Album Review: Vicious Rain – The Anatomy Of Surviving (Arising Empire)

Swiss metalcore outfit Vicious Rain will release their sophomore album ‘Anatomy of Surviving’ on 13th March 2026 via Arising Empire.

God damn, is it that time again!? Time to take a beating, figuratively speaking, from one of metalcore’s modern greats? It is!

Look, I dig Vicious Rain even if the thought of more metalcore does turn my stomach a little. Sorry, but the genre is oversaturated and standing out within it is becoming harder and harder. Unless you’re a band like Vicious Rain who come with more vim, vigour, and vinegar than most. A highly capable band with feverish intent, potent dramatics, and brash musicality in every aspect of their being.

At least that’s what I think. I really liked the debut ‘There is Beauty in Letting Go’ but there was room for improvement, room to experiment, and room to expand on the intricate balance of heaviness and melody that the band is so strong at delivering. That is what we get here. A new set of blistering, brutish, and bullishly intense tracks that veer close to deathcore, but cleverly retains experimental melodic potency.

Though, at first, it’s all about speed and heaviness as the title track bleeds into the explosive Gods of Glass & Wire. A track that warms my ‘core’ loving heart, especially as the ferocity blends wonderfully well with a melodramatic chorus. Familiar, but fresh and wholly addictive, which continues into the catchy sharpness of A Spotless Mind, the furiously groovy head banging intent of Silent Therapy, and the emotive power of Trading Hearts with its lovable chorus. The first half of the album flies by.

Which is a good sign, I think. Especially as each track leaves a mark and warrants further listening. Something made even easier as Vicious Rain keep the album short and extremely forceful. Not only very digestible, but with wide-ranging appeal thanks to a varied heavy approach that gives us more colossus metalcore bangers like Spitting Blood Again and Red Noise. The latter of which is a personal favourite thanks to an intricate balance of chaos and order.

IKIGAI is the penultimate track and the speed, both instrumentally and vocally, gets the heart well and truly pounding in the chest. Of course, it’s as anthemic as everything else, has a blistering breakdown, and once again, the chorus will satisfy the desire for those wanting a bit of a singalong.

I really do think Vicious Rain have improved on every aspect of their sound. I think they’ve created an album that flows perfectly from beginning to end and showcased an even deeper understanding of what makes metalcore such a mainstay even when it is as oversaturated as it is. Putting it simply, they’ve matured and every part of this album showcases that, least of all, a finale that has an epic feel and experiments interestingly with poppier melodies. It’s a very fine ending to a phenomenal record. Bravo Vicious Rain.

Vicious Rain – Anatomy of Surviving Track Listing:

1. The Anatomy of Surviving
2. Gods of Glass & Wire
3. A Spotless Mind
4. Silent Therapy
5. Trading Hearts
6. Spitting Blood Again
7. Red Noise
8. IKIGAI
9. Intertwined

Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram