Review by Josh Felty
Rating: **
Songs of Note: Beautiful Remains, The Mortician's Daughter
Black Veil Brides' sound would best be described as a drive-thru combo of symphonic speed-metal and hardcore. But even that "best attempt" would not be correct in defining what we hear on We Stitch These Wounds. It's safe to say there are a lot of early 80's thrash metal influences in there, but who's counting? "Beautiful Remains" is a particularly bi-polar track (as are much in the album, not a criticism) that bounces between growling and modern rock sensibilities. "Perfect Weapon" opens with an angelic scream and appropriate double-bass forays. "Knives and Pens" pounds and drills to no end while the illustrious acoustic "The Mortician's Daughter" illustrates the dark romanticism of its subject matter.
There are particular expectations amongst die-hard fans of different genres of music. You've got your steadfast speed-metallers, your balls-to-the-wall headbangers (don't know how far they differ from 'speed-metallers'), and your heartfelt, wallflower scenester people. Then there's the avid classic rock people, the passionate hip-hop enthusiasts, and the dark underbelliers (I just invented a word, and you're most welcome) of gothic and punk culture and everything in between. The purpose of my segue into such analysis is this: it matters not the slings and arrows thrown between groups of music lovers. We all have opinions; mine, regretfully yet thankfully, is gonna be different than yours. Maybe a bit harsh at times, other times too sugar-coated and saccharine-laced.
But I felt Black Veil Brides was a great opportunity to hear a post-modern expression of a hardcore thrashing style intertwined with some gothic references here and there. I wasn't completely blown away by We Stitch These Wounds. But in all honesty, what reviewer is completely blown away by a recording? I think some of the old bluesmen's work from the 1930's is more haunting, more dark than half of the "emotionally heavy spooky music" being spun out there. But that's me. Poor Hapless Reviewer, typing bitter diatribe after bitter diatribe into my laptop, the blue glow of my monitor baking my pallid skin to a frostier shade of pale.
Again kiddies, music can cause apathy as much as it can cause happiness. It can destroy as much as it can inspire. It's our common language, music. Some just happen to be more ahead of the curve than others.