Black Veil Brides

1st impression of band:

I remember listening to ‘Faction’ on XM radio a few years ago and they played a BVB song (“Fallen Angels” I believe) and the douche bag DJ came on after and started talking shit about how BVB look like ugly chicks and some other random douche bag type comments. Reminded me of the dickless jock pricks that would call me a “fag” back-in-the-day, so I was glad to hear that there were still bands out there pissing off the douche bags of the world!

The image:

I must admit that the BVB image on “Set the World on Fire” was a bit too guttersluts meets peppermint creeps (both 90’s Hollywood bands) for me, because remember I’m old and jaded, but I was still stoked to see a band carrying the glam/punk/metal flag. Then I heard the new single “In the End”, which I loved. The video was more “Mad Max” than “Looks That Kill” and the song was SO much better than their previous stuff, which brings us to the new record.

“Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones” is obviously a concept record. Now BVB aren’t the 1st in recent years to attempt this, My Chemical Romances “Black Parade” comes to mind, but the difference is that “Wretched” is BETTER than those records… WAY FUCKING BETTER! They’ve toned the image down to a respectable “Dr Feelgood” level, but haters are going to hate so fuck all them anyway…

The Songs:

Here’s the part that surprised the shit out of me. EVERY song on this record is good, with probably 90% being fucking amazing. Singer kid Andy has obviously been working on his vocal ability, and gone is the annoying cookie monster grunts from “Knives and Pens” era and in its place are strong pipes and songs that are so fucking melodic you’ll be annoying the shit out of your 6 year old son by singing the melodies 24/7. Ok that’s just me, but again I’m old and jaded so I usually hate everything! Anthem after anthem, songs like “I Am Bulletproof” “Wretched and Devine” and my favorite “We Don’t Belong” will rip your fucking head off, shit a golden melodic turd down your throat, and have you singing “Woah Woah Woahs” in your sleep for a fucking month!

Tying the “concept” together are spoken word bits (voiced by tourmate William Control) that transmit “transmissions” from F.E.A.R., the oppressive overlords that want to strip the youth of their individuality and subjugate them to being voiceless masses. Doesn’t sound too farfetched to me! It works perfect to tell the story and let the record “breathe”. Another surprise is songs like “Overture” which is basically and orchestral piece that carries on from the previous track “Resurrect the sun”, which actually sounds like a real orchestra not some lame pro-tools plug-in.

As the record goes on, and the fate of the “warriors” becomes bleaker, the songs get darker. From the “crazy train” riff that opens “Days are numbered” to anti-hero anthem “Nobodys hero” the lyrical content hints of a pending hopelessness and the possibility of losing the proverbial “war”. The IT happens. We hit THAT song, “Lost it all”.

“Lost it all” is MY song. I didn’t write it of course, but I declare it MY song because it strikes a nerve in me that no song has since “I Am, I’m Me” from Twisted Sister in 1983! This song makes me bawl like a baby! A 43 year old, “almost famous” fucking wimpering little bitch! It’s THAT powerful. THAT’s what music is about, touching that “nerve” that makes you go FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! I relate to that! When the “Toy Soldiers” by Martika (google it) part kicks in at the end, I cry like a bitch EVERY time! Fucking song is ruining my tough guy image! Thanks for that guys!

Just when you think the “warriors” are done, “In The End” kicks in and rips the fucking face off all the bastards that have ever held down the spirit of the youth! Ok, my interpretation of this whole concept may be off, but it’s MY record now, remember?

In conclusion:

Bottom line, this record is fucking amazing. I remember getting an advanced copy of Good Charlottes (another band everyone loved to hate) “Young and Hopeless” CD on Warped tour in 02’ and I told those guys that they were going to be bigger than fucking Batman when it came out. They were multi-platinum and on the cover of Rolling Stone 3 months later. I only hope BVB have similar success (and beyond). This record deserves it and they deserve it. And if you don’t like it then fuck off, because it’s their world now, you’re just living in it!