EP review: Vilify – Fever Dream (Self Released)

Newcastle, Australia’s fiercest female-fronted four-piece, Vilify release their sophomore EP, Fever Dream on the 19th of April.

Vilify are a close group of friends who officially formed a heavy band together in late 2020 with the collective goal of using their art to discuss issues close to home and heart from both a personal and observational perspective. Since their inception Vilify have explored all corners of their alternative metal genre, and across their releases they’ve developed a sound that is uniquely their own. Vilify hone in on their darkness on this forthcoming release through their lyrical content and have found a way to ensure every song has its own identity, while staying true to the goal of keeping crowds moving and listeners feeling.

Leading the way with singles Light Bringer and Split Tongue, Vilify run full steam ahead into 2024 with the release of the Fever Dream and a seven date Australian tour to support it in May. The band played Alpha Wolf’s curated music festival CVLTFEST in late February. They have also previously played with leaders of the alternative genre – Northlane, Void Of Vision, Erra (USA), Paledusk (JPN), Crossfaith (JPN), Windwaker and more. Fever Dream is produced by Chris Blancato (Reliqa, Northlane) and mixed and mastered by Mark Williamson (Inertia).

Fever Dream brings 5 tracks and around 20 minutes of hard and crunchy metal to your ears. Coming with a very modern sound, mixing hardcore, metalcore, some electronics and alternative, it’s a recognisable style that seems to represent this current era of heavy metal. Rot By Design kicks things off in uncompromising fashion – a little effect intro soothes you in before Vilify unleash their emotions in a blast of pummeling riffs, crunching drums and venomous vocals. There is some nice lead guitarwork and plenty of bass in a song that is clearly designed for movement and pits. It flows well, has plenty of cathciness and you will find it hard not to head bang along, especially in the choruses.

A strong start, but it pales in comparison to what comes next. Light Bringer, the second track on Fever Dream is an absolute banger. Speed and intensity get turned up even further in verses that absolutely rip but the payoff comes in the chorus. The added melody that joins in with the metallic riffing and vicious vocals just elevates everything massively. It’s still superbly heavy and passionate, still hits you hard and will get you moving but just feels bigger, more important and the sound is richer through the melody. It’s a firm favourite that will be getting a lot of plays from me this year.

Split Tongue continues the quality with another hard and heavy crunchy core beast. Vocals come out rapidly, full of fire and fury on a song that just slams you repeatedly. The drums are great, smashing out catchy beats with a thick bass rumble and metallic riffing. The pinches and squeals from the lead guitar permeate the wall of heaviness thouugh the jungle/dance beats that pop up every now and then aren’t really to my taste. They work in the song, they just will always hit people’s personal tastes and split opinion.

Save Me is the penultimate track on Fever Dream and raises the bar again. I really like how the vocals are delivered, always staying harsh but just coming in speedy waves. Musically, it stays well within the very familiar core area with that crunch and metallic tint you would expect. Backing effects, echo, distortion – it all gets applied and used in a bridge that allows you to breath for a second before the chorus comes in. That comes with additional harsh vocals backing the leads and adds even more power and venom, just in case it wasn’t hitting hard enough already. Importantly though, especially when such personal and powerful topics are being explored, the band manage to capture feeling and atmosphere even within this crunching core sound. It’s a very well written track.

We close out Fever Dream with Hang.Draw.Quarter. No prizes for guessing the style, it is harsh and heavy with vocals that really impress. The song moves through different phases, never loosening it’s grip, but just toying with you with different beats and different paces. The sped up section is fire. I love how the drums ramp up big time and the lead guitar work is mesmerising. Slower stomping parts follow where your neck will get a work out while that lead guitar and bass work overtime, one hitting you with a pulsating rhythym, the other, higher pinching melodies. It creates a contrast that really works and closes Fever Dream out well.

Fever Dream is an EP that in some ways will feel a little over familiar. This market is nothing if not oversaturated with bands delivering their take on hardcore and modern metalcore. Bands that mix a little electonica in, bands that deliver songs that are passionate and address real and important issues. I don’t mind that saturation, every generation has saturated the market whether thrash, metalcore, nu-metal – you name it, in every decade, there has always been a prominent style. I think what it does, is because it becomes more difficult for a band to stand out, it forces bands to raise their game and improves the quality of the genre overall.

The cream rises to the top and Vilify have certainly got more than enough about them to be one of those bands. Clearly talented musicians with a powerful vocalist, songs that hit hard, strong beats, clever lead guitar work – all very important ingredients in success but Vilify also clearly know how to write songs that flow well and are engaging throughout. That’s where I came out most impressed really – I enjoyed the harsh and heavy music, loved the energy and crunchy beats but also found myself fully engaged throughout. The switches in pace, especially in lyric delivery, the touches of melody, the screech of a lead guitar or added backing vocals at just the right time in songs make them feel constantly fresh and exciting.

With all of those weapons in their armoury, Vilify should have no issues standing out from the crowd and Fever Dream is a great showcase of their talents.

Vilify Links

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