The Black Map #218: Vanitas from Birmingham!

As the United Kingdom endures enjoys a heatwave otherwise known as Summer Time, we head from the bright lights of our Capital Conspiracy City to the heart of it in Birmingham. There we find a quintet formed from the ashes of Verb The Noun and Aramantus with a mutual love of vast spanning JRPG soundtracks and the ability to coin a new genre of their own rather than pigeon hole themselves into one. That band is Vanitas… and the genre? Cinematic DJent.

They stung us like a Jellyfish with their self titled debut EP at the start of the summer by pairing the frankly stunning clean vocals of  Jade Marissa Grundy with their blend of Progressive Metal and DJent that takes you on a  rollercoaster of emotions tackling the trials and tribulations of adulthood. How they managed to shoehorn in so much raw feeling into just twenty minutes is mind blowing, but there is no hiding from fear held dear and the result is not only effortlessly stylish but also speaks for itself. So if you’re nursing a hangover this Sunday and need something to chill out to before the Asprin takes effect then look no further.

On a side note, yes, you did read that Pantera were getting back together for shows in 2023. Well… Philip H. Anselmo and Rex Brown with Black Label Society and Black Sabbath guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante taking the places of the dearly departed and much missed Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. That was not a figment of your imagination.