Swedish band KAMCHATKA was formed back in 2001, and have been an active live and recording band ever since they started out. As of 2015 they have released six studio albums. “Long Road Made of Gold” is the most recent of these, and was issued through Swedish label Despotz Records in May 2015.
My first thoughts after listening to this album was a question: Why aren’t this band signed to Transubstans Records? For those familiar with Swedish music, that is a label fairly well known for releasing the music of bands that have their heart and soul in the music of the 1970’s, and Kamchatka does come across as just such a band. In this case with a foundation in blues based hard rock of the power trio kind.
One could probably mention possible influences and inspirations for the music of this album for a jolly good time if you got started, but I feel one can be fairly safe by saying that this is a band that know their mid 70’s power trio bands, and also how to explore that style from a 2015 point of view to good effect.
A notable trait in that department comes with arrangements, mix and production. The band and their produces have taken good care to see to it that none of the instrumentalists gets a dominating slot: The drums are busy, sophisticated, driving but careful, the bass is booming but only to the extent of being noticeable and not to the point of drowning out the guitars, and the guitar sound is fairly dampened for this kind of band, apart from when going on soloing runs. The distinct, blues-oriented lead vocals glide into this mix in an excellent manner, a part of the whole alongside the instruments, seamlessly fitting into a well developed mix catering for arrangements that focus on the totality rather than the individual contributions. A team effort if you like, focusing in the team rather than the individual players.
The songs themselves are just about as high in quality as the arrangements and production that have given them such a high quality luster. Ranging from almost classic power trio blues based hard rock of the kind that points back to artists such as Robin Trower to material adding a touch of Americana to the proceedings, some instances of vintage stoner rock and arguably even grunge orientation as well as a rare case of an almost AOR tinged affair in Human Dynamo. With rockabilly piano details and organs applied on singular occasions to enrich the proceedings, and of course the peculiar repeated application of a futuristic synth and guitar interludes on concluding track To You giving this track a fairly characteristic sheen. Personally I was most taken by opening cut Take Me Back Home, due to the clever use of the banjo on that song, as well as the more ballad oriented, melancholic Rain in the midsection of this album.
If you tend to enjoy blues based hard rock, and in particular if you have a soft spot for bands described as power trios, Kamchatka is a band you should take note of if you haven’t already. I guess fans of artists like mid 70’s Robin Trower should be a key audience for this production, and in particular those amongst them that might treasure listening to a band exploring an updated, 2015 version of that general sound and style.
My rating: 82/100
