VERT

A REMORSELESS exercise in negativity, Vert ask a great deal but impress nonetheless with this pummelling debut. Commendably heavy, each track is a bitter pill to swallow, reliant on coruscating power and weighed down by brutal pessimism. In short bursts, it's brilliant. The guitar barrage that introduces 'A Scream For Independence' will have you bouncing off the walls, and 'Reducer (Seep)', in which Steve Braund repeatedly roars the words 'I only wanted to feel something' like a man standing on a precipice, will have you genuinely unnerved. It doesn't always work, but when it does it's scary as cancer.

DOWNLOAD: 'A Scream For Independence'.
FOR FANS OF: Lamb of God, Deftones.

Steve Beebee

Issue 1153 - Kerrang!

Vert have collected some impressive support slots; from underground heroes like Million Dead and Mendeed, to hype-magnets like Enter Shikari. After 2004's 'No Retreat, No Surrender' E.P. they were playing to a wide range of gig-goers; supporting bands as varied as pop-punkers Caffeine and searing noisemakers Devil Sold His Soul. Three years later, and with recent changes in line-up, they're ready to unleash their debut full-length 'Accepting Denial'.

Dodgy title aside, this is a beast of an album. Guitars with this weight shouldn't go this fast – they certainly shouldn't be so catchy, yet Andy Walker crafts some immense riffs on 'Accepting Denial'. Opener 'Echo' sets a standard, one that could quite easily become generic, but instead assaults with a pace near-impossible not to move to. One thing that becomes abundantly clear, especially on 'Reducer (seep)', is the influence of the amazing Earthtone9; weighty slabs of groove-laden noise are all over the album, but never so much that they could be accused of mimicry. Tracks like the brooding 'Feeling' and acoustic-led 'My Desolation' slow things down, adding a gentler touch, while album highlight 'A Scream For Independence' includes a verse you'd expect from a Hundred Reasons track, before it suddenly converts into a seething fury more reminiscent of Metalcore. It should be a mess, but the result is an outstanding, head-banging monster.

It's not all spot-on though; Frontman Steve Braund can scream like a man being ravaged by a bear in a pit of nettles, but when it comes to actually singing, it gets decidedly ropey. Luckily for softer number 'My Desolation' it's bearable, but on 'Chasing The Spark' and 'Skin' it mars the impact considerably. Nevertheless, the potential here is almost as colossal as the riffs. Accepting Denial isn't perfect, but it will own your neck muscles. An unpolished gem.

4/5 Phill May - Rock Midgets

Vert are four men making hard hitting, ear bleeding unforgiving rock blasts, churning out humungous guitars chugs and colossal power riffs. "Feeling" starts with soft piano and ballad vocals; it appears to be 'the quiet one' – an anomaly on a typically apocalyptic record; until about a minute in, when you realise that Vert don't do quiet, they just mediate and take their time over certain intros.

Steve Braund's vocals have a potent kind of urgency – this kind of hard rock power chords a go-go usually has a frontman who writhes and screams, heavens if he ever actually sing, but Braund brings a quality of calmness yet unrest, a certain kind of anguish that makes his vocals something to believe in.

Katie Probert. - Subba-Cultcha

With their original edge and laid back melodies touched by metal-inspired riffs, Vert are straying away from the expected with their new album Accepting Denial. Ranging from a soulful Brandon Boyd style of vocals to angry metal screams and shouts, vocalist Steve Braund is certainly versatile. The music, provided by the other three band members, manages to keep up with these rapid style changes, merging riff lead heavy sections with funky offbeat moments.

Each track takes new inspiration from another source, creating something new and impossible to pigeonhole; there is never a moment with this band that is predictable. Track 4 – Feeling – begins with a downbeat piano section, complete with bluesy vocals, only to crash into a melodic rock piece maintaining an upbeat background with a few metal roars here and there for good measure. This is music that is well written, picking up on subtle nuances that explore the band's talents and abilities and adding to their unexpected edge. The beauty of the band is that they know what makes a good song – a catchy hook or chorus and a format that lets you know exactly when the song is building or finishing – but they know how to stop this highly sought after talent from becoming mundane. Each track feels as though it could have been written by different musicians, but every song holds onto Vert's own sound, the vocalist's distinctive voice and style of guitars leaves a trademark across the album.

Clearly not wanting to with what is currently mainstream, Vert's music really is like a breath of fresh air and even if their chosen style isn't exactly what you'd always listen to, you will be able to appreciate the ability to try something new, and succeed.

Ashleigh Morgan - Planet Loud

Vert produce a sound which can only be described as similar to a local band playing a local club. However, that is not essentially a bad thing. Vert produce screamy vocals, topped with jagged guitar riffs and pounding drums and have managed to capture the atmosphere of a life show onto a CD, something which bands find it somewhat difficult to do.
The first three tracks offer pounding, fast bass lines which keep the album on an exciting fast pace which is then crushed when the fourth track, 'Feeling', comes in with a piano intro, but soon regains the faster pace again. 'A Scream For Independence' is a track which particularly shines on the album and allows them to be compared to the metal giants of the current music scene yet the vocals add that slightly more rock/emo sound. 'My Desolation' offers a more melodic sound as it comes in with an acoustic intro, doing the vocalist Steve Braund more justic than the rest of the tracks so far.
'Accepting Denial' is an album which shows off every individual feature of the band and is hard to place in the current genres of music floating around, which is something we need more of.
Vert have produced an outstanding blend of music which sounds like it came from your local, which, incredibly, works just fine for them.

4/5 Emma Jubb - Black Velvet

Formed in 2002, midlanders Vert are a prickly bunch. They take all the bombast of early 90s hard rock; the choppy driving riffs and claustrophobic grunge sentimentalities, add a dash of the metal new breed, mix in some hard/soft vocal shifts and bake on a greased proof tray of melodic inspirations for just over 50 minutes. What you're left to feast on is a rack of hot n' spicy rock ribs that will scorch your throat and set alight a burning fire in your belly that, depending on your vision, will have you either bowled over in excitement, or sitting back waiting for the punchline. Our guess is the former.
Kicking off proceedings with the sort of riff that could wrestle a rhino, 'Echo' is searing and intense; Steve Braund's bronchial neo-punk vocal sleuced all over Brendon Riley's maelstrom guitar work. The title track slams in with head-banging rage and a mutant groove, while 'Reducer (Seep)' maintains the animosity heralding a driving tempo that moves down a notch to a grinding fury. There's a tendency to pile on the layered discordance with a little too much fervour however, smothering the likes of 'My Desolation' and 'Skin', almost losing a precious melody, but they save themselves superbly on 'Chasing After The Spark' and closer 'Whisper' which ebbs and flows like a poison tide, drowning you in the conclusion that Vert should happen... here, there and everywhere.

4/5 Steve Fletcher - Tuned

Die etwas nichtssagende Aufmachung der CD trägt nicht unbedingt dazu bei, Intereese bei potentiellen Hörern zu wecken, da hätte mehr gehen können, das wird schnell klar. Die aus den Midlands in England stammenden Vert haben sich 2002 gegründet und nach fleissigem Üben, diversen EP Veröffentlichungen und vielen Live Auftritten veröffentlicht die Band nun ihr erstes Album "Accepting Denial". Musikalisch bewegt sich die Band im weiteren Bereich des modernen Metals und Rocks, meist im Midtempo gespielt und ganz nettem, melodischen Gesang, der dann und wann durch wütendes, wüsteres Gekeife abgelöst wird. Ich finde die 10 Stücke gelungen, auch wenn mich jetzt keines vom Hocker haut. "Accepting Denial" ist angenehme rockige und dynamische Musik, die auch nur so zur Unterhaltung taugt, schnell wird einem aber klar, dass hier keine grossen Überraschungen mehr kommen.

7/10 - Creative Eclipse

Die Engländer VERT sind schon was Exotisches in Englands Musiklandschaft, denn sie zocken hier geilen, deftigen und vor allem sehr eingängigen Kickass-Rock'n'Roll mit einem Schuss Alternative Metal runter, den man so von englischen Bands eigentlich nicht kennt. Immer wieder werden zwischen die teils melancholischen Tracks megafette Gitarrenwände platziert und die druckvollen Drums tun ihr Übriges, um „Accepting Denial" zu einem echten Hinhörer zu machen. Sänger Steve Braund ist ebenso variabel in seiner Stimme – mal singt er richtig schön und verständlich, um plötzlich Death-Growls und Hardcore-Gekreische auszupacken – wie Gitarrist Brendon Riley, der mal schnell, mal melancholisch und voll auf den Punkt seine Riffs in die Songs einbaut. Gerade die ersten fünf Songs knallen ohne Ende und könnten die doch recht zugeknöpften und eher Pop-orientierten Engländer so richtig mit ihrem tollen Sound aus ihrem Pop-Dornröschenschlaf aufwecken. So richtig zuordnen kann und will ich VERT eigentlich gar nicht, denn sie spielen ihren ganz eigenen Stil, den ich einfach als Rock bezeichnen würde, der aber mit Sicherheit nicht in den Radiostationen Englands auftauchen dürfte, dafür aber die diversen Szeneclubs auf der Insel und auch in Europa aufmischen könnte. Dass die Jungs nicht nur laut und rotzig sein können, beweist die wunderschöne, anfangs akustisch vorgetragene Ballade ‚My Desolation', die sich im Verlauf in einen astreinen Rocker verwandelt und die es als Singleauskoppelung dann doch schaffen könnte - Ihr wisst schon - Englands Charts aufzurollen! Jeder Rock-Fan, der mit dem Mix Rock/Alternative/Kickass Rock'n'Roll was anzufangen weiß kann hier bedenkenlos zugreifen! Die Website findet Ihr unter www.vertonline.com.

10 von 13 Augen
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