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With 2004's New Medicines, Dead Poetic proved they were wielding one of the scene's slightly more intelligent sing/scream juxtapositions. While they leave that sound far behind on Vices, they also leave behind what little punk/hardcore roots they had -- which makes it all the more confounding that it actually results in something I'd still rather hear than about 99% of Top 40.

I suppose Dead Poetic's efficient version of an oversaturated style shouldn't make it all the surprising that they even do `90s alterna-rock pretty alright. Vices draws largely from that pool, coming off like a mish-mash of Deftones and more largely Maynard James Keenan's two most famous acts, Tool and A Perfect Circle, all the while sporting a slightly above average set of hooks. On paper this probably reads like a vomit buffet, but really, they pull it off well. Frontman Brandon Rike has Keenan's curious, low, and subtly comforting voice down pat while he still shows moments of his younger self. Thankfully, the guitars mostly tiptoe around nü-metal thumping.

It should be noted that at its 47-minute running time, the band still hasn't learned that less is better; New Medicines dipped into the late 40s too, and it certainly suffered from that same fault. Its lengthy running time just seems to wear on the nerves after one too many tracks, even as its mid-section contains some of the better ones ("Long Forgotten").

Granted, it is a little unsettling to any punk/hardcore fan that Rike actually said, "I'm definitely a dude that's going to talk about Led Zeppelin before I'm talking about Refused." Sure, he was referring to "the best records of all time," but his as well as his band's main influences are probably going to scare a few listeners away. However, those who find traces of enjoyability in the aforementioned style may get a little something out of Vices, and those who still actually actively listen to the genre may have their mainstay listen for the rest of 2006.

STREAM
Self-Destruct & Die (The Pacifist)
Narcotic
In Coma
The Victim



People who liked this also liked:
The Static Age - Blank ScreensRise Against - The Sufferer & the WitnessMuch the Same - SurviveBilly Talent - Billy Talent IIVaux - Beyond Virtue, Beyond ViceRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeRise Against - Revolutions Per MinuteThe Offspring - IgnitionGood Riddance - My RepublicBad Religion - Suffer



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    Posted by onegirlarmy on 2006-11-03 21:00:29
    My Score:

    I really like Self Destruct & Die as well as a couple other songs on here, but overall the album is pretty meh I think. I guess I can't just get into their newer sound... I definitely thought of 90's alternative rock/alt metal listening to this thing, a sound I was never a big fan of.

    On the plus side though, I do like it when bands don't make albums that sound exactly the same as their previous ones, so Dead Poetic get props for that. I just don't like the style.

    Posted by jhotmann on 2006-11-02 18:22:46
    My Score:

    This album shouldnt even be allowed on punknews.org. its just a boring cliche rock album. They took a step in the wrong direction with this album. im glad my friend bought it and not me...

    Posted by Jim_Neighbors on 2006-11-01 17:44:19

    "coming off like a mish-mash of Deftones and more largely James Maynard Keenan's two most famous acts, Tool and A Perfect Circle"

    So youre saying they sound like Chevelle now? Gross.

    Posted by Satelliteyrs on 2006-11-01 14:33:59
    My Score:

    great album

    Posted by XCARLUPANDDIEX on 2006-11-01 14:29:14

    i love this album - much better and more original than the previous two. "new medicines" is their most catchy album anyway

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 10:15 AM (EST)

    new album sucks f u

    Posted by InnuendoAndOutTheOther on 2006-11-01 02:18:35

    I loved the last 2 releases, especially New Medicines, so I'm sure I will love this

    but I just need to say that it's Maynard James Keenan and not James Maynard, also Chino Moreno of Deftones produced and guested on a few tracks on this record

    and I read that thing where he mentioned Led Zep and Refused and I agree with the person a few lines down, I love both and feel that both have impacted their genres pretty hard...with that being said, I think going out of your way to prove how not hardcore or what not, you are now days is silly...just play your music, we can figure out on our own that you no longer want to scream

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 5:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    wish they wouldn't have changed, i thought they pulled off the sing/scream better than most.

    Still enjoy this record though. solid release.

    Posted by rmgebhardt on 2006-10-31 09:06:41
    My Score:

    I thought this was a very mature, very solid effort. The band is growing up and playing some of the most deftly crafted music in their career. Give this disc time, it'll grow.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 1:04 AM (EST)

    i really liked led zeppelin AND refused and feel equally comfortable talking about either.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 12:38 AM (EST)

    I thought they had a few good songs here and there on their last releases.....

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