1st August 2024

Review: “Chaos Theory” by Vanitas

Back in 2022 Vanitas announced themselves to an unsuspecting World with a self titled EP of superior quality thanks in part the experiences they had gained in other projects. That record saw them introduce a new sound that they coined “Cinematic DJent” and opened the doors for the Birmingham based quintet to share stages with everyone from Monuments to Galactic Empire and Destrage as they built a fan base from the ground up. 2023 saw their established momentum continue with a trio of original new cuts released as standalone singles as well as pair of covers that they made their own and this year has been no different. A run in the Metal 2 The Masses competition for a chance to play the New Blood stage at Bloodstock was followed by an appearance at Radar Festival in Manchester, all the while the band pushing new singles with a sophomore EP on the way. In point of fact, before the EP drops “Grey Morality“, “Lies” and “E.D.G.” have all had music videos directed by Dark North Media (TrendKill, Zebadiah Crowe, Collapse Of Colour) and amassed a combined 70k of YouTube and Spotify streams…

Making the decision to cut “Secrets“, “Between Lune & Eden” and “Eventum” adrift as standalone is an interesting choice because as fans favourites it would have helped turn this EP into a full length debut album. However that would have meant six tracks already in the public domain and just three retained for the record, so you can argue that until the cows come home, preferably sat around a fire pit with a bottle of Wild Turkey to pass around. What it has done is draw a line in the sand and allow the five piece to showcase their freshest material, the gloriously cinematic introduction piece “Can We Let Go” setting the tone for quality with it’s powerful piano and orchestration while also acting as a palate cleanser to free the mind of all ills. The DJent fuelled technical riffs of “Grey Morality” then follow like a sucker punch, interwoven with the orchestrations and keys buried a little deeper within their fabric. That gives the opportunity for the guitars to shine alongside Jade Maris unbelievable vocals. Her cleans soar over like an eagle on the thermals while her freshly found harsh parts which have been slowly introduced over a succession of singles have a Megan Target of Vexed quality to them. An award winning combination in the making they’re perfectly balanced with care clearly taken to select which parts to use which style upon. Elijah Storer and Mitchell Barlow trade heavy riffs to put bounce in the mosh pit in the later half of the track with Maris’ seductive cleans giving the whole track an uplifting arena sized sing-a-long quality.

The first 20 seconds of “Lies” hits hard with urgent riffage and powerful percussive battery from Jackson Cann before bursting into flame with a soulful, heart felt opening verse. Use of vocal layering to add a harsh layer underneath some of the cleans works incredibly well before a downright nasty breakdown section with a harsh accompaniment. Another huge chorus gives this one the wow factor but in truth the all round package is what makes it a stone cold winner as little nuances from the orchestration pop out of the mix over repeated listens. They call it Cinematic DJent for a reason; what they create has the pin sharp sound that takes your breath away and is a completely immersive experience. It wouldn’t be out of place coming out of the Dolby Atmos sound systems they have in a cinema. There is a theatrical sense to the material and “E.D.G” is a fine example. Another savage opening verse hits like a wrecking ball, the raspy, dry harsh vocals giving the impression of a second throat being lent when there is none. None of the momentum or energy is lost when the more melodic parts come into play which is a testament to the quality of the bands musicianship and time spent in the rehearsal space. A well placed spoken word section on this one is accompanied by some Fantasia like orchestration is magnificent and then the Progressive Metal tinged solo that follows is a face-melting experience.

Just when you’re wondering if there is anything that Vanitas can’t do incredibly well, the five piece pull another rabbit out of the hat with a Folk Metal inspired acoustic introduction to EP title track “Chaos Theory“. Rising up majestically with flamboyant keys and staccato riff infestations, the complexity of the music is an absolute joy alongside the introspective lyrical narrative that Maris weaves. It’s the relatable quality is what makes them work so well while the electric tempo making the hairs stand up on the back of the neck throughout. It’s all just so powerful that you can’t help but get carried away by the emotive qualities of it all and you could find yourself singing along on the very first listen. How about a rampaging grand finale that sounds like it belongs to the soundtrack to the biggest of summer blockbuster movies in the cinema? “Queen Of Nowhere” is very much that song, a cut that could easily be playing out as the final credits roll. Soaked in majestic orchestrations that don’t overpower the rest of the sound, it finds the band play with depth and texture, all the while capturing the energy of their live performances like lightening in a bottle. Mixing up the vocal stylings ensures this plays out like a thunderstorm, one moment dark and moody and the next vibrant and bright. The truth is that Vanitas are at the top of their game and with this record they can do no wrong, so where they go from here will be intriguing [9/10]

Track Listing