Bubbling Back Up...

Acid Kola Turbo - EP-2 (2015)

While the cover art may look familiar if you've checked out Acid Kola Turbo's first EP (and if you haven't, you can read our review of it right here), the three tracks to be found on EP-2 are all new.  This Netherlands-based band specialized in semi-proggy psychedelic rock last time, and much of that approach has been kept for their fresh efforts, though they sound more comfortable with getting their grooves dirty now.  The drums are crisp and clear, the guitar and bass get stretched in interesting ways, and the band's experimentation with their vocals leads to some quite cool meshing effects.
Of the three tracks, I'd have to give "Millionaires" the place of personal favorite, though I can't quite explain what pushes it over the other two for me.  Something in its energy and place as EP opener just lets it leap up and race around, while the other two have a more laid-back feel to their riffing.  In any event, Acid Kola Turbo have another solid release under their belts, moving them closer (fingers crossed!) to an eventual full-length.  Warm and heavy rock, just the thing if your part of the world is starting to warm up for summer.
~ Gabriel

 For Fans Of;    Lords Of Beacon House, Vanilla Trainwreck, Supersnazz, The Escatones, Slow Season

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Acid Kola Turbo - Millionaires (320 kbps)

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All Shaken Up...

Acid Kola Turbo - EP-1 (2014)

Acid Kola Turbo's first EP brings four songs to the table to establish the band's sound. They start with “Look Around”, a groovy little number with some grungy flavor to it as the guitar dips and crunches. The drumming is tight and clean, while the vocalist has a good sense of character and pitch-shifting to his voice. “Start Believing” kicks off with a short audio sample, then kicks into a groove that immediately put me in mind of early Electric Wizard, though they soon shifted from there into a more rock-focused swinging riff, which is then escalated to a cascade of feedback and keyboards; it's a real face-melter of a track. “Shame On You” begins with a real Undertow-era Tool-sounding drum rhythm and crunch riff, then applies heat to make it boil over, and “Falling” serves as the band's big set-closer, with 7 minutes of psychedelic grooving twisting through the air.

It's difficult putting a sense of identity to the album, since each of the songs is so wildly different from the next, but there's a few things tying it all together; this group's already excellent at writing songs, they're inventive, and they bring a great deal of character out of their instruments. I fully expect to find myself getting a piece of one of their songs at the back of my mind and having to listen to the EP still another time, because these tracks are positively infectious little ear-worms. Hopefully some sharp label will sign this up for a physical release, but until then, you can pick up a digital copy at the Acid Kola Turbo's BandCamp. Don't let this one slip by you!

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Eternal Elysium, Wicked Lady, Moon Curse, RHINO, Weed

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Acid Kola Turbo - Start Believing (320 kbps)

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