Euphoria Station, formed by vocalist Saskia Kraft van Ermel and guitarist Hoyt Binder, are back with their third album, Smoking Gun, which continues where they left off with their critically acclaimed album, The Reverie Suite, which garnered such accolades as Friday Night Progressive’s Indie Prog Award for Vocal Album Of The Year, Dutch Progressive Rock Page’s Top 10 List and a nomination from Hollywood Music In Media’s independent music artist award in their Americana category.

Staying true to their art, Saskia brings her powerful voice and lyrics while Hoyt keeps pushing the envelope, crossing boundaries while retaining their signature sound.

Smoking Gun pays homage to the heroes of Southern Rock, with acclimation and reverence to their legacy and indelible sound engraved in our hearts. This album includes a cover of The Marshall Tucker Band’s Take the Highway, a big influence on Saskia’s youth.

It’s loosely intertwined themes are inspired by a western fueled daydream on a long train running, involving the fastest gunslinger in the West, love lost and love found, and remembering fallen Southern Rock heroes along the way.

1. Amazing Grace (In Memory Of...) [1:27]
2. Take The Highway [6:46]
3. Smoking Gun [6:19]
4. Nowhere Junction [5:23]
5. Off The Beaten Path [4:40]
6. My Mistake [4:21]
7. The Ballad Of Grace Malloy [3:16]
8. Carolina On My Mind [4:31]
9. Sweep Me Away [5:54]
10. Here With You [4:07]
11. Living For Today [5:33]
12. Dusty Roads [5:26]
13. November Came Early [5:35]

Evolving from the lush Americana orchestration found on The Reverie Suite, favoring a more raw and stripped-down, improvisational approach, the new album opens on an atmospheric, short but sweet Amazing Grace (In Memory Of...) and the rambunctious Take The Highway and then w get brought forth the grittier title track Smoking Gun, the mid-tempo, harmonica-driven rocker Nowhere Junction, the melodious Off The Beaten Path and the foot to the floor storytelling that drives my own personal favorite My Mistake.

Along next is the beautiful winding instrumental guitar balladry of The Ballad Of Grace Malloy and the joyful rocker Carolina On My Mind and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the sweetly free flowing Sweep Me Away, the playfully rock-lite fare of Here With You, and the harmoniously crafted Living For Today, the set rounding out on the instrumental guitar rock of Dusty Roads, coming to an all too soon close on the impassioned November Came Early.

Whether it’s three chords and the truth, progressive detours, or the soundtrack to your next renegade-road trip, Smoking Gun will take you on a journey to Nowhere Junction where you can let loose, Off the Beaten Path.

Musicians:
Saskia Kraft van Ermel - Vocals
Hoyt Binder - Guitars, Dobro, Harmony Vocals
Toss Panos - Drums
Rebecca Kleinmann - Flute
Mike Disarro - Harmony Vocals
Tollak Olestad - Harmonica
Jorgen Carlsson - Bass
Ronald van Deurzen - Hammond B3, Piano

Euphoria Station - Smoking Gun (Official Video)

Official Purchase Link