 | Tracklist:
1. Standinge Alone (Isolation)
2. Caves (Anxiety)
3. Stallions (Adrenaline)
4. Stronghold (Destruction)
5. Surrender (Clarity)
Release Date: 01/30/2012 | |
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On 27 Lists
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| Summary: Behind aggression and despair, somewhere lays true beauty… |
2 of 2 thought this review was well written
Hardcore music has been going through somewhat of a much needed revival in recent years. Bands such as Defeater, Touche Amore and Pianos Become The Teeth have given the genre of melodic hardcore a lift; combining the already fast hardcore drum beats and complex riffs with intense vocals and emotionally charged lyrics.
All of the above-mentioned bands are from the US. Step forward Veils; a British quartet rising from the quiet town of Cornwall, England. With only their second EP to boot, Veils show us why they are a band to take notice of.
Veils are:
Ben Sullivan – Guitar
Nathan Retallack – Bass
Ollie Lello – Drums
Chlo Edwards – Vocals
The album artwork alone tells its own story, and gives a hint of what is to come in the music. Isolated, desolate and alone, a deer stares from a barren and snow covered landscape. Black and white, devoid of colour, don’t expect this album to be a bright and cheery affair. It isn’t.
‘’ Why are we still standing alone in the dark? ‘’
The EP kicks off with perhaps their most well known song; ‘Standing Alone (Isolation).’ A peaceful and brooding intro soon explodes into an assault of intense hardcore vocals and riffs. The ease at which Chlo’s harsh vocals fade into nothing, from aggression into despair is a true strength of this band.
‘’I’ve realised that we need to suffer, I’ve realised we need to let it feast, just to find salvation in our beautiful defeat.’’
‘Caves (Anxiety)’ wastes no time in reaching full speed as Chlo lets loose straight from the off, only slowing occasionally and briefly to create the dark and moody ambience present throughout this record.
‘’ Every gallop leads to a change in pace, every change leads to leap of faith.’’
‘Stallions (Adrenaline)’ continues where the two previous tracks left off. The lyrics are very much a focus for the band; aided by Chlo’s emotional vocals and the bands ability to switch from frantic hardcore riffs into calm interludes, the listener has a real insight into the emotions and intentions behind the record.
‘’My soul is a shipwreck an empty vessel that lost it’s pride, washed ashore by the raging tide.’’
‘Stonghold (Destruction)’ is the shortest track on the EP, typical of many other hardcore bands playing straight up hardcore. Fast and unrelenting; emotions pour out of Chlo’s mouth like nothing can stop them. No respite.
‘’If the death of chaos is the birth of clarity then bring me to the ground.’’
‘Surrender (Clarity)’ brings the EP to an end, and so ends the short journey we as listeners have just been on. Finally at peace, the track slowly builds up to the climax of the entire record.
Each individual track has been building towards this ‘clarity’, this clear state of mind, and the beauty of this moment is not lost on the band.
If this EP is anything to go by, Veils have a very bright future in the world of hardcore music. Multiple listens are a must to truly appreciate this record, and what it really means.
A dark and aggressive record for the most part, with meaningful and intense lyrics to support the whole ambience created; this is a band to check out for any fan of heavy music but especially for any fan of melodic hardcore.
Not without its faults, the music is not massively varied. But it is thought-provoking, a journey of personal struggle; and to me, music without emotion is rarely ever worth listening to...
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Album Rating: 4.5
This needed a review badly...
Its also my first review so be nice please
Digging: Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind | | | Album Rating: 3.5
arts cool
music sounds dec, heard two tracks so far
missing some fire tho but cool rec, might grow,
Digging: Wintersun - Time | | |
been seeing this on a few lists lately
looks interesting
Digging: Janus - Nox Aeris
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this is an okay review. try to avoid track-by-track analysis, and try to focus on general themes throughout their album and analyse their success/failure. that being said, what you have here is pretty good - especially for a first review. so, good job!
i feel i really need to check this band out at some point...
| | | Album Rating: 4
I thought this already had a review.
Digging: Carissa's Wierd - Songs About Leaving | | | Album Rating: 4
good album. for some reason i didn't realize the vocalist was a girl until i saw a picture on their facebook lol. i guess i'm just used to girly vocals in this kind of hardcore.
Digging: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures | | | Album Rating: 3
this is on my priority list of stuff to listen to
Digging: Old Man Gloom - NO Digging: Old Man Gloom - NO | | |
@aubergine. listening now... this chick does sound pretty manly! it's ok so far.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Stallions is fuckin sweet
Digging: Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll Digging: Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll | | | Album Rating: 4
This EP is a masterpiece
Digging: You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude Digging: You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude | | | Album Rating: 4
if its a masterpiece then why do you have it rated as a 4?
| | | Album Rating: 4
haha it was a slight exaggeration... and a 4 is still a pretty high rating like this is 4, almost 4.5
| | | Album Rating: 4
yea this rules
weird review but posd anyway
Digging: Strapping Young Lad - City Digging: Strapping Young Lad - City | | | Album Rating: 4
This is powerful.
Digging: Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings Digging: Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings | | | Album Rating: 4
Yea this rules but I am not a big fan of your review.
Digging: Inverloch - Dusk/ Subside | | | Album Rating: 4
it's his first cut him some slack.
I suggest reading some staff reviews, Jackal
| | | Album Rating: 4
Good review.
Definitely gonna check these guys out. The album cover looks awesome.
Wow, Caves sounded amazing. Buying this right now.
Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories | | | Album Rating: 4
Love this EP
Decent review, but you could have described the music more; the only descriptor I saw here (besides mood-related ones) was 'hardcore' (vocals, riffs, etc.) Your ending statement, that the music is not 'massively varied', could use some Clarity
But good first review!
Digging: And So I Watch You From Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar Digging: And So I Watch You From Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar | | |
"...could use some Clarity"
OICWUTUDIDTHER
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
3.5
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