Album Review — Black Veil Brides

Black Veil Brides — Vale

I was late to the party on Black Veil Brides. I discovered them from a video game (NHL 14) of all places. That song was “In The End” and I liked it enough to go back and pick up the rest of their catalogue. The new record, Vale, was released in January and it reminds me of the first time I heard them. Big hooks, lots of guitars, heavy but still melodic.

I like every song on Vale. I think the best songs are at the beginning of the record, including “The Last One”, “Wake Up” and “When They Call My Name”. The 8+ minute “Dead Man Walking” is another great song and ends with nearly 2 minutes of orchestration.

This album could have been released in the late 80s. This is arena rock with a slightly updated sound. There is a lot to like here. Too many bands, in my opinion, try to make heavy records but they lose the melody. Vale is a great example of how an album can be heavy but still have well-crafted, melodic songs.

There aren’t a lot of new bands that I like, especially American bands, but these guys rock and I would put Vale up with Wretched and Divine as their best record yet.

Track Listing

01. Incipiens Ad Finem
02. The Last One *
03. Wake Up *
04. When They Call My Name *
05. The Outsider
06. Dead Man Walking (Overture II) *
07. Our Destiny
08. The King Of Pain *
09. My Vow
10. Ballad Of The Lonely Hearts
11. Throw The First Stone
12. Vale (This Is Where It Ends)

• = best songs

Grade — 95 out of 100