Review Summary: How many more times can you end it all?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): (n) - a psychological reaction occurring after experiencing a highly stressing event (such as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event.
Vexed (UK)’s sophomore effort explores the depths and darkness of mental illness, traumatic experiences, negative emotions, and the turmoil that results from these struggles. The taboo nature of discussing mental health seems to have become a bit less shocking in recent years but that doesn’t invalidate the experiences, nor does it reduce the necessity of this open discussion and the exploration of those experiences. In this world where we’ve become numb to disturbing and disgusting events such as school shootings (‘murica!), it can become a bit commonplace to seek solace in brighter spaces and attempt to ignore tragedy and negativity; I am certainly a perpetrator of this. However, there is supreme value in empathizing and understanding the turbulence in which others struggle and allowing that vulnerability to dictate how you live your life and how you treat others around you. It’s cliché but you never know what someone is going through and being able to treat others with love and respect even when it’s not necessarily reciprocated is invaluable for your own mental health. With that being said, Vexed establishes that they are willing to make the listener uncomfortable with brutal honesty and detailed emotional content whilst conjuring demonic musical landscapes laced in djenty grooves, intense guttural vocals and relentless riffage. This is certainly the opposite of a sophomore slump with the band identifying their strengths from the first record and honing their craft as well as elevating their songwriting.
It doesn’t get anymore brutally honest than on the track “We don’t talk about it” which acts as an internal monologue around the back and forth of expressing how you’re feeling and talking about the things you’ve been through. It carries the general undertone that others don’t want to hear about your struggles, they would rather you keep the details to yourself and put on a fake smile.
“Starve myself close to death just to feel some love
Beaten by the pеople that we werе supposed to trust
Head out into the world with a mouth kept shut
Promise I won't say what happened or they'll kill all of us”
“I apologize, I think I've said too much
I'm so sorry I could not keep my mouth shut
Please just try and see it from my point of view
This is all I have to vent out the abuse 'cause we don't talk about it”
Musically, the record doesn’t deviate far from the blueprint created on their debut album with chunky-groovy riffs, massive bendy breakdowns, and lots intense, visceral screaming. Vocalist Megan Targett is one of the most prolific and versatile vocalists in heavy music right now because about to spit quickfire, rapped verses with the grit and growl of her fry screams as well as unleashing beefy, guttural for those massive crescendos. Targett is also fairly fluent with her clean vocals which are used more sparingly on this record than the debut being featured in only a few tracks towards the backend of the record. Songs like “Extremist” and “Panic attack” feature a more aggressive, quick pace delivery which compliments the more chaotically succinct flow of the tracks. The lengthier cut “It’s not the end” features a more complex formula weaving between soft, clean guitar licks to intense, chunky riffs while also utilizing more dynamic vocal patterns which include Targett’s clean vocal melodies. The shifts in tone and variety in soundscapes helps this track feel like a culmination of everything they’ve worked towards all compiled in one epic song.
The main criticism I have is that the first half of the record feels a bit too relentless and one note with track after track being extremely brutal and groovy without much in terms of melody. Then towards the back half we have a few songs clumped together that have a bit more variation; it seems like it would have been wise to include a track like “Trauma Euphoria” somewhere in the beginning just to challenge the flow of the record and allow for some breathing room. While the heavier songs do vary in tempo with some songs being true rippers and others maintaining a sort of groove-stricken pocket, being able to display the bands capability of dynamics more sporadically really helps to create a unique listening experience with ebbs and flows. I think there’s certainly flashes of that, but I’d love to see a bit more focus on how the track list flows on the next record.
‘Negative Energy’ signals that Vexed are well on their way to becoming staples in the heavy music scene with loads of attitude and grit as well as vulnerability and a nice combination of styles. With nu-metal flows and deathcore style breakdowns, Vexed are willing to take risks and explore interesting avenues to deliver their messages and for that, I give them full props. Not to mention the tremendous production value of this record with its thick basslines, pounding drum patterns and extremely clear and crisp guitar tones. Vexed have come into their own and I only look forward to more.
