Album Review: Vended - Vended
Reviewed by Tim Finch
From the outset Vended had an uphill struggle to win over the heavy music listening public. Featuring two of the offspring of Slipknot members would always result in comparisons being drawn alongside the calls that nepotism somehow plays a role in every step they take. No doubt messrs Crahan and Taylor have given their sons sound advise as their careers progressed but ultimately the music business is about money and if there is no talent on display then the record companies see no money to be made. Ultimately Vended have gotten to where they are today through sheer hard work and determination, all sprinkled with layer upon layer of talent.
A quick read through Wikipedia see’s them pigeon holed as “nu-metal” but Papa Roach these are not. Having grown up around the Slipknot camp that influence is obviously there, but on top of that is a raw emotive energy that lands them in a camp somewhere completely different.
Despite their six year career so far, ‘Vended’ is the bands debut album, the follow up to 2021’s ‘What It Is/Kill It’ EP. And we have an album that has seen a band develop their sound, their song writing, their overall performance and take it to new levels. The opening ‘Intro’ is a cacophony of noise, featuring haunting screams, industrial white nose and feedback that builds a sense of anticipation.
As the noise breaks, ‘Paint The Skin’ breaks through. If you needed an example of why wikipedias nu-metal pigeon holing is wrong then this track is it. More Carcass than Papa Roach its battering ram drum foundation lays the ground work for death metal licks delivered by Cole Espeland and Connor Grodzicki. A back and forth number that varies pace and attitude to great effect.
As the album progresses the aggression never lets up, the intro to ‘Am I The Only One’ gives the false impression that there may be respite but alas Taylor’s vocals kick in to prove otherwise.
Taylor’s vocals are the one sticking point for the bands sound. There is no issue with them, in fact they are amazing for his age and experience, however he has, naturally, developed his fathers vocal tones and at points on the album you’d be forgiven for thinking it was Corey Taylor screaming at you. The similarities in style and tone are unmistakable and obviously lead to the aforementioned comparisons.
Twenty five years ago Slipknot broke onto the scene and led a new movement in metal, producing albums that grabbed the attention of a wider audience and gave listeners a gateway to more extreme music. In 2024, Vended’s self titled album has the potential to emulate this. The quality is unmistakable, if the reach can match it this album has the potential to be the gateway album for a new generation.
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