Live At The MOD by Zoli Band: A Rockin’ Belgian Blast from 2001
Alright, buckle up, because Live At The MOD by Zoli Band is one of those albums that feels like your buddy just handed you a mixtape and said, “Trust me, dude.” Released in 2001 under the cheeky label name RocknRollRadio (points for branding), this Belgian rock gem doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel—but man, does it spin that sucker with gusto.
First off, let’s talk about "Vampire." Oh yeah, this track sinks its teeth into you right away. The opening riff hits like someone spilled beer on your shoes at a concert—annoying at first but oddly exciting once you lean into it. It’s got this raw energy that reminds me why live albums are so much fun; they’re messy, unpredictable, and dripping with vibes you can’t fake in a studio. Plus, whoever screams “VAMPIRE!” during the chorus sounds like they’ve been bitten by something way worse than a bat. Love it.
Then there’s "Long Way Home," which honestly sneaks up on you when you least expect it. At first, I thought, “Oh great, another mid-tempo ballad thingy,” but nope—it flips the script halfway through and turns into this soaring anthem that makes you wanna drive aimlessly down some country road while pretending life isn’t falling apart. You know, casual stuff. The acoustic bits give it a nice balance too, like they couldn’t decide whether to brood or shred, so they did both. Respect.
Other tracks like "Wash Away" and "Painful (Ac)" keep things interesting, but honestly, after hearing Vampire scream his undead heart out and taking that long, existential ride home, my brain was kinda full. Like eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting—delicious, but overwhelming if you stop to think about it.
What strikes me most about Live At The MOD is how unapologetically human it feels. Sure, the production has its quirks (like that one moment where someone coughs louder than the guitar solo), but that’s what makes it real. This isn’t some polished pop-rock nonsense—it’s sweaty, imperfect, and alive. And honestly? That’s refreshing as hell.
So here’s the kicker: listening to this album made me realize two things. One, Belgians really do know how to rock. Two, if vampires ever form a band, I hope they hire Zoli Band as their hype crew. Now excuse me while I go find more random live recordings from 2001. Or maybe clean up all these chip crumbs. Either way, worth it.
