As the summer starts to wind down and the days grow shorter once again, many people are likely looking for some feel good music to lift their spirits: times being what they are, you might have an itch that only some upbeat rock’n’roll can scratch. The Vintage Caravan may not look like your typical high-octane performers at first glance— hell, the group are practically begging to be lumped in with all-manner of prog bands— but as the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. New record ‘Portals’ brings all the bouncy guitar riffs, lighthearted bass lines and catchy choruses you could possibly need to lighten your day.

Anyone looking for some conceptual progressive rock might initially be drawn to ‘Portals’ on the back of its aesthetic alone: the album houses five atmospheric interludes across its hour-long runtime, adding a layer of grandiosity to the project. In actuality though, The Vintage Caravan do little to earn those softer moments, and the record might have been a little stronger without them: this is, through and through, a groovy rock’n’roll album, with any elements beside that as mere salad dressing. Perhaps its greatest trait, then, is the boundless energy that courses through every moment of ‘Portals.’ The trio fill every crevice with flashy technical showcases, sprinkling some spice into even the simplest of tracks— just take closer ‘This Road,’ which scores the soaring Ágústsson guitar solo with some prominent, driving bass work from Númason. On its face, the album captures the essence of rock’n’roll to a tee: there’s just no arguing with this collection of gnarly guitar tones, characterful vocal outings and enthusiastic performances.

If the band have made any attempts to step outside the comfortable realm of rock music, it’s on opener ‘Philosopher:’ the presence of Mikael Åkerfeldt (of Swedish prog metal group Opeth) alone should tip you off that the cut might stand out among its peers. The Vintage Caravan kick their newest record off on a decidedly understated note, easing the listener in via a host of folksy acoustic guitars and some Jethro Tull-esque woodwinds that make for a chilling first impression. Despite these additions though, the cut is a fitting tone-setter, quickly bursting into some groovy hard rock riffs and an absolutely explosive chorus— it’s these elements, along with the frantic solo that closes out the cut, that become the mainstay draws of ‘Portals.’ The following ‘Days Go By’ solidifies that focus on impact, channeling Def Leppard via its stomping dad rock riffs, layered vocals and cheery wah-pedal infused bass lines: even if the group are hardly reinventing the wheel, they certainly make it roll (and, while they’re at it, rock as well).

The charm of this Icelandic trio rests solely on their ability to deliver infectious melodies and timeless rock writing: a good thing the group do exactly that. ‘Here You Come Again’ starts off on a more atmospheric note but soon bulldozes its way into being one of the brightest and liveliest inclusions on the album— seriously, just try not to nod along to the song’s infectious hook and triumphant lead lines. Whenever The Vintage Caravan put their foot on the gas, we’re in safe hands. The exciting urgency of ‘Riot’ and hilarious bounciness of ‘Electrified’ are nothing short of thrilling, cutting right to the heart of why rock music continues to earn such respect. Really, ‘Portals’ is like a heartfelt love letter to all things fun— ‘Give and Take’ ‘Crossroads’ and more are all major successes.

The album has no major rough patches capable of getting you to pull your hair out— the worst we can say is that The Vintage Caravan arguably play things a little too safe at times. Though few moments on the record are all-too boundary-pushing, the band’s approach to balladry feels particularly hit-or-miss. Where the adventurous melodies of ‘Current’ and Led Zeppelin-influenced acoustics of ‘My Aurora’ feel evocative and well-considered, the beat-your-head-against-the-wall repetition of ‘Alone’ crosses a line for us: the track’s chord progressions and writing devices feel awfully trite, especially when compared to the surrounding instrumental shenanigans. ‘Portals’ is hardly some new frontier for rock music, and it’s easy to allow a sense of ‘been there, done that’ to creep in across a song like ‘Freedom’— this is not an album to be dissected and mused over, as much as it is a welcome dose of feel-good energy.

The Vintage Caravan bring a singular, utterly crucial aspect to their music that, far too often, seems lacking in much of what we listen to: their latest album is so, so much fun. For all its strong performances and charming writing, the underlying selling point of ‘Portals’ is the smile it’ll put on your face— you can bet we’ll be humming alone to ‘Philosopher’ and ‘Here You Come Again’ for quite some time, given just how unbearably catchy they are. For anyone looking to add an extra drop of sunshine into their life, you can’t go wrong with this collection of groovy rock’n’roll anthems.