If you believe the rumours, Epic paid $3 million to secure Vendetta Red to their roster. Of course such rumours then mean big-style hype in the mainstream music press, and Vendetta Red have been dubbed as the next big thing for quite a while now. Just for some reason they’ve not yet made it. The Carling Festivals came and went, then so did a UK headlining tour late last year – but nothing. Not even a dent.
But the band are now making a further assault on world domination with the release of their first full lengther. This follows on from an EP that escaped many people’s attention last summer, the ‘Cut Your Noose’ EP, which in my view, is not worthy of any of the hype at all. That’s not to say it’s a bad record, because for the most part it’s not. But there’s just nothing new here at all, merely At The Drive In wannabes with more accessible choruses. Cynical, me? Never…
‘Three Chord Valentine’ does exactly what it says on the tin. Basic riff and singalong vocals aimed squarely at the radio – there’s nothing remotely dangerous here. Sure it’s pleasant enough stuff, but worthy of the hype? ‘Por Vida’ has a very simple detuned riff to open things up, rubbing shoulders alongside a dull scream. The track plods, the sharp angular riffs merely thudding rather than bouncing, and the vocals are far too screamy and don’t provoke any reaction at all. Very disappointing. ‘All Cried Out’ is so squeaky clean you expect Mr Sheen to be thanked in the sleevenotes. Zach Davidson’s vocals are way too safe and the guitars are way too clean. There’s no aggression, no energy and no force – it’s all, well, boring. Track 4 is the token acoustic number, well they’ve been tagged as emo haven’t they, so an acoustic ditty is a given. Frankly ‘The White Nightmare’ is yawnsome and, in my opinion, a load of shite.
For some reason some record executives have decided to blow a lot of cash on this band. On the basis of this record, I’ve no idea why. I’m yet to see them live and maybe my mind will be swayed but this is very bland stuff from a band championed by a lot of people. Maybe without the hype my expectations would have been higher. Maybe I’ve missed something, but if this is a great hope for 2003, it’s going to be a bad year for music.
Paul