Vale – Black Veil Brides
So I have to confess I’d not heard of Black Veil Brides before this album caught my eye. As I noticed the album (the cover is too cool) scrolling through charts looking for something new to listen too, I googled the band and didn’t know what to expect. Listening to tidbits on iTunes I thought “I like it”…and for a $7.99 download I took a chance.
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band based in Hollywood, California. The group formed in 2006 in Ohio and are known for their use of black makeup, black leather, and hair of the 80’s glam rock era. You can hear the influences of the sounds of the big hair metal rock bands of that time period in BVB’s music and on their fifth studio album it is ever evident. From anthem styled arena rock songs with plenty of chant worthy lyrics (Our Destiny, The Last One) and lots of “Whoa Oh’s” . While some might call it a predictable song “When They Call My Name” is one of my favorites on the album, talking about the voices in lead singer Andy Biersack’s head, which makes me chuckle.
The music is tight and the guitar riffs are prevalent throughout highlighted with the occasional double kick drum, it’s not going to win any lyrical awards but the songs get the point across they are meaning too. Speaking of influences you can hear the James Hetfield styled growls on songs like “Outsider” (which I don’t recommend driving too if you tend to have music inspired speeding problems…for that matter “My Vow” either!), and parts of “Vale” reminds me of Queensryche’s “Silent Lucidity”. I must say I totally didn’t expect to hear Jinxx’s ‘violin’ playing on an album such as this, but it totally fit.
The general theme of the album is ‘moving on from hardship with strength, embracing individuality’…Vale in Latin means “be strong, be well” and this is a strong metal edged rock album that is well produced, recorded and performed…check it out!