Like Earache, Nuclear Blast was initially known for their roster of heavier metal, but have widened their net in recent years to include vintage rock acts like Black Star Riders, Tax The Heat, The Night Flight Orchestra, Blues Pills and the focus of this review, The Vintage Caravan. From Iceland, they formed in 2006 and have their fourth album Gateways, which is forty-eight minutes of bluesy Hard Rock straight from the annals of the late sixties and seventies.

It is a familiar sound, similar to their Swedish label mates Blues Pills, and one which they have got down to a tee. The Hard Rocking, forceful numbers like ‘Set Your Sights’ and ‘Reflection’ draw you in immediately – with the tour de force riff of the latter reminiscent of Ritchie Blackmore’s work in Deep Purple and Rainbow. These riff-based rockers form the spine of the record, with the catchiest amongst them being the hook-heavy ‘Reset’ and the oft-told tale of life on the road ‘On The Run’. ‘All This Time’ has a wonderful slow burning groove to it, a relaxed stoner esque stomp which is inspired by the loud-mouthed gun aficionado Ted Nugent and his classic ‘Stranglehold’.

The tail end of the record is where the Icelandic trio mix it up a tad. ‘Nebula’ is a multifaceted beast, starting off mellow and quiet but quickly growing in stature, with ‘Farewell’ rooted firmly in the blues with short-lived Jon Lord like keys ushering you in. Like ‘Winter Queen’ on Arrival and ‘The Kings Voyage’ on Voyage, Gateways is ended by a long, bluesy epic – this time in the shape of ‘Tune Out’, which builds and builds the longer it goes on.

Gateways is a great display of classic rock that harkens back to its sixties and seventies heyday; bluesy, immediate and catchy.

7.5/10

THOMAS THROWER