ACOUSTIC SCARS

How do you make a retrospective album without turning it into a best-of release? Just follow this blueprint set by Vangough; release an acoustic EP featuring creative new takes on the albums in your discography!

Ever since the release of their 2009 debut album, Vangough have been releasing a new album every year. After the release of their third album, Kingdom Of Ruin (2011), the band seemed to take 2012 off but right at the end of year came a five track EP. The intro and outro tracks are just that, what this EP is actually about are the three songs in between. A Song For Crows is clearly a tribute to the band's debut album and it's easily the most beautiful track that they've released to date! The acoustic sound of the instruments and Clay Withrow's passionate vocals clearly recall the sound of the Pain Of Salvation classic album 12:5, which unfortunately makes this composition slightly fade in comparison. Still, it's rare treat even by Pain Of Salvation standards, so enjoy this passionate moment while it lasts!

Throne Of Rust is clearly suppose to be a tribute to the band's second album Game On!, featuring an interesting acoustic take on the classic Mega Man tune from Dr. Wily Stage. The Rabbit Chronicles chronicles the band's Kingdom Of Ruin-era with some fun acoustic instrumental intro leading to a somewhat unbalanced mishmash throughout the remaining 5 minutes. The Rabbit Chronicles is unfortunately not as enjoyable for me as the reminder of the album, luckily it doesn't ruin the overall quality of the record as such.

If you're new to Vangough then by all means, give this record a shot! It might not be as passionate as Manikin Parade, playful as Game On! or ambitious as Kingdom Of Ruin, instead it tries to fuse these three qualities into one 25 minute bite size experience!

**** star songs: A Song For Crows (10:24) Throne Of Rust (3:28) Road To Blighttown (2:02)

*** star songs: Leaving Bricolage (1:40) The Rabbit Chronicles (8:24)