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Marksy		#1 Posted : 28 January 2011 05:23:59(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		Oblivion is the second studio album by English band The Verdict Is Vengeance, to be released on January 29th, 2010 worldwide. It was recorded a Hellfire Recording Studio in Birmingham, England between September–November 2010. It was mixed by David Bendeth, mastered by Ted Jensen and produced by Jason Smith formerly of Mind and Eric Quillington of Infinite. The band has said that the album has had a dramatic change in sound from their alternative rock first album Liberation, and has progressed from the expiermental metal which featured in Lies Make You Famous. The reason for the huge change in music styles has happened as the band went back and found the origianl material that they had written, and used this as an influence with songs from the new album. Chimera and Mind have also been seen as influences throughout the album, and the production work of Quillington and Smith could also have given the album a different feel about it. The album's release will be supported by a tour around the UK and Europe in February and March by The Verdict Is Vengeance, with Sara Daniels, Gears of Bremen and Party Wounds for the whole tour, and Infinite who will be featuring in the UK section of the tour. Their are also talks of the band touring Asia and America, but this has not been spoken of by the band itself. Title: Oblivion Released: 29 January 2011 Format: CD Album, Digital Download Recorded: Hellfire Recording Studio, Birmingham, England (September 2010 - November 2010) Genre: Metalcore Length: 43:03 Producer(s): Eric Quillington, Jason Smith Label: Suicide Records Tracklist: 1) Reflections The opening track from the album wastes no time in showing a change in vocal styling from Sam Maine, who rather than screaming, is shouting vocals throughout this metalcore song. Heavy guitar riffs are used alongside a fast double bass pedal use. There are no keyboards or samples used in this song. There is a stop in music as Maine screams “Reflect this fucking bullet, bitch!” before a breakdown. The general theme of the lyrics is of a girl who messes a boy around for her own pleasure, but then ends up hating her reflection. 2) Bathos A sample of a chainsaw starting up, with a highly distorted guitar riff playing over the top is used during the opening 15 seconds of the song. After this time period, the other instruments begin before the screamed vocals from Maine begin. A heavy use of synthesisers is used, although it is counter-balanced by the heavy and distorted guitars, and the use of drumming which is also heavy. During the breakdown, chants from the band are heard as “death, decay, love, lies.” Throughout the song the general vocal style is screamed vocals (both low and high) with slight clean vocals being done by guitarist Robert Williams, and screams being shared between Sam Maine and Lee Sanders. 3) Anything Can Happen Following on from Bathos, Anything Can Happen, song starts straight away with screamed vocals starting the song, with the standard musical styling from the band; heavy usage of guitar effects, and fast pounding drums. This is one of the shorter songs on the album, but it does its damage in the 3 minutes that the brutal song is used. Low screams from Maine, and higher screams by Sanders have been harmonised to give the best effect. “I’m half the man I can be, when you’re not here with me” is the favourite line from the song. 4) Less Than Three (Featuring Nicole Woods of Suburban Sunrise) A typical love based acoustic song gives a good change in style and provides Maine and Williams to show there clean vocal ranges, alongside Nicole Woods of pop-punk band Suburban Sunrise, who’s contribution to the song with her amazing voice, gives it edge. Simple chords are used by the acoustic guitar, and the lyrics are based around falling in love. 5) Masked Faces A trance based keyboard loop is heavily with harsh sounding guitars, and very heavy drums. The combination makes the song one of the experimental songs from the album, and this shows with the vocal work shared between Maine, Williams, Sanders and James. Maine and Sanders provide a mixture of high and low screams, James provides growls, and Williams provides clean vocals. Together they add to the songs effect, which is a near perfect mix between a dance/electronic song, and a metal song. During the short breakdown mid-song the use of keyboard and guitars is equal and provides fans with the opportunity to either dance, or mosh to. Lyrically the song is themed around a masked dance, in which an assassination takes place. 6) Smile In Your Sleep Smile In Your Sleep is the only song from the album that lacks vocals. Containing deathcore guitar riffs and high distortion. There are no keyboards, or vocals, just a short deathcore song that could show a future musical styling of the band. 7) Watch The Skylines Fall This is the most progressive song on the album. Starting with a slow guitar riff and a piano playing simultaneously, and clean vocals from both Sam Maine and Robert Williams, the song seems to be like the song “Always With Opposites” from the “Lies Make You Famous EP” but instead of staying the same style of depressing and acoustic music, it begins to build with drums starting and the acoustic guitar being swapped for the electric guitars and bass. All instruments stop as the band chants “Will the skylines fall without you?” until screams from Maine and Sanders are heard whilst the clean vocals provided earlier in the song by Williams are repeated whilst the heavy music via distorted guitars in a low tuning and very high tempo drums continue as the song finishes. 8) You Looked Better Dead Easily one of the heavier songs from the album, containing low, highly distorted guitars, and large use of double bass, song is easily a step back to the bands original style of deathcore, there is no synth, samples, or clean vocals used throughout the song, which is focused on harmonised screams from Maine and Sanders. The lyrics are a lot darker than others from the album, the title giving away the story behind the lyrics. Its about the murder of an ex-lover, then coming to realise they have a certain level of beauty even when dead. 9) Paradox Highly distorted guitars are used during the opening 30 seconds of the song, playing the same note loop repeatedly before the vocals which are also distorted are added, sounding more like a shout, until one single screamed vocal of “you” is used around the 2nd minute of the song. This is also when the other instruments are used, also sounding distorted. The song follows a very similar pattern until a slight breakdown is added, but is still distorted to make it sound hushed, it’s at this point that dual screams from Maine and Sanders are used yet again. The song then turns mellow, with the use of nothing but a slow electronic beat and distorted vocals. After two minutes of this, the song goes back to the same style as used at the beginning of the song. The song ends with the song of rain falling and screams of panic being heard faintly. Lyrically the song is about a romance between two people who are the complete opposite, and fall apart due to this, leaving one of them suicidal. It is the longest song produced by the band with it lasting just over nine minutes Personnel The Verdict Is Vengeance Sam Maine - lead vocals, screamed vocals, lyrics Robert Williams - lead guitar, vocals Phil Nind - rhythm guitar Connor James - bass guitar Lee Sanders - keyboard, samples, screamed vocals Matt Norris - drums, purcussion Guest musicians Nicole Woods - vocals on Less Than Three Production Produced by Jason Smith and Eric Quillington Pre-Production by Jason Smith, Sam Maine and Robert Williams Mixed by David Bendeth Mastered by Ted Jensen A&R by Julie Weir Concept by The Verdict Is Vengeance Band photography by Tom Barnes Artwork by Daren Maine Inner notes of the album: This album is for everyone who said we would never make it. For the people you supported us from back in 2007 when the idea of us being at this stage of our careers didn’t seem possible, and it was only a dream. For all the people who turn up to our shows, and buy our music and merchandise, the support that you’ve given us over the years has kept the band alive and wanting to carry on with music. We would personally like to thank our families, for the love, care and guidance over the bands career and giving us the chance to complete our dreams. The Verdict Is Vengeance would like to thank; Jason Smith, Eric Quillington, Nicole Woods, David Bendth, Ted Jensen, Julie Weir, Tom Barnes, Daren Maine, Chimera, The Wicker Man, Kieran Marks, Mind, Alex Leuiso, Ryan Ross Hernandez, Toby Coyte-Broomfield, Sean Grey, Party Wounds, Gears of Bremen, Infinite, Sara Daniels, everyone at Suicide Records, and everyone who has ever came to a show or listened to our music. This is all thanks to you. Reviews: NME: 8/10 Kerrang!: 4/5 Rocksound: 8/10 Edited by user 28 February 2011 01:43:22(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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Laurelles1		#2 Posted : 28 January 2011 05:28:24(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Moderators, Registered Joined: 09/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 8,329 Location: Floating about on an iceberg somewhere Thanks: 436 times Was thanked: 407 time(s) in 288 post(s)		Jason: I think this is an early shoo in for album of 2011. Absolutely great time working on it and you guys are truly on to something here. Amazing. OOC: Great RP man!
		Awards (stroking myself and thinking I'm superior): @Chaos awards: Best Band - Mind Best Album - Shattered Fairytale by Mind Technical Ecstasy - Jason Smith (x3) Best Solo Male - Jason Smith Birdies: Best Producer - Jason Smith
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Marksy		#3 Posted : 28 January 2011 07:10:37(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		Laurelles1 wrote: Jason: I think this is an early shoo in for album of 2011. Absolutely great time working on it and you guys are truly on to something here. Amazing. OOC: Great RP man! I highly doubt that with all the other albums that will be released throughout the year, but thanks man. It's thanks to your help that the record sounds the way it does and I'm sure we'd like to work with you and Eric again in the future. - Sam OOC: Thank you mate! I hope the rest of the songs seem okay to be honest! Edited by user 29 January 2011 08:11:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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Marksy		#4 Posted : 29 January 2011 02:35:15(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		With the album due for release tomorrow (29th January 2011), each of the band members has given their opinion on their favourite song, and why it is their favourite; Sam: I’d say that my favourite song is the opening track from the album Reflections. It jumps straight into the changes which are shown throughout the album, and has a sick breakdown to it. I also liked writing the lyrics for this song, even if they seem a little cliché it was still a fun process. Robert: I think that Smile In Your Sleep was the most interesting song. It doesn’t have much to it, but it was really enjoyable whilst writing it, it will please fans of our original songs from 2007 and 2008, that’s a guarantee. Connor: I put more effort into the song Masked Faces than anything else. I got to show that I can use my vocals as well which was a nice change from just playing bass. The theme of the song is pretty cool as well. Lee: Easily the best song from this album is Bathos. It was the first song for me to add to once joining the band as a full time member, and I fucking owned it. Adding the chainsaw revving was also my idea, gives the song such a good effect and makes it so unique and just amazing in my opinion. Matt: The best song for me was probably Smile In Your Sleep. I fucking love playing deathcore drum beats, wins me over everytime.
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Marksy		#5 Posted : 29 January 2011 10:05:55(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		Oblivion is here! Tell us what you think of it via this page. OCC: Feedback would be appreciated as this is the most effort I've put into RP ever.
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DistortedAudio		#6 Posted : 29 January 2011 10:08:54(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 20/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 5,694 Thanks: 1990 times Was thanked: 1784 time(s) in 975 post(s)		Is it wrong that I love this album more than my own mother? Probably but this is the most awesome thing since the last Infinite album. Glad to be going on the tour circuit with you guys. -Renee Belamont
		I feel numb, born with a weak heart I guess I must be having fun EARN BY WORKING LIKE A DOG SPEND LIKE ROYALTY
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Marksy		#7 Posted : 29 January 2011 10:27:14(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		DistortedAudio wrote: Is it wrong that I love this album more than my own mother? Probably but this is the most awesome thing since the last Infinite album. Glad to be going on the tour circuit with you guys. -Renee Belamont I would hardly say that it is at the same level as the previous Infinite album, but it means a lot that you would rate us in such a way. Touring with you and the rest of Gears of Bremen is going to be great, looking forward to it. - Sam
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C4AJoh		#8 Posted : 29 January 2011 21:45:35(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Moderators, Registered Joined: 18/05/2009(UTC) Posts: 13,961 Thanks: 4590 times Was thanked: 9262 time(s) in 2906 post(s)		Stacey: I bought it this morning and it Looks like Eric and Jason are part of another classic record. My favourite tracks were Less Than Three and Watch The Skylines Fall. Good job.
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Marksy		#9 Posted : 30 January 2011 09:48:34(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		C4AJoh wrote: Stacey: I bought it this morning and it Looks like Eric and Jason are part of another classic record. My favourite tracks were Less Than Three and Watch The Skylines Fall. Good job. Thanks Stacy! We're glad you like them out of the all of the songs on the album. The production from the two shaped the album. We want to work with them in the future. - Sam
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Marksy		#10 Posted : 23 February 2011 08:08:29(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		Album Review: The Verdict Is Vengeance - Oblivion Upon our initial discovery of The Verdict Is Vengeance, they were a bunch of late-teens, attempting to mould into the mainstream music scene, but without the music to push them through. The mix of depressing, and negatively influencing lyrics, with the basic song structure featured in any alternative rock band was discovered to be in almost every song throughout the band’s debut album from 2009, titled Liberation. Although Liberation entered the charts, it simply did not stick as their sub-culture based following, and lack of popular interest caused it to flop quickly, though many musicians found the album to be a brilliant mix of different influences, clearly showing ideas of My Chemical Romance, Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Silverstein. With a change of vocalist and some new ideas, the band went “back to their roots” with the EP titled Lies Make You Famous being released in 2010. The change of vocalist lead to a drastic change in musical styling from the discouraging, cliché alternative rock sound, to an experimental blend of alternative rock with metal and hardcore influences. The EP was seen as the start of a gradual change and a method of testing out the new vocalist Sam Maine’s ability to produce the vocal range which was needed to make the songs as perfect as possible. Although the EP did not sell as well as Liberation, it was appreciated by critics who praised the fusion of concepts of alternative rock and the metal and hardcore genres. The sophomore album; Oblivion gives evidence to the final change in the bands career. They have reinvented themselves as a metalcore band, having removed all of the cliché alternative rock ideas, and replacing them with the brutal and intense music that has been heavily distorted using a wide variety of effects, whilst also adding a slight electronic sound within the depths of the songs. With the album being produced by Jason Smith [ex-Mind] and Eric Quillington [Infinite], the album was almost bound to be different. Oblivion is believed to have a set concept, although none of the members of the band have ever mentioned this, and the songs don’t link lyrically, but the basic indication behind the songs is simple; they are a different band. Without warning, we are thrown into a mix of heavy effects, double bass pedals and screamed vocals throughout the opening tracks of Reflections, Bathos (which contains the sample of a chainsaw revving during the opening moments the song!) and Anything Can Happen, it’s already hard to compare this aggressive and dominating sound with that of Liberation, which can only been seen as good from our point of view. Suddenly, the tone of the album is dramatically changed from that of anger and aggression, with a relaxing, simple song about love, titled Less Than Three, and features Nicole Woods of American pop-punk band Suburban Sunrise to provide harmonious clean vocals to mix with the rough vocals provided by Robert Williams [Guitarist/clean vocalist], before changing into the mash up of metal and dance music is featured within Masked Faces, although some may be a fan of the odd mix, it seems to have be two songs literally added together and doesn’t give the desired effect the band seem to think it will. The instrumental, and yet brutal Smile In Your Sleep, allows for an idea into what future ideas could sound like, and has jokingly been called a “karaoke track”, yet it shows a fair level of complexity of music provided at points in Oblivion without the vocals interrupting, this song matches with You Looked Better Dead, containing the same distorted and hostile music, but with equally aggressive vocal work to add to it. The last single released from the album, Watch The Skylines Fall is a well-crafted progressive track, and incorporates the use of a piano rather than keyboard samples, and an acoustic guitar, before building into the same old violent tones used in the rest of the album. The closing track of Oblivion, Paradox is another progressive track, and is also the longest track created by the band in their history, lasting over 9 minutes long, and containing a mix of all the ideas used throughout the album. The electronically distorted vocals give an eerie feel about the song, along with the closing containing rainfall and panic induced screams of a large group of people. The Verdict Is Vengeance may not be ready to break into the charts with this new direction, but the quality of the band’s production work easily outweighs this, and shows no signs of stopping the progression into becoming the most influential metal band in the music industry at the present moment. James Mahon 8/10
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MATTT		#11 Posted : 23 February 2011 08:37:36(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 13/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 3,969 Location: California Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 199 time(s) in 99 post(s)		I love the album guys! I remember one of our first tours was with you guys! Keep rocken! And hit us up if you need tour support for after april! -Matt(Suburban Sunrise)
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Marksy		#12 Posted : 23 February 2011 08:42:04(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Joined: 25/10/2009(UTC) Posts: 1,449 Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 162 time(s) in 113 post(s)		MATTT wrote: I love the album guys! I remember one of our first tours was with you guys! Keep rocken! And hit us up if you need tour support for after april! -Matt(Suburban Sunrise) Thanks mate! We'll be sure to hit you up once we've finished organising our next tour! - Sam
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