Review Summary: Veara delivers a solid full length debut. Featuring solid drums, decent riffing and soaring vocals, one can't help but sing along. Also; Girl..drummer..
Signing on to Epitaph Records with the likes of New Found Glory, Bad Religion, and Alkaline Trio as well as working with Jeremy McKinnon and Joshua Woodard of A Day to Remember, Veara has released their full length debut “What We Left Behind”.
Coming from the Peach State (Georgia for those who don’t know state nicknames) Veara consists of Brad Wyrosdick rocking the mic, Patrick Bambrick on guitar, Bryan Kerr on bass and Brittany Harrell on drums. Yes, it’s a girl. Having released a self distributed EP; Veara comes to the frontlines with their first full length. One could say that this album delivers, they would most definitely be right.
From the very get go you get kicked the face with We Have a Body Count. The song tarts with some yells, riffing and eventually a short low bass sound that I find really sweet for some reason. The first verse is lead by the drums in the first section then the guitar comes in with its own little riff in the second part, only for a second though then you are taken into a very catchy chorus. Next is a different, slower paced bridge section, another chorus, and the outro. It is a very short song.
Better Off Without You features a nice guitar riff and some decent drumming. Yet again, another short song. In fact, just so I don’t have to say it again, all the songs are short. My B-Side life is a catchy sing a long song about getting through life and all that cool stuff. The chorus reminded me of the chorus in ADTR’s “NJ Legion Iced Tea”, maybe it’s just me.
The album overall is filled with catchy songs that feature gang vocals, sweet guitar riffs, decent bass that is more audible in certain songs than others (see Role Models). I feel the show is stolen by Brad and Brittany. The vocals on this album are very catchy while at the same time vary from on each song. The drums just straight up kick butt. While not being anything super technical you can’t help but notice they are anything but boring. I heard a lot of ADTR influence on this album and I’m sure there are some other influences here as well; however, I’m not a fan of pop punk so I really wouldn’t know.
The last songs I’ll mention are Head for the Hills and Being Kicked in the Face Has Never Been So Much Fun. The latter being the album closer and the former coming right before it. I felt these two songs should have been switched on the album. Kicked in the Face isn’t a bad song, it just doesn’t fit as an album closer. Head for the Hills however would have been a good choice. With the familiar fast paced verses and catchy choruses followed up at the end of the song with a few seconds of acoustic guitar you get another chorus where the song finally ends on the words “I’ll be gone for now.”
Overall, “What We Left Behind” is a catchy fun album and a great first release by Veara. Only time will tell what direction this band takes their potential. I give it a 3.5/5
PROS
+Drummer is a girl (sorry, but I think girl drummers kick some major butt), drums are very solid as well.
+Vocals don’t get boring.
+Catchy as hell.
+Decent guitar throughout.
CONS
-All songs are under 3:30 (maybe it isn't a bad thing?)
-Moar bass please.
-Nothing groundbreaking.
