Vampire Champagne

Vampire Champagne - Decay/Metamorphosis, Album Review

Contributed by Larry Lee Hansen

Portland, Oregon's Vampire Champagne bursts onto the music scene with their debut album, "Decay/Metamorphosis," blending post-hardcore intensity and progressive flair. Alaskan guitarist Kyle Scott, known for his tenure with Palmer, AK band Thrown Away Thoughts, joins vocalists Von-Aldrynne and Sasha Gordy, guitarist Alex Weislow, and drummer Jake Malet in this exciting rock quintet. Recorded at Kaotic Studios in Spokane, WA, the album boasts impeccable production quality, serving as the perfect canvas for the band's explosive sound. Set for release on April 12th, "Decay/Metamorphosis" promises a thrilling fusion of technical prowess and raw emotion.

The album opens with "Pareidolia," subtly beginning with the crackle of a guitar plugged into an amplifier before diving into slamming drums and technical guitar riffs. Von-Aldrynne's intense screaming vocals blend with Sasha's clean melodies over epic flamenco-style guitar leads, while Kyle's eerie vocal harmonies add depth. The chorus, with its groovy half-time section and tasty tapped guitar lead, stands out as a highlight, leaving a lasting impression!

The second track, "Thinking About the Sun Exploding Keeps Me Up at Night," stands out as my personal favorite. Filmed at Portland's Raven's Manor, a haunted bar, the music video enhances the song's lyrical themes of existential dread. The chorus is incredibly catchy; I even found myself humming it one morning! Just when you think you've got the song figured out, a detuned Meshuggah-esque breakdown adds a surprising twist, leaving listeners reeling.

"Lucid," the third track, takes a more melodic approach, showcasing brilliantly composed flamenco-style guitar over lush reverb. Sasha's vocals shine, with interplay from Von-Aldrynne adding power and intensity to the song's build. The climax features a cool spoken word section with flamenco guitar leads, before transitioning into frenzied pop-punk riffs and pounding double bass drumming. As "Lucid" comes to a close, listeners are treated to a deeply ethereal instrumental track, "After," which serves as the album's interlude, a break in the chaos for the listener. Beautiful guitars, sparse drums and sensual saxophone are the highlight of this track. Suddenly, however, the song takes a sharp turn with an amazingly heavy djent guitar riff reminiscent of 'Catch 33'-era Meshuggah, layered with synthesizer arpeggios, showcasing the band's more progressive influences.

"Swallow Sorrow," the album's fifth track, thrusts listeners into a maelstrom of gritty, intense chugging and guttural growls. Sasha's ethereal vocals briefly punctuate the chaos before the relentless onslaught of heavy djent riffing continues. Metalheads will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to this track, captivated by its blend of aggressive riffs and lead guitar melodies.

Now, we reach the title track, "Decay/Metamorphosis," accompanied by an impressive lyric video. This song distinguishes itself as possibly the band's most accessible, embracing a softer approach with a monumental chorus and captivating gang-vocal-style harmonies. I can envision a packed venue singing along to this song with their hands up high. It's a melodic slow-burn, pulsing in 3/4 time, where ethereal vocals and atmospheric guitars are interlaced with Von-Aldrynne's intense growls, adding depth to the track's meditative vibe. Ending on a melancholic note, Sasha delivers haunting lyrics: "deafening madness dormant in my head; falling asleep can't cure me of this dread." The song gently fades away, leading us to the album's final track, "The Last Thread."

The album's closer ventures into eccentric and experimental territory. It kicks off with a waltz-inspired, eerie piano intro that evokes imagery of haunted houses and sinister carnivals. As Sasha's mournful vocals build, we're propelled into the song's climactic finale. Shredding guitars. Brutal screams. Powerful drums. The intensity of the band reaches new heights! Around the 3-minute mark of this 7-minute epic, we're treated to relentless metal chugs and pounding double bass drum. The song crescendos into an impressive guitar solo at the 5-minute mark, and the album concludes in a barrage of screaming and slamming drums before fading out to clean guitars and Sasha's mournful vocals.

"Decay/Metamorphosis" by Vampire Champagne is a highly impressive first effort! With well-crafted songs that reveal new layers upon each listen, their music will certainly attract fans across the spectrum of rock music. Their diverse vocals alone will appeal to pop and death metal fans alike. I'm so excited to see where this band will go from here!

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