VENUS MOUNTAINS – Mons Veneris (2023)
Italian hard rockers VENUS MOUNTAINS have been around since 2009. They have released an EP and three full-length albums, the last one getting international distribution which led the band to play in the USA (including the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles) and Japan. They of course toured all over Europe too from Spain to Russia, also supporting major acts such as Skid Row, Diamond Head, Bulletrain, Crazy Lixx, etc.
As you may suspect, VENUS MOUNTAINS rockin’ sound is influenced by all things rock n’ roll from the Seventies / Eighties. On their new album “Mons Veneris” you can hear that, hard rock with an American melodic hard flavor, and a certain metallic, sleazy edge on some cuts. “Frax” Pezzotti vocals are raspy but strong, providing that street level to the former, and when needed, more muscle.
The band relate their experience touring Japan on the song ‘Rock in Japan’, which musically is also a highlight on the album: a killer hard rocker with speedy riffs, gang vocals and swirling solos.
You’ll be surprised by VENUS MOUNTAINS sound, aggressive but anthemic at the same time.
‘Locomotive’ punch you ears with classic Seventies’ riffs – and I mean ‘riffs’ as there should be no less than 10 multi-track guitars recorded as they sound huge. If you need an anthem, check ‘It’s Time for Vodka’, plenty of stadium-ready ‘Oohs’ confirming the band’s knack for infectious choruses.
‘Running Till the Day I Die’ adds a monster groove, while on the dirty ‘Night of the Knives’ appears again the band’s sleazy influences. ‘Kick Some S Blues’ indeed serves that genre, just ‘glittered’ into a 1987 LA Sunset Strip vein.
The cover of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ (made famous by Elvis) wasn’t necessary, but the band close the album with a cool acoustic power ballad ‘Until We Meet Again’, a song exuding the Eighties from every pore.
VENUS MOUNTAINS mixes classic hard, ’80s American sleazy, some glam, some metal for a pretty unique sound & style. And they do it finely, getting an effective, entertaining set of songs on “Mons Veneris”.
Don’t let the strange cover art fool you: this is ’80s party rockin’ stuff in spandex.
Highly Recommended
01 – Our Spacecraft
02 – Lioness
03 – Locomotive
04 – Rock in Japan
05 – It’s Time for Vodka
06 – Running Till the Day I Die
07 – Night of the Knives
08 – Kick Some S Blues
09 – Fluo Party
10 – Blue Suede Shoes (Cover)
11 – Running Till the Day I Die (Ita)
12 – Until We Meet Again
Stefano “Frax” Pezzotti – vocals, guitar
Mick Volence – guitar
Marco Dossi – bass, vocals
Morris Archetti – drums
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