Influencing and inspiring dozens of musicians and subgenres since first developing circa the 1950’s, rock music has evolved on a worldwide scale to become one of the most popular genres to date. Throughout the years, each decade has lent a unique persona to the genre which has cumulated to give rock the variety of characteristics we know and define it by today. Arguably the most celebrated and recognizable era to emerge out of these periods of diversity is the creation of classic rock through the 70’s, 80’s, and into the 90’s. Working to bring this style back into the modern age, California-based band Melted Vinyl is returning to the roots of rock and bringing the genre into a new generation.
The four-piece band composed of Wolfgang King (Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, 23), Juan T. Lopez (Bass, 25), Sam Kritzer (Drums, 18), and Alex Bender (Guitar, 21) initially came together through a program called Rock Nation which pairs musicians up and places them into cover bands. Deciding to branch out and form a group of their own, Melted Vinyl debuted their first self-titled EP in 2016. The band’s talent quickly caught the eye of six-time Grammy nominee producer Joel Hamilton and with his help they released their second EP, Lights We Chase, on May 3rd.
Melted Vinyl Is Living up to Legends Past
Influences such as Led Zepplin, the Foo Fighters, and Pearl Jam who Melted Vinyl has cited as major inspirations are broadcasted across the EP and manifest uniquely within each of the six tracks featured. Along with the cornerstone qualities of classic rock such as long, intense guitar solos and reverberating vocals, elements from blues and grunge join in to create a distinctly vintage vibe. The opening song, “Beyond”, is perhaps one of the few hints to nod toward the band’s youth. An upbeat, plucky guitar intro cues listeners to the band’s California roots while the brooding vocals join in and keep the song grounded in a style not unlike that of Kings of Leon.
The song is accompanied by a music video and filmed in a manner that reminds viewers of Nirvana’s iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video. Featuring MTV style credits at the video’s introduction, Melted Vinyl begins a live performance of “Beyond” in what appears to be a dark, isolated warehouse. The scene comes to life as film grain flickers and pops on screen, illuminated in the hazy backlighting to compliment the grunge nostalgia found throughout the entirety of Lights We Chase. Continually growing in intensity, tracks such as the Zepplin-esque song “Dionysus” will have listeners reaching for their air guitar and partying like it’s the 1980’s all over again.
In the short amount of time since their formation, Melted Vinyl has built up an impressive resume of live performances supporting names such as Slash, Jefferson Starship, and Vince Neil of Motley Crue. Channeling this experience into performances of their own, the band has also sold out a number of headlining shows across Los Angeles at venues including The Roxy, The Troubadour, The Whiskey, and The Canyon Club. With their music earning air time on radio stations across the United States as well as Great Britain, word about these rising rock legends is spreading fast.
Though Melted Vinyl currently has only one performance scheduled, fans of classic rock should stay tuned for more announcements as Lights We Chase continues to amass listeners across the US. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that the band’s two EP’s will pave the way for a future, full-length album as Melted Vinyl continues to reconnect the world with classic rock.
