Vayden
Children of Our Mistakes
Released: June 3, 2008
Record Label: Silent Majority Group
Track Listing:
- Children of Our Mistakes
- Uniforms
- The One You Left Behind
- Karma is A Professional Wrestler
- Elysium
- Fallen
- Nothing to Say
- Anthem of the Used
- Painted Face
- Paradise
- Welcome
- Zoé's Song
Album Review:
Children of Our Mistakes is the remixed and re-mastered major label release of Vayden's 2006 album. The review copy listened to me is actually the original self-released version. It did not take me long to figure out why they were picked up by SMG for wide-distribution.
Listening to Vayden's music is like a history lesson of the past twenty five years of rock and roll. If you listen close enough you can hear eighties pop-metal sensibilities combined with modern metal and pop-punk elements. The songs are well-written, and well performed. The music is reminiscent of great bands like Chevelle, Filter, DramaGods, and more.
The huge differentiator between other current pop-punk outfits and Vayden is the musicianship. These guys are all extraordinarily talented. Bruce Weitz is an extremely talented drummer. His fast kick adds a lot of extra punch. Rob Robbins played guitar excellently on the tracks I heard, but has since left the band due to a back injury. Armin Peterson, Robbins' protégé, has since replaced his mentor in that role.
Curtis Casey is a tremendous vocalist. He's blessed with a set of pipes that really stand out in a recording and don't get drowned out by the rest of the production. "Zoé's Song" is a stand-out performance in which you hear the production stripped down to just vocals and guitars.
The sole weakness of this album is the song "Paradise." It seems out of place. Many of my criticisms of the song may be resolved in the remix of the re-release. The vocals on the chorus just don't sound right to me.
This album immediately grabbed my attention and never let go. I'm eager to hear how the re-release will be polished up. These guys are proving just how far you can go with talent and perseverance. The sky's the limit.
Type 3 Rating:
| 04.07.2008 | Review by J. Pierson |