Review Summary: While this record surely falls into the category of the 'usual metalcore stuff', it's one of the very best release of said genre.
Hailing from Portland, Like Vultures have been around for a couple of years now. Their debut EP called 'Obsessed' was released in January 2013. Although it heavily featured the overused traits of the recent post-hardcore/metalcore scene, it still managed to stick out somehow. The music was fast, the production quality was top notch with the vocals being more than decent (both in the harsh and in the clean departments) and the songs had some very nice riffs despite being chock-full of breakdowns. It was enough for me to take note of the band and - albeit cautiously - to look forward hearing their new material.
This cautiousness went out the window as soon as I heard their cover of Macklemore's hit single, 'Thrift Shop' a few months later. The production quality was still flawless, the song itself was awfully catchy and the whole sound definitely progressed in the right direction. Needless to say, I was straight up hooked. More than a year later, after merging with post-hardcore band Verah Falls, they released their sophomore effort titled 'Win Some X Lose Some' in October 2014.
Let's get the negatives out of the way.
First and foremost, there's still nothing new under the sun here as far as metalcore music goes. The genre's overused traits are still the defining elements of the release. Second, the production quality dropped a bit unfortunately. Though it's almost unnoticable, I can't help but percieve a bit of a hissing sound obstructing the guitars mainly coming from the cymbals. I'm quite sure I only notice it because the recordings on their previous releases were so much clearer. Finally, despite I don't consider any of the songs bad, some of them are overshadowed by the ones that are truly great, thus they end up feeling a bit weaker.
Now on to the positives, of which there are an ample amount of.
They managed to successfully evolve on all fronts, while maintaining their sound. The music is still fast-paced, heavy and all of the songs have a different feel to them. Though the breakdowns are still here, they aren't so generic anymore. Also, the record does not overflow with them as much as on 'Obsessed' and they are placed rather smartly to break up the flow of the tracks. 'Win Some X Lose Some' also incorporates pop punk and some electronic elements, giving it a special flavour that fits really well the rest of the sound.
The vocal performance is definitely one of the strongest suits of this release. It's diverse, ranging from some pretty nice cleans to very impressive screams and even growls. The cleans make for a refreshing change in the genre as the songs are devoid of the ear-splitting autotune-overuse one can hear too often nowadays. Though sometimes I feel the singing gets a bit too high-pitched, that doesn't take away much from the enjoyment.
The lyrics are honest and to the point, rather than being presumptuous or fake.
The guitarwork, which is the highlight of the record, is nothing short of awesome. It's heavy, it uses fast and extremely catchy riffs - of which there are plenty throughout the record - with some change ups and the aforementioned breakdowns here and there to make sure the listening experience never gets dull.
Although neither the drums nor the bass may be anything extraordinary or outstanding per se, they are skillfully executed nonetheless. Instead of taking the spotlight, the drums play to the guitars perfectly with every single beat, while the bass is audible and successfully lends heaviness to the record. Both add another layer of enjoyment to every track.
Most importantly, nothing is ever out of place. The vocals, the instruments, the electronics; they just work together flawlessly in every second of the album, complementing each other greatly.
Though 'Win Some X Lose Some' is rather consistent, there are two outstanding tracks I'd like to highlight. 'If I Was The Devil' and 'Cringe'. Both stand out as the best songs the band wrote so far, being prime examples of their talent. At the start of 'If I Was The Devil', the vocals are playfully in unison with the guitars, making for an unforgettable listening experience while the chorus is one of the most catchy ones I've ever heard. 'Cringe' is relentless from the get-go, not ever bothering to slow down and eventually blending seamlessly into the chorus.
Both are heavy-hitting, in-your-face metalcore songs, stuffed with infectious riffs and grooves. Although it very well may take a few listens to appreciate them properly, the payoff is huge, as they'll undoubtedly stick in the head of the listener for days to come.
All in all, while this record surely falls into the category of the 'usual metalcore stuff', it's one of the very best release of said genre. I'd recommend it to anyone who is not yet sick enough of giving metalcore another chance.
