Vins
Polvere e Asfalto

Released last year, "Polvere e Asfalto" proves to be a pleasant and smooth album to listen to. Vins is a singer-songwriter and guitarist, active since around 2017 with his project, and arrives two years later at the release of his debut album with ten rough American school rock'n'roll songs: don't expect experimental forays, but neither a banal record.
The opener "Come si fa?" is direct and hard, the guitars vaguely hark back to 80s/90s hard rock and the rhythm is tight and pressing: verses and choruses fit perfectly, and the guitar solo is a continuous surprise. The album proceeds smoothly through potentially radio-friendly singles with more bluesy roots ("Domani" and "Curami"), and tracks that are less memorable but always in line with the album's mood. Above all, the GUITAR reigns supreme (as the cover suggests). You arrive at the title track, "Polvere e Asfalto," certainly the most interesting piece of the album, where groove, melody, and energy intersect to raise the temperature properly; "Il Mondo è Qua" is a gem where the voice dialogues with the main blues riff, "Punto di Fuga" is expressive and piercing just enough. The voice is not technically impeccable, but it works on the whole and occasionally recalls Layne Staley, giving that touch of grunge to the whole.
Another hit of hard rock and you finally arrive at "Immobile," a sweet ballad with guitar and voice that close the album, like calm after the storm.
Overall, an excellent debut effort for Vins, with ten well-written and interpreted tracks and a good but not excellent production. The perfect forty-minute background for an on-the-road trip.
In short, the Italian rock scene still has a lot to say!