The low-slung wallop of Dead Poetic's third album will have critics retiring the "screamo" epithet vis-a-vis this band, and may even inspire younger fans to download some Dream Theater or Sepultura. Maintaining the intensity of their previous releases, VICES is also melodic, layered, and steeped in both nu- and old-school-metal sensibilities. Songs like "Animals," which pitches a cavernous, heavily reverbed guitar riff against Brandon Rike's hushed voice, and "Self Destruct & Die," with a hook-y vocal and chiming guitars, display a real effort towards musical growth and variety.
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Vices| Posted July 29, 2008
I don't know what it is about this album but I keep coming back to it. When I first got it I listened to it often over the course of the first couple months. After that it kind of got lost in the shuffle of a ton of new music and I wasn't in the mood for it. Sure enough a craving for Vices got me crawling back to listen to it endlessly for the second time. That tells me that there's something deeper about their music than I first realized. It tells me it can and will stand the test of time. That only happens to albums that are classics to me. Maybe it'll go on the backburner again someday but like the beating heart in that ol' Edgar Allan Poe story, it'll drive me insane and I'll have no choice but to give in for another listen.
Dead Poetic mix heavy riffs with great vocal melodies(he has both a high voice and a brooding deep one) to deliver the sometimes very cryptic lyrics. The music may not be original but it doesn't need to be. There's substance here that they crafted that goes beyond what any shallow pop music can. The songs aren't exactly catchy either, yet they are memorable in their own ways. The one thing above all else is they do an excellent job of setting the atmosphere for a song. If Paralytic' or 'Copy of a Copy' doesn't stir your soul I don't know what will. Whether it's the solemn keyboard notes or the haunting effects on Brandon's vocals you are sure to feel the mood they are trying to convey. For the most part that's an urgent and desperate one. This is, without a doubt, one of the darkest albums I've heard from a Christian band though it's still not depressing to the point where it's a problem.
Fans of their older music might hate the switch from the hardcore screamo Dead Poetic were doing to this more melodic and thoughtful hard rock, but when all is said and done they created a truly artistic album. One that may go down as one of the best swan song albums by a band. They reinvented their sound and perfected it all in one attempt. I could be alone in my opinion but I just connect with Vices and that's what music is all about.
Gems of this album are: 'Copy of a Copy', 'Paralytic', 'Animals', 'Pretty Pretty'
Officially A Fan| Posted October 18, 2008
I honestly wasn't Dead Poetic's biggest fan when they released their other cds. But This cd is so good,I think I'm officially a fan! This cd is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Work of Art| Posted April 09, 2008
This Cd is incredible. Every track is strong(but one) and talent-filled musically. Jesse Sprinkle(Ex Demon Hunter, Poor Old Lu, A Cold Vein) does an excellent job at throwing in intricite drumming yet keeping it to simple rock. Pick this album up!
The only flaw if the track Animals. It seems mighty pointless.
good album!| Posted April 05, 2008
i thought this was a great album!
its one of my favorite dead poetic albums!
I like the song motorcycles. and i would love to see them in a show someday!
Not the best| Posted March 24, 2008
Not as good as NM but it does have the song that made me fall in love with Dead Poetic: Narcotic, Pretty, Pretty is good too.
nothing compares| Posted August 23, 2007
it is not the best album ever but you try to explain who they are like to your friends and see why it is still very very good