| Chevelle Vena Sera |  |
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Full Review | User Ratings (166) |
| Summary: While they still won't win any awards for innovation, Chevelle's fourth offering is a major improvement and can pack a mighty punch; however, minor inconsistencies make 'Vena Sera' drag in spots. |
Chevelle's fourth album, Vena Sera, is a significant step in the right direction for the brothers Loeffler and new bassist-slash-brother-in-law Dean Bernardini: the album is chock full of crunching, heavy riffs, a solid rhythm section where Bernardini's bass takes on an increasingly-assertive role, and features some catchy sing-along choruses. Make no mistake: for a trio, the band can pack a huge punch, thanks in part to the sage-like Elvis Baskette handling the production aspect of Vena Sera, and his work on the album does not go unrecognized. Chevelle still won't win any awards for innovation with Vena Sera, but it is arguably their most accessible record yet. Guitarist/vocalist Pete Loeffler has improved dramatically - the comparisons to one Maynard James Keenan will likely not be laid to rest anytime soon - but both his deep baritone and upper registers get their workout on the album. Despite a couple inconsistencies and awkward middle section, Vena Sera may very well go down as one of the best rock albums of 2007.
To explain, Vena Sera is not a poor album by any stretch of the imagination; in fact, it has loads of positives. Take for instance the introduction of Bernardini to the Chevelle fold, whose rumbling bass is prominently heard throughout the album, a point that former bandmate (but still brother) Joe Loeffler failed to attain consistently. However, Bernardini continually delivers thunderous basslines throughout Vena Sera. Take for instance Brainiac, a tune that should have opened the album instead of the mediocre Antisaint: as Pete opens the song with "Time holds us for a minute," Bernandini's fingers move with fury, giving the track a fantastic pulse that is sustained throughout the track. Brainiac is one of Chevelle's best tracks to date; ironically, the track is rumored to be a parting shot at the former bassist and his role in his departure from the band. Lyrics such as "He's gotten through the piss, so he can blame few" (possibly referencing Joe's bitterness and unhappiness in the studio and on the road) and "We know him as one cell - should've combined to save brains - how 'bout I teach him to crawl?" seem to substantiate these rumors.
Another positive is drummer Sam Loeffler's work on the album. In previous efforts he has always been a stable force in Chevelle's heavy sound, but on Vena Sera Sam seems to have spread his wings, and his precision and creativity have remarkably enhanced. Saferwaters, the best track on the album, showcases Sam at his best from the onset, with a swift percussion intro kickstarting the track. Sam also shines throughout the chorus and especially in the bridge, where moderate double bass and rapid snare shots add a measure of intensity to support Pete's guitar solo. Saferwaters is also one of the most appealing tracks on the album due to its lyrical content; in it, Pete takes on the mindset of a misanthrope whose hatred of mankind has him regressing backwards in human evolution and sees him going back towards water. This is best exemplified in the chorus, where Pete's protagonist claims, "Our world is calling, so I'm crawling back to sea - against the surge of waves that held us with that ancient grip beneath - retreat to safer waters."
Pete's lyricism and use of metaphorical language in Chevelle's previous releases has been nothing short of bizarre at times. On Vena Sera, his lyricism is still quirky or downright extraterrestrial-weird (Humanoid, while being vocally and instrumentally sound, is an unusual story about an android: "If only the crying could heal, I'd sell my left arm to buy passion; if only apologies worked, well, I could find some reasons why maybe you wouldn't be so ill" is one such offering from Pete). His conscious decision to not rhyme again appears on the album. The vocalist is also uniquely straightforward in his delivery, such as in I Get It, where Pete beckons in the chorus, "You're right, I get it - it all makes sense, you're the perfect person, so right, so wrong - let's all live in your imaginary life." Opening with a soft progression that builds to a crescendo, I Get It's chorus is one of the fastest quiet-to-heavy passages on the album, rendering it a dark horse highlight.
Unfortunately, Vena Sera sports a small number of glaring inconsistencies that affect the listening experience, and this lack of identity is not particularly advantageous. Songs like Well Enough Alone with its opening guttural shriek over a bruising main riff or Paint the Seconds' cleaner guitars and sing-along quality are two positive examples of Chevelle and producer Elvis Baskette changing the album's balance for the better, but album opener Antisaint and Midnight to Midnight are so far-removed from the rest of the album that the style and delivery of these tracks - as well as the aforementioned The Fad and Humanoid - is confusing. For instance, Pete's wishy-washy decision-making process to hit his upper registers versus incorporating his shouted vocals is marred by unpredictable inconsistency, which blends these weaker tracks into an afflicted bout with homogeneity.
Overall, though, Vena Sera is a strong showing from the Chicago trio that sees the band taking positive steps in solidifying their trademark sound. The addition of Dean Bernardini on bass breathes an astonishing amount of life into not just the rhythm section, but into the core Chevelle sound as well. Additionally, the brothers Loeffler have each improved; although Pete's vocal style changes an irritating amount of times on the album, his upper register has a refreshing, revamped sound to it. Further, his main riffs are crushing and his solos are steady. Vena Sera is also benefited with fantastic production, which is to be expected from Elvis Baskette. While Vena Sera does have a couple of minor weaknesses, particularly the album's middle section, tracks like I Get It and Saferwaters are undoubtedly two of the band's best songs to date. In sum, this is a pretty killer rock album, even with its flawed middle section, and should definitely be considered as a contender for best rock album of 2007.
B+
Jom recommends:
I Get It
Saferwaters
Saturdays
Brainiac
Paint the Seconds
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| Recent reviews by this author | | |
Album Rating: 4
really good and i dont agree that some songs are out of place. i thought it was a well put together cd.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I've been listening to the stream as well, and I must say that I agree with just about everything you said. There are some great songs on this album but it's just missing that cohesiveness, and identity as a complete album.
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I'm not really big on this band as their whole genre really isn't my thing. Some of their singles are pretty enjoyable though.
Good job on the review, Jom.
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Psyched to pick up this album tomorrow. Great review as usual, my fellow Chevelle fanatic. Shame that so many people write off this band as nu-metal, Wonder What's Next is still such a powerful album.
I'll post my thoughts tomorrow I assume.
Digging: The Game - LAX
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
a well written review, but I have to disagree with most of what you had to say.without getting into too much detail, I think this album is a fine progression for the band, I love the style of the new bassist, and I love how Pete's vocals have alot more range, he adds alot of highs in there with his growls, and imo the sogns flow nicely and only maybe a song or two that I could identify as filler. Def a step foward imho. Braniac and The Fad are my favorites.
Digging: Down | | |
I have to say, I got excited when I read "Elvis," and was crushed when I read the "Bakalalka" at the end 
Digging: Messiah J And The Expert - From The Word Go
| | | Album Rating: 4
Yeah I'm falling in love with this album. Brainiac and Saferwaters are some of the best Chevelle songs I've heard to date.
Digging: Metallica - Death Magnetic | | | Album Rating: 3
Don't know what to say, other than it's Chevelle. They're not bad at all but not great in any way, and they're always gonna sound like the diet versions of Helmet and Tool.
Digging: Coldplay - Viva La Vida | | |
i didnt know this was out already! how many new albums are dropping in 07? seriously! i just like chevelle, some good, straight up rock. nice review Jom. i checked out your recommended tracks and liked them, so i'll be looking for this.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I'm just happy this isn't another rehash of Wonder What's Next like This Type of Thinking was.
Digging: I am the Ocean - ...And Your City Needs Swallowing | | | Album Rating: 4
This allbum is just amazing its almost perfect the songs the fad, Brainiac, and Paint The Seconds are my favorites .
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Great review Jom. I'm streaming this right now. From your review, I presume that I'll like this. I'll always have a soft spot for Chevelle.
Digging: The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
| | | Album Rating: 3
I am pretty meh about this album. For some reason it just lacks that "umph" that the last albums had.....
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
This was my favorite band until TTOT came along (which sucked). This album is definately a step back in the right direction.
| | | Album Rating: 4
very much an improvement, but still not the best sound. I like a lot of the stuff on here, some was just badly placed, but was still good.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Good review! Not a solid effort by any means, but definitely a step up from This Type of Thinking..........! They really sound like Helmet on some of the tracks, or should I say, all of them!
Digging: Neurosis - The Eye of Every Storm | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Def agree that some of the songs are pretty random but I think it's that is what exactly makes this CD so great, the variety. I know the song structures are typical but they do mix up the sound from all of their past efforts so it doesnt seem redundent. However, the songs you said are the weekest and don't fit on the CD happen to be some of my favorite songs. Antisaint is heavy as **** and has an awesome sound and he sounds alot like maynard on this track. Midnight to Midnight is probably my favorite song on this CD because it's def not a typical Chevelle type track but sounds so unique that I found it one of the strongest on the CD. I do agree that Saferwaters is the most solid track on the CD. However his lyrics are pretty abstact at times, but really when you try to piece them together they make sense...remeninscent of another band...tool...but anyway his lyrics are what make Chevelle different from typical rock bands like Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace...Chevell is WAYYYY above any of those bands without a doubt
| | | Album Rating: 4
the one that comes close to Chevelle is Breaking Benjamin, but that is just a personal opinion, but i agree that the randomness of the songs on the album makes it good
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
You forgot to write anything about Straight Jacket Fashion. It's very different sounding than any of the other songs, as far as drums go. This is a great album. I can't deny that Pete's vocals on Antisaint sound terribly alike to Maynard James Keenan, and I don't even listen to Tool. Brainiac and Saferwaters are the highlights of this album without a doubt. You got the lyrics wrong on the Brainiac quote. It's "We KNOW HIM AS one cell"
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Ah, good ears. Sorry about that, and thank you.
EDIT: the reason for not mentioning SJF other than in the recommended track section was a conscious decision, because if I wrote about all the songs my review would have been way too bulky. I've been criticized in the past (and to an extent, still am criticized) for my review lengths, and I want people to read them, so I've been trying to streamline them by hitting on two of the major highlights, two of the lowlights, and then a couple in-the-middle sort of deals to try to paint the album's sound instead of going thoroughly into each song. Sorry about that as well, but thank you, too.
This Message Edited On 04.04.07
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