Review: Vivid Remorse “Down To The Wire” (2012)

Reviewed by David Pearce

Artist: Vivid Remorse
Album: Down To The Wire
Label: Art Gates Records
Year: 2012

Track Listing

1. Biopiracy (The Seed Of My Land)
2. Imaginary Actress
3. Theory Of Fear
4. Overdosed
5. Involution
6. Nobody Answers
7. Seize The Death
8. Seven Days Of Fire
9. L’Angoixa De L’Existencia
10. Stop On Time
11. The Never Falling Cries

Vivid Remorse is a four piece metal combo from Barcelona was born in 2006. They practice thrash metal in a very unconventional way based in a mix of the most classic thrash metal from the 80’s and the most modern thrash metal from the 90’s, adding hardcore groove, death and crossover influences and details. The final result consists in the original sound of Vivid Remorse a very personal proposal that is beyond the conventional parameters of the revival thrash that is practiced nowadays. Their new album “Down To The Wire” is with no doubt, the best opus of the band until the moment, mixing several styles of metal from thrash to death, crossover, speed, etc. High Class Thrash Metal!

The album starts off with Biopiracy (The Seed Of My Land) straight away you are hit with a wall of thrash power and the intensity is there for all to hear and it is a great start to the album. The Second song is Imaginary Actress again it is a powerful song the guitar work is great together with the vocals which is a mixture of clean and gruff but goes very well good stuff. The Third and Fourth songs are Theory Of Fear and Overdosed both of these song are full of high speed thrash riffs and solos with quality vocals thrown in for the extra meatiness they will get your head banging straight away. The Fifth song on the album is Involution has some real quality heavy riffs that would get your blood pumping even in the coldest weather. Vocals that would rip the flesh from your face also drum and bass lines that would blow the ears off a non metal listening being quality stuff. The Sixth and Seventh songs are Nobody Answers and Seize The Death both of these songs has some stunning quality on them from the vocals, guitars to the drums and bass lines. They are done at such a speed I just marvel at the quality that these guys work at impressive. The Eighth song is Seven Days Of Fire again when this song starts you are hit with a wall of powerful thrash with some quality vocals, riffs and solos in that would make an old person cowl in the corner begging for mercy. The Ninth and Tenth songs are L’Angoixa De L’Existencia and Stop On Time these songs are done to a real high standard as with all the other songs on the album so far. These have some real top nut cracking riffs and solos the vocals are superb it really is a top quality piece of musicianship. The Eleventh and final song on the album is The Never Falling Cries this song has surprised me at the start. It starts off with a clean slow guitar riff the vocals are clean and quite soft then the heavy riff comes in but still keeping that soft touch within it. The song is a remarkable piece of work it just shows that a Thrash metal band can do a quality piece like this. A truly great song to end the album on!

Overall

If you like old style thrash with a bit of crossover then these guys are right up your ally. It is full on power right from the start the power would rip the flesh from your face and have old people begging for mercy at the sheer quality that it possesses. It is an album that I am glad to have in my collection. These guys have a lot in their engine and if they can keep it up I can see them at a lot of festivals all over Europe. These are a band to keep your eyes on.

8/10