Climbing their way into wider notoriety, Virtue In Vain is going from strength to strength; rapidly gaining in momentum. Their newest EP Nothing Is All I Am, brings us Between Reflections And Silence which has been making its round on platforms like ‘Fresh Blood’ on Kerrang and ‘Introducing Rock’ on BBC Radio 1.
The EP has five tracks performed with passion, skill and love for what they do. They prioritize a good build and a gut-wrenching throw down to capture traditional metalcore in a way that feels nostalgic and well researched but with modern and pristine execution. Virtue In Vain blends softer and emotional melodies in hard hitting aggressive instrumentals and vocals so cohesively I feel it can reach the mainstream rock media.
Split is short and strong with an intense build and a nasty neck-breaking breakdown. It’s pure mosh pit fuel and a great floor filler, which is now what I've come to expect from these guys. The metal vocals are outstanding and fiery with some great vocal sustains which make for a fantastic opener.
Blood Eyes dives straight in with a contrasting metal vocals all in tandem. Complemented with repetitive, strong and satisfying riffs that get stuck in your head. This one has a blend of paces focusing on being heavy and unwavering in tone rather than speed like its counterparts.
Between Reflections And Silence has so far been the star of the show. There has been lots of promos for this one, and it’s finally put into its proper context. It’s a scorcher with their rapid signature vocals and riffs. This one is sharper and snappier with more emotional lyrics; some melodic rock vocals for the chorus offering an impacting and meaningful punch which makes for a nice change of pace halfway through. I feel it was the right choice for all the promos as it's a showpiece. Everyone has their moment and plays well and quickly captures the overall feel of Virtue In Vain as well as quickly introducing their new theme.
Echoes has a fast wind up which is very on brand with the format established so far and it throws us straight into action. It sounds more technical, the springiness of the guitars are interesting and would be great for a metal club night. It’s fun and cheeky for a thematically darker track. Similar in style to Blood Eyes and I can see these two becoming fan favorites.
The Wilt And I is my personal favourite. Glorious harmonies with a celestial yet grim atmosphere, paired with some keyboard elements and vocals layered in reverb which makes this one more of a bitter and devastating lament. It’s cinematic and swells like a crashing wave and shows the potential range while keeping their own tone. At first I found it hard to grasp what's being said but what struck me despite that was just how discerning and visceral each track came across because Nothing Is All I Am is personal and genuine.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, there was nothing on here that i didn't like. It was very well made, mixed, recorded and edited well (to my ears anyway) and none of the songs dragged which can be typical of the genre. I feel like the run time for each track was spot on as well as the layout. Nothing Is All I Am is a magnificent showcase of the experience these guys have gained over the years and brought us something really articulate, thoughtful as well as having the potential to be a real crowd pleaser. 10/10
Defaced - Icon (Massacre Records) [Mark Young]
Swiss metallers Defaced, return from a hiatus showing no signs of ring rust or that the passage of time has dimmed any levels of ferocity. Rather than the usual pre-review jiggery pokery, lets just straight into it. The Antagonist burns from its first second and it’s a welcome addition to those album starters who make good on the promises their bio makes. It enters with intent, and then delivers it over 3 and a half minutes of complete focus.
The EP has five tracks performed with passion, skill and love for what they do. They prioritize a good build and a gut-wrenching throw down to capture traditional metalcore in a way that feels nostalgic and well researched but with modern and pristine execution. Virtue In Vain blends softer and emotional melodies in hard hitting aggressive instrumentals and vocals so cohesively I feel it can reach the mainstream rock media.
Split is short and strong with an intense build and a nasty neck-breaking breakdown. It’s pure mosh pit fuel and a great floor filler, which is now what I've come to expect from these guys. The metal vocals are outstanding and fiery with some great vocal sustains which make for a fantastic opener.
Blood Eyes dives straight in with a contrasting metal vocals all in tandem. Complemented with repetitive, strong and satisfying riffs that get stuck in your head. This one has a blend of paces focusing on being heavy and unwavering in tone rather than speed like its counterparts.
Between Reflections And Silence has so far been the star of the show. There has been lots of promos for this one, and it’s finally put into its proper context. It’s a scorcher with their rapid signature vocals and riffs. This one is sharper and snappier with more emotional lyrics; some melodic rock vocals for the chorus offering an impacting and meaningful punch which makes for a nice change of pace halfway through. I feel it was the right choice for all the promos as it's a showpiece. Everyone has their moment and plays well and quickly captures the overall feel of Virtue In Vain as well as quickly introducing their new theme.
Echoes has a fast wind up which is very on brand with the format established so far and it throws us straight into action. It sounds more technical, the springiness of the guitars are interesting and would be great for a metal club night. It’s fun and cheeky for a thematically darker track. Similar in style to Blood Eyes and I can see these two becoming fan favorites.
The Wilt And I is my personal favourite. Glorious harmonies with a celestial yet grim atmosphere, paired with some keyboard elements and vocals layered in reverb which makes this one more of a bitter and devastating lament. It’s cinematic and swells like a crashing wave and shows the potential range while keeping their own tone. At first I found it hard to grasp what's being said but what struck me despite that was just how discerning and visceral each track came across because Nothing Is All I Am is personal and genuine.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, there was nothing on here that i didn't like. It was very well made, mixed, recorded and edited well (to my ears anyway) and none of the songs dragged which can be typical of the genre. I feel like the run time for each track was spot on as well as the layout. Nothing Is All I Am is a magnificent showcase of the experience these guys have gained over the years and brought us something really articulate, thoughtful as well as having the potential to be a real crowd pleaser. 10/10
Defaced - Icon (Massacre Records) [Mark Young]
Swiss metallers Defaced, return from a hiatus showing no signs of ring rust or that the passage of time has dimmed any levels of ferocity. Rather than the usual pre-review jiggery pokery, lets just straight into it. The Antagonist burns from its first second and it’s a welcome addition to those album starters who make good on the promises their bio makes. It enters with intent, and then delivers it over 3 and a half minutes of complete focus.
Perception enters the fray, boiling itself alive with a pure feeling of total fury. You’ve heard music like this before, of course you have but it’s the way that bands reinvent how they do it as well as the attitude they imbue upon it. Perception, like The Antagonist carries it and that’s what makes it worthwhile. They realise that they have maybe two or three tracks to make a case so its lucky that As My Will Prevails bookends that opening triple in just the right way. It hammers away at you, with an epic drum performance which shows levels of superhuman endurance with a deft touch.
The Initiation follows on in their footsteps, not moving too far from the blueprint that has been set, and I’m perfectly ok with that, I know what’s coming. The Initiation just continues to strike you in the same way, but it doesn’t become boring In doing so. They are hell bent on keeping their promise in making sure that every song lands with you. Forever Mine is next up and is a masterclass of combining ferocity and melody with Anthem Of Vermin effectively repeating that same feat. Of these two, they show that they have a little wriggle room in how they approach building their songs. Bringing the lead breaks here and now is a neat trick, especially the one on Anthem is a melter.
The Initiation follows on in their footsteps, not moving too far from the blueprint that has been set, and I’m perfectly ok with that, I know what’s coming. The Initiation just continues to strike you in the same way, but it doesn’t become boring In doing so. They are hell bent on keeping their promise in making sure that every song lands with you. Forever Mine is next up and is a masterclass of combining ferocity and melody with Anthem Of Vermin effectively repeating that same feat. Of these two, they show that they have a little wriggle room in how they approach building their songs. Bringing the lead breaks here and now is a neat trick, especially the one on Anthem is a melter.
Of course, not every song reaches the heights and Sonate is where they lose a little momentum. Its an acoustic performance that is perfectly fine, but not placed here. It means that they have a little bit of work to do, at least for me. Icon starts, and its this albums slow and methodical track which gradually expands within its run time. It has all the traits of the other tracks here but could have benefited from being slightly shorter. Its still a decent blast, but I’m hoping that the final two come in blazing.
Which Culling The Herd does. That reduced length realigns them and is a hit of energy that sets up Betrayer to close up the shop. Betrayer shares a similar approach as Icon, looking to a lighter feel in how the riffs are deployed to us. It brings that stomping downpicked attack to play without forgetting the speed. On balance, it represents a fine end to a very strong return for Defaced.
Is there much difference between tracks, does it try to offer something new? Well, if I’m comparing it against their previous releases then I have no idea. Considering it on its own merit it is a welcome blast of death metal that just arrives, does its thing and then leaves. The instrumental, as good as it is could have been removed without question. Putting that to one side, it is the sound of a band on fire. 8/10
The Hirsch Effekt - Der Brauch (Long Branch Records) [Matt Bladen]
Do you like Leprous, Unprocessed, Karnivool and the like but always wish they performed exclusively in German? Well The Hirsch Effekt have you covered. They've been forging their own path on the progressive scene across six albums, but somehow they have gained a very devoted audience in countries that do not speak their language.
Especially the UK where they have carved a niche for themselves. Perhaps it's that their music speaks louder than their lyrics, though with tracks such as Die Brücke you can hear the emotion even if you don't know that they're singing about bridges over floods. (it's a metaphor)
Musically The Hirsch Effekt bring all the atmospheres and introspection of a band like Leprous, as well as their echoed, evocative music that blends analogue, electric and electronic instruments, the pulsating synths and guitar pedals are met with throbbing bass and cello, as the drumming is potent and percussively devastating.
Der Brauch seems like a return to their earlier style, a track such as Das Nachsehen a crushing metallic moment that crushes everything just before the final song, positioned as if everything else has been leading up to their outpouring of rage and insecurity, that's at the core of this record. It's the sound of a band trying to decide why they make music, not trying to make trends.
Der Brauch translates to the tradition and with their seventh album they look back to their riffy early days while keeping their modern atmospheric elements in tact. Die Band Hirsch Effekt hat auf ihrem neuen album viel zu sagen, unabhängig von der Sprache. 8/10
Sacri Suoni – Time To Harvest (Electric Valley Records) [Spike]
It’s a bit rich, isn't it? Calling your band Sacri Suoni or "Sacred Sounds" when you sound like a skip full of rusted scrap metal being dragged across wet cobbles at three in the morning (by the way this is NOT a bad thing!, I like that sound). I’ve seen more "sacred" energy in a dead pigeon on the A38. But this Italian lot aren't interested in monks or incense; they’re interested in the low-end frequencies that turn your actual internal organs into a sort of lukewarm jelly. Time To Harvest is a pure, unadulterated descent into the "green abyss" that doesn't just rumble, it suffocates.
People are always looking for or claiming to be "next big thing" in sludge, and usually, it’s just someone who’s bought a fuzz pedal they don't know how to use. These lads? They know, and then they deliver it.
The lead single, Plow The Void, starts with a red herring. It’s all dreamy, ambient textures for a moment, it’s lovely, I like that sort of stuff, you know quite nice and relaxing almost, before the floor falls out and you’re hit with a thunderous psychedelic groove that feels like a very large, very grumpy machine trying to restart after a decade in the rain. (I believe the industry term is "glacial," but "bloody exhausting" hits closer to the mark.)
Which Culling The Herd does. That reduced length realigns them and is a hit of energy that sets up Betrayer to close up the shop. Betrayer shares a similar approach as Icon, looking to a lighter feel in how the riffs are deployed to us. It brings that stomping downpicked attack to play without forgetting the speed. On balance, it represents a fine end to a very strong return for Defaced.
Is there much difference between tracks, does it try to offer something new? Well, if I’m comparing it against their previous releases then I have no idea. Considering it on its own merit it is a welcome blast of death metal that just arrives, does its thing and then leaves. The instrumental, as good as it is could have been removed without question. Putting that to one side, it is the sound of a band on fire. 8/10
The Hirsch Effekt - Der Brauch (Long Branch Records) [Matt Bladen]
Do you like Leprous, Unprocessed, Karnivool and the like but always wish they performed exclusively in German? Well The Hirsch Effekt have you covered. They've been forging their own path on the progressive scene across six albums, but somehow they have gained a very devoted audience in countries that do not speak their language.
Especially the UK where they have carved a niche for themselves. Perhaps it's that their music speaks louder than their lyrics, though with tracks such as Die Brücke you can hear the emotion even if you don't know that they're singing about bridges over floods. (it's a metaphor)
Musically The Hirsch Effekt bring all the atmospheres and introspection of a band like Leprous, as well as their echoed, evocative music that blends analogue, electric and electronic instruments, the pulsating synths and guitar pedals are met with throbbing bass and cello, as the drumming is potent and percussively devastating.
Der Brauch seems like a return to their earlier style, a track such as Das Nachsehen a crushing metallic moment that crushes everything just before the final song, positioned as if everything else has been leading up to their outpouring of rage and insecurity, that's at the core of this record. It's the sound of a band trying to decide why they make music, not trying to make trends.
Der Brauch translates to the tradition and with their seventh album they look back to their riffy early days while keeping their modern atmospheric elements in tact. Die Band Hirsch Effekt hat auf ihrem neuen album viel zu sagen, unabhängig von der Sprache. 8/10
Sacri Suoni – Time To Harvest (Electric Valley Records) [Spike]
It’s a bit rich, isn't it? Calling your band Sacri Suoni or "Sacred Sounds" when you sound like a skip full of rusted scrap metal being dragged across wet cobbles at three in the morning (by the way this is NOT a bad thing!, I like that sound). I’ve seen more "sacred" energy in a dead pigeon on the A38. But this Italian lot aren't interested in monks or incense; they’re interested in the low-end frequencies that turn your actual internal organs into a sort of lukewarm jelly. Time To Harvest is a pure, unadulterated descent into the "green abyss" that doesn't just rumble, it suffocates.
People are always looking for or claiming to be "next big thing" in sludge, and usually, it’s just someone who’s bought a fuzz pedal they don't know how to use. These lads? They know, and then they deliver it.
The lead single, Plow The Void, starts with a red herring. It’s all dreamy, ambient textures for a moment, it’s lovely, I like that sort of stuff, you know quite nice and relaxing almost, before the floor falls out and you’re hit with a thunderous psychedelic groove that feels like a very large, very grumpy machine trying to restart after a decade in the rain. (I believe the industry term is "glacial," but "bloody exhausting" hits closer to the mark.)
There’s a grit here that you only get from bands who spend too much time in rehearsal rooms that smell like stale lager and damp carpet. It’s a rhythmic, mechanical repetition that eventually stops being music and starts being a physical weight in the room, a low-frequency thrumming that gets right under your skin and stays there.
Soothe manages to keep the tension high by doing the exact opposite of its title. It’s an urgent stomp that eventually descends into a howling void of slow-motion, crawling doom. It’s an exercise in patience, the kind of music that demands you sit in the dark and contemplate your life choices.
Then you hit Dissolve To Reunite In Varanasi.
It’s essentially a sludgy, doomy intro that sets the stage for the closer, It Will Crumble Before Us. That final track? It’s their finest hour. Thirteen minutes of starkly beautiful clean notes and post-metal ebb and flow that eventually erupts into a swaggering, fuzzed-up finale. I even caught a few subtle Tool references around the nine-minute mark, perhaps I'm imagining things, but it adds a layer of "proggy" sophistication to the rot.
Is it revolutionary? Probably not in the grand scheme of the universe. But as an intoxicating mix of groove and big-ass doom riffs? It’s a total ripper. It’s evocative, it’s atmospheric, and it sounds like it was dug up from a shallow grave. Proper mental. 8/10
Soothe manages to keep the tension high by doing the exact opposite of its title. It’s an urgent stomp that eventually descends into a howling void of slow-motion, crawling doom. It’s an exercise in patience, the kind of music that demands you sit in the dark and contemplate your life choices.
Then you hit Dissolve To Reunite In Varanasi.
It’s essentially a sludgy, doomy intro that sets the stage for the closer, It Will Crumble Before Us. That final track? It’s their finest hour. Thirteen minutes of starkly beautiful clean notes and post-metal ebb and flow that eventually erupts into a swaggering, fuzzed-up finale. I even caught a few subtle Tool references around the nine-minute mark, perhaps I'm imagining things, but it adds a layer of "proggy" sophistication to the rot.
Is it revolutionary? Probably not in the grand scheme of the universe. But as an intoxicating mix of groove and big-ass doom riffs? It’s a total ripper. It’s evocative, it’s atmospheric, and it sounds like it was dug up from a shallow grave. Proper mental. 8/10
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