Unplugged: Of Limbo’s Acoustic Revelation

Echo Scale™: ★★★★★(5.0)

For an unparalleled auditory experience, listen to this whole album with headphones, good ones – you’ll thank me!

Brothers Jake and Luke Davies, the driving force behind Of Limbo, have taken their celebrated brand of Heavy Rock N’ Roll and stripped it bare for their latest offering, “Unplugged.” Raised in Melbourne, Australia, but now lighting up Long Beach, CA, these musicians pride themselves on making every show a party. This album, deeply inspired by those iconic 90s MTV Unplugged Sessions, delves into a more toned-down, acoustic direction, aiming to expose a depth of character and emotion behind their songs that might otherwise go unnoticed. And let me tell you, they don’t just achieve that goal; they smash it.

Instrumental Sorcery and Revitalized Classics

The album kicks off with “Estrada,” and if you heard this song, like I did, you’d have to review it. Instrumental guitar-based tracks can go one of two ways: either they’re a bit dreary, or they’re like this. This is a technical masterclass, a production marvel, an unbelievable song. Good musicians can tell a story with lyrics; world-class musicians can immerse you into a world without ever uttering a word. These guys are world-class, and then some. If somebody says “Berklee School of Music,” your head should turn, and in this case, that turning is totally justified.

Next up, they tackle a classic with “Finish What Ya Started,” a creative and deeply necessary cover of a Van Halen classic. They give the song a new lease of life and a totally different vibe which feels more authentic and lived in. It’s an incredible understanding of harmony and melody mixed with the swagger and sheer fun of Van Halen. What a great song, performed excellently.

Crafting Atmosphere: The ’80s and Beyond

“Joke’s On You” is once again a masterclass in creating atmosphere totally unplugged. Creating intrigue is well known as one of the hardest things to do while remaining listener-friendly, but that is a line these guys toe with virtually no effort whatsoever. A big, beefy bassline infiltrates the song, allowing that guitar work to just sing and tinkle along, and my god, does it work. It is totally worth mentioning how “straight from the ’80s” the vocal on this album is, which for me, is great!

Then we ease into “One of These Days,” an emotive, reflective number which captures real, authentic emotion as well as anybody else I’ve ever heard. Performed unbelievably beautifully again, this track is again rooted firmly in ’80s rock ballad territory, and frankly, they make the rest of the genre look stupid, even unplugged! If any of you are starting a band or looking to take your work to the next level, this album is a must-listen.

Even the most stubborn ears will find conversion in their stunning rendition of “Street Spirit.” I don’t like Radiohead, and I don’t like this song – I want to make that abundantly clear. However, if I had heard this arrangement, performed by Of Limbo, I would have loved it from the very start. These guys have an ear for harmony, arrangement, and production which frankly almost all musicians should aspire to, and it is on full display here.

The Big Single and the Unforgettable Closer

Now for “Something Real,” the big single, the showstopper, the lead single of the album. That guitar tone, unplugged, is just tremendous. Getting takes that clean is one thing, turning them into this is another, and wow, they’ve nailed both. Fat bass, immaculate guitar work, and stunning vocals – what more is there to say? A song well worthy of taking the lead in a banger of a release.

And then there’s “Firetruck.” What starts with “F” and ends with “uck” and I love it? This song! Longer time readers will know that big ambience and atmosphere will always make me moist, and this song is no exception. For me, the highlight of the album, and that is not an easy thing to say given the quality of the rest of the songs. It is busy, emotive, ambient, and paced flawlessly. Six minutes without losing interest even for half a second; six minutes flew by without my realizing and left me wanting more.

Live Prowess: Studio Quality on Stage

The album closes with two incredible live tracks: “Down In a Hole,” a phenomenal cover of a great Alice In Chains number, and “Little Darlin’.” Many artists would kill for this level of fidelity in a studio, and this is live?! Wow.Imagine being talented enough to release something this good just casually as a live recording? Couldn’t be me. “Down In a Hole” is a flawless performance with an incredible arrangement. Then, on “Little Darlin’,” that guitar work again! Holy cow, Batman. Again, the bass is like being attacked with a sledgehammer with a butterfly on it – beautiful while simultaneously enormous and threatening. Again, how could this possibly be live!? It is unbelievable. This shows insane vocal range and flawless instrumentation in a bluesy, yet eerie closing number.

In Conclusion

I’ve run out of superlatives for these guys. Their talent and knowledge of music is simply world-class, and the way in which they wield those attributes is a huge success for me. It is a rare five stars out of five on the Echo Scale for this one. Breathtaking.

Discover more about Of Limbo and their music at: https://linktr.ee/Oflimbo

Echo Scale™: ★★★★★(5.0)