Variable Speed Control - Variable Speed Control (Honeydam Records )
By Chris Barnes
July 21, 2009
Haha! “We don’t own Affliction shirts” is the prominent quote on the Variable Speed Control website. That's pretty funny. Everytime I see someone wearing an Afflcition t-shirt, I automatically think "douchebag". I should be more open-minded and not generalize, but... screw it.
Many of you here at Hellride and those involved with the LA rock scene know Andrew Sample, the former live drummer for
Falcon here on the West Coast of the US (also sporting a Falcon T-shirt on the back of the CD booklet - nice to see everyone supporting each other, very cool indeed), long time Century Media/Nuclear Blast working stiff, current DJ (Drewcifer) on the 50,000 megawatt
101.5 K-Rock and singer for Manhattan, KS-based hard rock band Variable Speed Control. Sample may have split from LA, but the dude can’t seem to beat the Rock out of his system.
Variable Speed Control lays on the heavier side of the ‘heavy rock’ tag, with big bloozey riffs reminiscent of compatriots across the pond, UFO, as played through Dimebag’s gear. I had no idea that Sample sang, but he does a great job here with a husky, John Bush-like roar. I love hearing guitarist Johnny Evans putting the slide to the fretboard on opener “In The Clutches” or peeling off riffs that launch the turbocharged “Ridin’ High, Layin’ Low”, the
1984-esque “Ruby Eyes” or the metalized boogie of “Snake Charmer”. The best track, however, is “Vision King”, which has drummer Jason Schumacher kicking things off with two sticks and a cymbal, then Dave Boomer joining in with the low-end to provide a little thunder-goosin’ to the rhythm. Evans comes in reeling off a subdued lick and shortly thereafter Sample moves in with a whisper to a scream. By 1:18, “Vision King” is gettin’ thick n’ heavy! The track gets pretty friggin’ aggressive, but takes a break in the middle to let Boomer sneak in some keys. This is something I’d dig to hear them do in the future – rock it heavy and then bust in with some Allman-esque keys for a little texture juxtaposition to all the volume shaking your skull.
Let’s not make it complicated though, VSC is a hard rock band, pure n’ simple. Sure, I’d love to hear some more Hammond and/or Rhodes, maybe more contrast in the dynamics and less “Dimebag” in Evan’s tone, but fuck it. Keep it the way it is. I played it, got in some good toe-tappin’ and finger-snappin’ and that I think is pretty much all VSC wants. Nice ZZ Top cover of “Precious and Grace”, too.
If you’re in Kansas, support Sample and his radio station and see Variable Speed Control at a venue near you. From the amount of flyers on their webpage, looks like they play pert near every night. Bring ear plugs though.
Purchase Variable Speed Control at the Hellride Music Superstore
Listen to an MP3 of Ridin’ High Layin’ Low
Visit the Variable Speed Control website at www.myspace.com/variablespeedcontrol
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