Strap yourself in, this is a bit of an epic.
Not to press on the whole age card here, but these guys started this band eight years ago when they aged just 12, but they show the kind of maturity, talent and power you'd expect from a band who have been on the circuit for 30 years. If ever you needed an example of the old adage 'if you're good enough, then you're old enough' then look no further than The Vintage Caravan hailing from Iceland.
As soon as the opening track Craving explodes out of your speakers, with a bouncy as hell riff, it is instantly clear what this band are all about. Their influences are rooted deep within the likes of Sabbath and Deep Purple, but they're not a carbon copy, they're doing their own thing and doing it really well. The opening song will finish and it will feel like you've been through an unbelievable journey already. Second track Let Me Be show no signs of letting up, the slowed down riff towards the end sounds absolutely huge and must be a powerhouse live. The good thing about this album also is the fact that they do show some variation. You've got the groovier, bouncy riffs going on, but there are also spots on there where the band move onto some of the more mind-boggling proggier side of their 70's influences and they're able to nail that just as well. As far as combining all of these elements there is no better example than the 12 minute epic The Kings Voyage which closes the album. Not to sound ridiculously cheesy, but you feel like you've been on a voyage as this track comes to an end. Of course The Vintage Caravan are going to be one of those bands which you need to be in the right mood for, especially if one of the proggier tracks comes on shuffle on whatever media device you choose to use.
The band have clear talent and so much potential. Their style is similar to The Sword but they seem to just exude far more swagger. Reports from live shows highlight their ability on the stage as well, and with the right kind of backing coming from the ever-expanding Nuclear Blast Records, the future is indeed very bright for these guys. Keep your senses locked on their inevitable progress.