Vulvarine -Fast Lane

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Are you ready for some punk-inspired Heavy Metal? Are you ready for an outstanding all female Heavy Metal band? Are you ready for some Austrian Heavy Metal? Do you want to get it all at once? No compromises, here comes Vulvarine’s debut album on Napalm Records. The album was released on March 28th, at the same day, Vulvarine played their home town Vienna at Szene Wien. Let’s now get ready for a wild ride on the “Fast Lane”.

Fast Lane

The Drugs, the Love and the Pain

“Is it the drugs? Is it the love? Is it the pain?”

No, it is the pure and raw energy while many bands begin their album with a short instrumental as intro. Vulvarine don’t. They hit you right between the eyes with the opener which defines the distinct direction of Fast Lane. Powerful vocals paired with very punky guitar riffs leave no space for foul excuses. “Is it the drugs? Is it the love? Is it the pain?” No, it is the pure and raw energy.

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Ancient Soul

“My soul is searching for the moon, High up in the sky.”

The “Ancient Soul” of song number two “slows” down a bit but loses nothing of the rough energy and spirit. A catchy chorus makes it round. We clearly are more on the metal side of Vulvarine’s repertoire though. “My soul is searching for the moon, High up in the sky.”

Heads Held High

“Find me where the wolfpack cries. Under the moon with heads held high”

And back to a classic punk riff which speeds up again. Hold your heads up high with this rough and dynamic anthem in the best tradition of past punk heroes without losing the appreciation for harmonies.

Demons

“Monsters under your bed. They’re just demons in your head”

There are a lot of songs about demons, some even are a girl’s best friend. This one has the best chances to become a friend too. It is a straightforward Hard Rock track driven by power bass lines and drums combined with clever guitar riffs and catchy vocals.

Alright Tonight

“Is it cruel? Is it kind? I don’t know. I don’t mind“

You want more bass, you want more drums? Alright, here you get them tonight. Bass and drums dominate the song and lead through it supported by a guitar crashing in from time to time and once again very catchy clean vocals. I’m not quite sure, but so far this is my favourite song of the album while I am writing down my thoughts…

Equal, Not the Same

“You’re a waste of time. So get the hell out of my way”

What a combination, a metal riff and angry punk vocals! They are “Equal, Not the Same” but find together in perfect harmony as ebony and ivory on a piano. Don’t get me wrong, there is no piano involved. Not on this album, not with this band. Get it straight and understand the message.

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Fool

“We don’t care about your name. How much you earn. And whom you rule. You bloody fool”

In modern times like those we experience nowadays, this song is true more than ever. We live in a world where people make fools out of themselves for the short moment of false glory and fake success. We even elect those people to become our leaders. In fact, we are the fools who generate more fools. And this must stop now if don’t “Wanna live the life of a fool”.

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Polly the Trucker

“Adiós, thanks for nothing. And good night”

Let us check out, what “Polly the Trucker” thinks about what’s being said. First of all, she seems to be a child of the punk generation again. Second, “Polly’s got no f*cks to give”. I don’t want to over interpret song and lyrics but be assured, it is a very good tune. I love the guitar solo and the dynamic of the whole song, like a trucker on the fast lane, ready for the overkill.

Dark Red

“I feel your face on my lips. Widely deeply scarred. A signature of the devil”

Are we becoming colourful now? Is black not colour enough anymore? But isn’t blood “Dark Red”? There we might have the answer, bloodshot colour of the eyes. Apart from that, this is one of the songs, I would like to enjoy in an extended singing competition with the crowd of a wild life show. It is made for stages of stadiums and festivals!

Cheri Cheri Lady

“Living in devotion. It’s always like the first time”

As some people might know, this is a cover of German sugar sweet pop duo Modern Talking. It comes in a totally different disguise, and we even hear Filippa Nässil of Thundermother on lead guitar. I must confess, even though I hate the idea, I kind of like this song and I am pretty sure, it will do its duty during live shows. At least, it lost all it’s unbearable sweetness and turned into a mean beast which just fades out and away.

She’ll Come Around

“I’m a talker, Johnny Walker. All my promises are sweet”

The closer of the album is the purest and slowest song. It just features raindrops, vocals and a basic acoustic guitar. I imagine someone in a smoky bar grabbing a guitar in the middle of the night and singing these verses while the other guests turn into an audience of a million faces expecting a dream to come true.

Yet to be said

Fast Lane is the second full length album of Vulvarine apart from an EP. The progress of the band is amazing. It is a grown-up album which convinces with catchy melodies, clean vocals, great hooks and riffs, punk and metal influences. In many aspects, the sound and attitude remind me of heroines like Joan Jett to name just one. The four Vulvarines convince me, that even Austrians can create very good Heavy Metal music and there is not only Opus, Falco or Mozart around. 😉Their reputation as a great life band precedes them far ahead. Go out and catch them on their tour supporting Thundermother or a festival in summer.

Short Facts

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VULVARINE live 2025:
Support of  Thundermother’s Dirty & Divine Tour EU/UK – w/ Cobra Spell

07.02.25 DE – Hamburg / Grosse Freiheit
08.02.25 DE – Cologne / Essigfabrik
09.02.25 BE – Sint-Niklaas / De Casino
11.02.25 UK – London / The Garage
12.02.25 UK – Manchester / Rebellion
14.02.25 FR – Paris / Petit Bain
15.02.25 FR – Lyon / Marché Gare
16.02.25 IT – Milan / Santeria
18.02.25 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage
19.02.25 DE – Stuttgart / Im Wizemann
21.02.25 AT – Dornbirn / Conrad Sohm
22.02.25 DE – Memmingen / Kaminwerk
23.02.25 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch
21.03.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
22.03.25 DE – Berlin / Festsaal Kreuzberg
23.03.25 PL – Warsaw / Niebo
25.03.25 CZ – Prague / Strom Club
26.03.25 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra Blue Stage
28.03.25 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien
29.03.25 DE – Munich / Backstage
30.03.25 CH – Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik
01.04.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
02.04.25 DE – Bochum / Zeche
04.04.25 DE – Obertraubling / Airport-Eventhall
05.04.25 DE – Hanover / Capitol
06.04.25 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli Vredenburg – Pandora

Festivals:
21.06.25 AT – Ried im Innkreis / KiK Open Air Festival
23.07.25 SI – Tolmin / Tolminator Festival

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Online:  

Vulvarine

Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands official sources and don’t stream it for free because it steals your artists’ income.

Review by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep

Proof reading by DerminBoad