Vexes – Imagine What We Could Destroy /// If Only Given Time
Release Date: 17th June 2022
Label: Self Released
Pre-Order
Genre: Alt-Metal, Post-Rock, Nu-Metal.
FFO: Deftones, Far, Night Verses, Will Haven.
Review By: Ryan Payne
24 tracks are normally what a band would accumulate after several releases, I.e., a couple of albums or maybe a couple of EP’s and singles but that’s not the case for alt-rock quartet Vexes as they’re about to drop their 2-hour long sophomore double LP “Imagine What We Could Destroy /// If Only Given Time”. The band have spent the last 4 years writing and creating, what can only be described as, a journey of sound through the minds of these musicians.
Musically the album is impressive, the band have managed to keep the same ambience through the entire album, making listening from beginning to end a very joyous and continuous journey that doesn’t leave you stranded with anything unexpected. The band primarily have taken influence from post-rock and metal while adding their own blend of moodiness and beauty to it, creating a very unique album to listen through. Vexes have a great way of having very atmospheric sections in their songs that almost give off a shoegaze vibe, but also touch in with some heavier riffs that keep things interesting for the listener. Every couple of tracks, they also include some shorter instrumental tracks to help break up the monolithic track list IWWCD///IOGT has to offer.
The lyrics are pure poetry throughout the album and they are delivered incredibly throughout, which just continues to add to the signature sound these guys have. The delivery is almost a cross between Chino Moreno from Deftones and early 2000’s grunge, which is an amazing blend of talent when demonstrated as it is on this record. When asked about the lyrical themes of the album, vocalist Charlie Berezansky had this to say:
“Many of the songs deal with today’s obsession with the public eye, seeing and being seen, and the hold that has over all of us, especially with social media and having lost much of the human connection we once had. We have a general disdain for the intrusiveness of these platforms but at the same time understand their importance, however fleeting that may be.”
As much as I like Vexes style and the overall sound of the album, my biggest flaw with it is the same reason it’ll get peoples interest, and that is the length of the record. It feels like a chore to get through after a while, especially if you’re just discovering the band and want to dive into it to get a feel of who they are. The only plus side is that there’s enough material available on this record that anyone who gets through it in it’s entirely is bound to love at least 1 track on it.
That being said, IWWCD///IOGT is a very great listen, and they’re definitely a band I’ll be keeping an eye on in the near future. The Jersey quartet are well on their way to becoming as big as the bands that have inspired them to write the music they do, and I very much look forward to seeing them come to the UK in the near future. 
(3 / 5)
