Vices by Dead Poetic

Reviewed by Iain Nash

This latest album from the Washington-based heavy rock outfit is a serious statement right from the outset. With guitarists Zachary Miles and Dusty Redmon delivering some extremely heavy riffs, the album starts at break neck speed with "Cannibal Vs Cunning". This largely sets the pace for the rest of the tracks to follow. Although lead singer Brandon Rike paints a rather bleak picture with his lyrics, he does deliver them with real heartfelt intent, swooping softly on "In Coma" but really taking songs like "Lioness" by the scruff of the neck. Each instrument gets its opportunity to really shine, especially on "Crashing Down" and "The Victim" where there is evidence of some really strong bass lines and "Copy Of A Copy" showcases some excellent drumming variations. The pace does slow down towards the end of the album, allowing for a more atmospheric feel on "Animals" and the appearance of a xylophone on "Paralytic" was a welcome surprise. But with 14 heavy tracks on the album to get through, I felt exhausted by the time the title track appeared at the end.