voila_la_scorie La Chinga are a hard rock band that have tapped into that classic hard rock sound that dates back to the seventies but also inspired bands of the eighties. Think of the final couple of years of AC/DC with Bon Scott or the likes of Faster Pussy Cat and Dangerous Toys but without the glam and sleaze. La Chinga are more the boys in cowboy boots, sunglasses and a bottle of whisky, racing a Dodge Challenger down the highway, rolling the dice, and having an arm around some sexy woman in tight cutoff denim shorts with a switchblade hidden somewhere.

The title of their second album, "Freewheelin'" says a lot, the album cover says more, and the back cover with the license plate that reads "GET SUM" while a pair of female legs wave out the window and the drummer salutes us from the back window with a middle finger just about sums it up. This band is snake boots, gypsies, black magic, "Stoned Grease White Lightnin'". That should give you an idea of what to expect here. Unapologetic sass and ready for another glass, La Chinga are the hard rock band your mom didn't want your older sister to know about but the younger sister got away with it.

Listening to this album, you might think this band have got their bases covered and they know what they're about and how to deliver it. But I know a little secret, and that is that their third album is even better. It's so good in fact that I had to get the second one just to be sure of the course these dudes were plotting.

voila_la_scorie Beyond the Sky is the third album by Vancouver hard rockers, La Chinga.

As an intro for the uninitiated, La Chinga play music that taps into classic ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, The Black Crows with twice the juice, and some powerful eighties retro rock / sweaty glam-in-denim punch. The lyrics are a perfect tribute to seventies rock writing; you’re not always sure what the song is about but it sounds cool. “Hey, hey and alright / Ridin’ low, ridin’ high” goes the beginning of the chorus to “Wings of Fire”. Or the opening lyrics to “Nothing That I Can’t Do” - “Bell bottoms, boogie shoes / Feeling fine, sucker proof / Bumps and bruises along the way / But I’m a born hell raiser/ And I’m here to stay”. And one of my favourites, the first line in “Killer Wizard”: “I’m a master of disaster / Watcho want, you bastard?!” Warning: this song could get you permanently addicted!

Basically this album kicks, punches, grooves, and hip checks. Simply a kick ass hard rock album that needs to be cranked. Check your speed if listening to this while driving. It’s a punch-the-roof-of-the-car, head banging-with-sunglasses-on kind of album.

Butt hay, it’s gotta have it’s laid back smooth groove in places too. If you’re going to be an early seventies, space trucking, badass biker bro then you need a bit of that eased back cosmic wind in my hair feel here and there. No sappy love songs. Just rocking out from start to done deal. I’m loving this album so much, I want a T-shirt!

For starters, you could check out the video shared here on MMA for “Killer Wizard”. All I will say is that riff could slay a horde of ogres, like the illustrated ones that show up in one part of the video. After that, you’re on your own.