Album review: CASABLANCA – Miskatonic Graffiti

Despotz Records [Release date 25.09.15]

I am a big fan of the first two albums from Swedish/American band Casablanca, and album number three is no disappointment. A concept album based on Chuthulu mythology, that aside, the album has a maturer feel than its predecessors and overall more of a ‘70’s vibe to it, whilst maintaining the bands own sound. Still in place are the touches of Hanoi Rocks, Hardcore Superstar and D.A.D but on “Miskatonic Graffiti” these are joined by swirls of keyboards to great effect.

Opening track “Enter The Mountains” is a big, slow, sparse an atmospheric ten minute affair that hallway through gives way to the more upbeat sound you would expect from the band. “Closer” is where we first encounter those keyboards and the song has a nice light and shade approach vocally, The vocals of Anders Ljung work well with the guitars and there is some good interplay on “This Is Tomorrow”, “Re: Old Money” features the guitar solo of the album whilst “She Was The One” may have taken it’s feel from guitarist Ryan Roxie’s day job with Alice Cooper.

This album is a solid piece of work with other stand out tracks including title track “Miskatonic Graffiti”, “My Shadow Out of Time” and “Name Rank Serial Killer”. The album is rounded off by the near eight minute “Exit The Mountains” which closes the book on the story the album is telling. As a band Casablanca are made up from musicians whose individual playing compliments each other and this makes their albums very easy to listen to. ****

Review by Nikk Gunns

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