Come to Hand' has a more Audioslave feel including in the chorus and 'Stranded' is a bit slower and more Soundgarden. And the album finishes with 'Monster' which is a traditional metal closer with strong vocals, riffs and solos.
Overall a display of the band's influences and an almost Monster Magnet swing and style throughout. The tracks are short and punchy and there's no filler. The production is good as is the musicianship with the vocals and drums really standing out for me. There's nothing particularly new here but it's heavy, loud and proud. Void Vator are going down a storm on the US live scene and you can see why. Depending on your musical tastes, there may be tracks on Stranded that you don't like, but there is something for most here and it sure is fun.
Void Vator release 'Stranded' on November 22nd via Ripple Music.
