A post-apocalyptic concept
English rockers Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats have released their fifth studio album Wasteland, and it’s just as psychedelic and creepy as you would expect from the group. Comprising of Kevin Starrs (AKA Uncle Acid) on lead guitar and lead vocals, Vaughn Stokes on backing guitar and vocals, Jon Rice on drums and Justin Smith on bass, the group combines their talents well to create a weird but entertaining album. The concept behind the album is interesting as well, as in an interview with Loudwire, Starrs explained that Wasteland is “set in a land where people live in walled cities, under heavy surveillance, cut off and in fear of one another.” The concept fits well in today’s political climate, and the creepy aspects of the album as a whole also work well with the October release date.
The first song on Wasteland is “I See Through You.” It’s a somewhat upbeat song, considering the group’s normal sound, thanks to a memorable guitar riff and some high-pitched vocals from Starrs. The song stands out in relation to the other songs on the album, and it isn’t by any means the best song on the album, but it does start Wasteland off well, drawing listeners in with its more accessible sound. The second song on the album is “Shockwave City,” which dives into the more psychedelic sound the band is known for. Starrs’ vocals are heavily synthesized, and the lyrics sing of falling “into an empty grave that’s waiting.”
Some other notable songs on the album are “Blood Runner” and the title song of “Wasteland.” “Blood Runner” starts with a droning sound, resembling that of warning sirens, before launching into a fantastic mixture of guitar, drums and Starrs’ high-pitched vocals. You often can hardly hear him over the sound of the interests, but that’s what makes the song stand out. Considering the album is about a land of fear and isolation, the vocals almost being masked works beautifully. “Wasteland” is a very different song, with some acoustic guitar and slower vocals. It’s a beautiful song while remaining somewhat ominous. Over halfway through, it begins to transform, with faster guitar and distortion transforming the sound. “Wasteland” is arguably the best song on the album, and it’s no wonder it was chosen as the title track.
Wasteland ends with “Exodus,” an appropriate title for the final song on an album about a post-apocalyptic world. A guitar solo beginning at around 2:15 really draws the song together, showing that behind the fancy exterior of their songs, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats are true rockers. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats will be at Desert Daze in California on October 12th and will be touring Europe from November to January.
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