Source: Album Artwork
Vermilion Whiskey are an up-and-coming hard rock band hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana. Formed in 2010, they take inspiration from heavy metal and rock greats such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, ZZ Top and Corrosion of Conformity. After releasing their debut album 10 South in 2013, they’ve now returned with a new EP entitled Spirit of Tradition.
This is quite a fitting title as Vermilion Whiskey seem content with not trying to reinvent the wheel, instead choosing to stick close to their roots, carrying on the traditions of the classic rock legends who came before them. This means that while there isn’t anything particularly new or daring on this record, there’s still plenty for classic rock fans to sink their teeth into. Spirit of Tradition has no shortage of hard riffage that will get you head-banging along to every track, as well as some nice guitar solos. The lyrics are straightforward, dealing with simple but relatable themes. For instance, ‘Road King’ starts off with singer Thaddeus Riordan recalling his mother’s disapproval of his loud music, before going on to sing about the perks of life on the road. ‘One Night‘ tells the story of meeting a girl in a bar and having an unforgettable night down by the water.
Overall, this record gives the impression that Vermilion Whiskey know what their audience wants, and pull it off decently enough without taking the audience too far out of their comfort zone. It comes across like a love letter to both the rock ‘n’ roll traditions and whiskey-soaked lifestyle that the band are clearly enamoured with, and others who enjoy these things will most likely appreciate the slab of nostalgia that this record provides.
