Maybe to speak about genders today isn’t common, but everyone must praise the efforts of women in Rock ‘n’ Roll and Metal, because it’s a tough thing to survive into a macho cultural scene. Yes, it’s clear that women have to proof their value twice or three times a male band, and it’s just to check a new on Facebook’s post to see the disgusting ‘haha’ reaction to a new when women stand for their rights. And musically, since the days that THE RUNAWAYS, ROCK GODDESS, GIRLSCHOOL, HEART, Lita Ford, Suzi Quatro, Doro, and others, our dear female comrades don’t have to prove anything to macho idiots. And here is the the quartet VULVARINE, from Austria, unleashing their second full-length, “Fast Lane”. To label their music as a form of Hard Rock isn’t fair, because one can check tons of influences from acts as AC/DC, MOTÖRHEAD, DEEP PURPLE, THE RUNAWAYS, touches of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Punk Rock in many moments, and others into the mix, but using and energetic and melodic appeal that’s full of energy and hard to resist to.

To make things greater, their chorus are impossible to resist to, and a careful listening shows that their music if full of many layers, but without losing its organic and hooking grasp. What are you waiting for to taste it? Unusually, “Fast Lane” brought three different producers: Thomas Zwanzger of Stressstudio, Dietmar Baumgartner of Sonar Music Productions and Engel Mayr (former member of RUSSKAJA) of Studio Mäusepalast. Such thing could make people that the album is dispersive, but in reality, it1s the opposite: it’s hard and solid as a rock, coherent and cohesive work, with a clean and defined sound quality that has an organic grasp. It sounds great and what their music really needs to become alive.

About the songs: all the 11 songs speak for themselves, with a value and attitude, then hear to “The Drugs, the Love and the Pain” (some Punk Rock traits are heard, with excellent guitar riffs and solos), “Ancient Soul” (a frantic Hard Rock with charming melodies and excellent vocals), “Heads Held High” (what a lovely chorus), “Demons”, “Alright Tonight” (a weighty work is heard on bass guitar and guitar parts, but a touch of Post Punk is heard on the melodies), “Equal, Not the Same” (a frantic song that will become a live hit, and pay attention to its melodies and lyrics), “Fool” (here the dirty side of the genre takes over, and what great melodies), “Polly the Trucker” (impossible to resist to its guitars and vocals), “Dark Red”, “Cheri Cheri Lady (where Filippa Nässil of THUNDERMOTHER appears as guest, with a slower appeal, but filled with crude energy) and “She’ll Come Around”, and enjoy a great album.

VULVARINE is really an excellent band, and “Fast Lane” for sure will earn them tons of new fans. They deserve it!