Review: “Negative Energy” by Vexed

The rise of Hertfordshire Progressive Deathcore heavyweights Vexed since the arrival of April 2019 single “Elite” which of course features a guest appearance from CJ McMahon of Thy Art Is Murder has been nothing short of phenomenal. That has surpassed a million streams on Spotify alone and arguably resulted in their signing to Napalm Records for their 2021 album “Culling Culture” which to date has surpassed 2.35 million streams itself. Add to that European touring including a run with Melodic Death Metal pioneers In Flames and it’s hard to suggest otherwise, even if they seem not to have any luck with bassists. Sophomore album “Negative Energy” finds them once again utilizing the skills of Meyrick de la Fuente (Exist Immortal, Monasteries, Arcaeon) at Floodgate Audio however this time he doesn’t only record, produce, mix and master but the also plays bass…

…While it’s not described as a concept album, it only takes a glance at the track listing to see that it could be one with the song titles suggesting similar themes interwoven into the fabric with little deviation. Opening cut “PTSD” is the trademark, patent applied for tone setting instrumental which brings in the heavy guitars while orientating around a sample on the subject matter, setting the temperature on the Sauna to high and introducing the atmospheric darkness in tasteful fashion. Turning up the intensity, “Anti-Fetish” brings in Megan Targett’s throat splitting unclean vocal as she continues to be the archetypal boa constrictor of a vocalist, crushing the very life out of the listener with her brutal performances. A mid-tempo Nu-Deathcore cut with plenty of bounce in the riff department and nods to peers in the likes of Emmure or early Volumes is exactly what was anticipated and is gratefully received. “We don’t talk about it” then brings in poly-rhymical nuances in the guitar work as another mid-tempo chugger that hits the ball out of the park with a big groove and catchy unclean vocal melody that will have you screaming along to the resonating chorus by the end of the first listen. “X my <3 (Hope to die)” aka “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” takes the vocal intensity to a new level of darkness in the unclean parts while introducing bursts of spoken word that echo Heidi Shepard of Butcher Babies with a sense of panic that is impressive. Flirtations with programming adds a nice touch before the skull crushing bounce, the final cries of “Telling me that I need salvation, Forcing the life that you want, But you aren’t god!” hitting like being broadsided by a truck.

Introducing rap-screams alongside another groove heavy riff that floors like an uppercut from a prize fighter, “Panic attack” is another pile driver with a catchy chorus. The only thing lacking is either a big breakdown or a face melting solo to elevate something that is solid gold and turn it into a diamond, that one gut punch moment would make all the difference. Bringing in the only guest on the album “Lay down your flowers” has Lochie Keogh of Alpha Wolf lending his throat to another seriously intense cut that bounces with DJent laden staccato riff breaks and huge layers of percussive battery. Each wave hits like a tsunami, clearly designed to fill the floor with moshers from start to finish. Distorting a sample from Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz “There’s no place like home” has a little bit of Nu-Metal flavour from the late 90’s with some buried vinyl scratching cutting against the grain of the skull battering breakdowns and DJent groove. It’s as if it was created for the first Saw film, a with horror energy that bleed into the mix which get darker as it plays out. Ensuring there is no let up in quality or quantity “Extremist” brings back the poly-rhythmic guitar work with some The Matrix inspired digital distortions as the vocals reach larynx threatening levels of total annihilation. After that brutality, “Default” actually changes the dynamic ever so slightly with some dramatic clean vocal moments that approach from the night side and catch you unaware like her ghost in the fog. It’s clever to the point of playing tricks on the mind and something that you appreciate more with each repeated listen.

We’ve all seen that movie Crash where people get off on “Trauma Euphoria” and so to listen to Megan Targett’s view on the subject on this killer cut is really interesting. Clean vocal lines add a lethal dose of melody to the chorus but the band have their fists clenched and refuse to give up their Deathcore roots during the verses the result being the perfect contrast between beauty and beast. Guitarist Jay Bacon even finishes the song with a Progressive Metal style solo to round it out. What’s interesting is that the diversity of the piece brings in further diversity with “It’s not the end” pushing out the extremes even further, creating a spellbinding, captivating and yet pained performance in ode to those loved and lost. It’s one that is hard not to get trapped into the emotion of, such is the quality of the performance alongside the lyrical narrative, a stark contrast to those early heavy hitters but works incredibly well. Interlude piece “DMT” continues in the same vein another with a tinge of the cinematic about it before the band swing back for a bouncy finale in “Nepotism” brought in by 90’s break beats. A fist in the air anthem with a classic heavy end Nu-Metalcore sound, it would probably get lost in the mix of the earlier cuts so placing it at the end puts a real spotlight on it and lets it shine in the darkness… [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. PTSD
2. Anti-Festish
3. We don’t talk about it
4. X my <3 (Hope to die)
5. Panic attack
6. Lay down you flowers (ft. Lochie Keogh of Alpha Wolf)
7. There’s no place like home
8. Extremist
9. Default
10. Trauma Euphoria
11. It’s not the end
12. DMT
13. Nepotism

“Negative Energy” by Vexed is out now via Napalm Records