Moving Forward is the debut album from Vamoosery being released last month (November 2023).
I stumbled on it somehow after seeing the cover art somewhere and took a chance on the basis that with a cover like that it had to be good. And it is – well, much better than good.
The band’s web site describes them as a “ground breaking female-fronted alt prog rock band” with Moving Forward being a “ten-track tour de force is a genre-blurring fusion of alternative progressive rock.”
I’m not sure what alternative progressive rock is – however Vamoosery do offer up something a bit different here chucking in all sorts of styles finding space to build in heavy stuff, melodic stuff, glorious proggy stuff and poppy stuff making Moving Forward an engaging listen.
Sheridan White’s vocals are magnificent throughout. Very powerful and rangy. Joel Julian and James Nicholson make an excellent guitar duo with their crunchy riffs and tasty soloing. Kevin Button and Rich Taylor lock in tight and we have some tasty keyboards and organ swirls to boot.
A shortish instrumental goes in to Listen. Big guitars, huge vocal, irresistible monster chorus. Lots to like straight away.
Pieces shifts from a funky bass in to another engaging heavied up affair with White expressing her vocal power over the chunky riffs.
Trust in You gives the listener a breather being a measures, slower ballad yet still having an edge to it and some engaging guitar work going on. You Are Always Near coming in next with a similar style.
Do You Hear Me moves back in to heavier territory hitting hard – then Vamoosery shift in to a trio of storming, evocative, full-on prog rockers which are quite stunning.
Archaeologist is around six minutes of twisting and turning symphonic prog full of scope – a song which opens up more with each listen as your ears pick up on the accessible complexity of it.
The two parts of the title track – Fire and Rain – contrast and complement each other in bombastic style to make as fine a modern symphonic progressive rock epic as you’ll hear anywhere. The description on Vamoosery’s site capturing it as it is: “a mesmerising 14-minute double parter. This sonic voyage has been meticulously arranged to delight your ears and stir your soul.” Indeed it does.
Fire is just that – fiery. Builds in to a glorious, sweeping song full of everything – thudding rhythm section, guitars all over it, wonderful soloing and more of White’s powerful vocals. Superb stuff. Have a listen:
The second part – Rain – is more of a restrained style and hauntingly evocative though has a big symphonic finish with more tasteful guitar.
The bonus track of Running thumps along with the bass driving it. Tasty stuff.
That “ten track tour de force” description from the band’s web site certainly hitting the nail on the head. Vamoosery have a very fine debut album with Moving Forward. Varied, heavy, proggy, melodic, symphonic. So much to enjoy.
Check out Moving Forward on Vamoosery’s Bandcamp page. The CD is sold out (luckily I bagged one of the last copies) though the digital option is there for you downloaders/streamers:
https://vamoosery.bandcamp.com/album/moving-forward