Album Name: THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR
Artist: VOWS
Released: May 2023
Rating: 9/10
Tracklist
DECIMATED
SOLACE IN THE SUFFERING
GIVING INTO THE FEAR
PARASITES
THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR (WAS THE DAY I DIED INSIDE)
WE ARE AS ONE
PRESENCE OF PAIN
END GAME
New album 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' from VOWS is a vast metalcore/modern metal 8-track that demands to be listened to. VOWS are a band I haven't heard much about, I came to know of them after seeing them play once and honestly, I knew instantly this was a band I wanted to hear more from and as soon as I got home, I was on Spotify checking them out. Thankfully it wasn't just gig hype that got me so excited, these guys in my opinion are just genuinely a really good metal band. Having listened to their previous music I can see quite a growth with 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' and it feels surprising that VOWS are still as local/underground as they are. The first song on the album 'DECIMATED' which was also the first single to come from this era of VOWS, thunders in with this big sound that will instantly pull you in. I think especially in songs like this I would be surprised if there wasn't influences from the likes of Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria or Bring Me The Horizon (2010's era) as it just throws that guitar loaded heavy metal at you. Much like other tracks on 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' this one comes complete with a breakdown that belongs on a big stage with a massive pit circling below.
Tracks like 'SOLACE IN THE SUFFERING' and 'WE ARE AS ONE' allow for more emotional moments letting you to feel the lyrical power that VOWS have. I found that especially true in the former as I really connected with the powerful and almost haunting track. 'SOLACE IN SUFFERING' it's a very powerful song and one that easily stands out on the album. 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' also contains a couple of interlude type tracks like 'GIVING INTO THE FEAR' which is a dark instrumental. Then 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' which is more vocal based and emotionally charged. Back to talking about the heavy ones, we have 'PARASITES' that's got this kind of groovy, downtuned riff and I enjoyed this tracks ability to just drop lower and lower. My personal favourite on 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' has to go to the sort of erratic, nightmarish 'PRESENCE OF PAIN'. This one captured all of my attention and I think it's probably the fastest or most chaotic, allowing the talents of the group to really be shown off. I can't not mention the breakdown in 'PRESENCE OF PAIN' the way the vocalist goes from high screams to gutturals so seemingly effortlessly is impressive. Then rounding off this album is the low and sombre feeling 'END GAME'. This one feels more like a track from the 2020's whereas I feel as though the rest of 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' had this sort of nostalgia metal factor. 'END GAME' takes an emotional turn and brings everything down for the end. 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' is an album I really loved and
there wasn't a single song I didn't enjoy. I feel like there's easily an essence of 2010's metalcore and I think that does draw me in more as that was the first era/genre that really got me into heavy music, but these guys have just done such a good job with 'THE DAY YOU CLOSED THE DOOR' that I think anyone would be silly not to check it out.
'DECIMATED' (Official Music Video)
VOWS online
