AUDIO JUNKIE:
Just to keep things interesting, we crossed borders and looked to our Asian neighbors for something new and exciting. And behold, we caught wind of this high voltage band straight from Singapore. Villes (prounounced as Vils) is a tight, modern metal unit that recently released their debut album "The Cure." The band has Dominic Tan on vocals, guitarists Bryan Ulric and Tan Mind Jie, bassist Mark Gabriel and Benjamin Lim. They are homegrown in SG and have been spreading the gospel of metal since 2011. Villes not only made a name in their home base but also have had success in neighboring Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.
Villes
Their effectiveness as a metal unit has a lot to do with the way they approach making music. Opening track "Bound" is a balls-to-the-wall, all-out introduction of who and what this band can do. No doubt they're metal to the core but it's not just about pounding on those low-sounding, alternate-tuned guitars. There's a melodic undercurrent to their sound, a method to the madness.
Title track "The Cure" is a fine example of the band's "scream"-style metal. And here we see precision in the band's interplay as heavy gives way to melodic choruses at the drop of a hat.
Actually, what's great about this band is its capacity for melodic arrangements in a metal context. Some tracks recall that scream/sing style of hybrid legends Linkin Park. Charged up "Don't You Worry" is one. The elongated opening riffs of the "The Other Side" (featuring Luke Holmes of Ocean Grove) is another. We suggest you check the newly-released music video of this song on YouTube to see this band in action.
On their band press statement, Guitarist Brian said, "Over time and the many shows we've been blessed to play, we've definitely grown in terms of clarity on what we all want our 'sound' to be just by listening and playing with the many musicians we've seen." He added "That being said, we are all influenced by different sounds."
He went on to say, perhaps jokingly, that besides being influenced by "heavy music," some band members (their singer in particular) is a "sucker for Justin Bieber."
'The Cure' album art
As a result, this post hardcore band is not afraid to incorporate ear-tweaking things to add an interesting layer to the usual. The synth-string orchestrations for mid-tempoed "Stage 4" definitely added drama to the track. And as opposed to just putting hammer to anvil, building a calm-before-the-storm mood at the piano-decked start of "Step Down" (featuring Ryo Kinoshita) puts a much needed contrast to the pummeling the band's rhythm section are wont to.
Of course, if it's straight on headbang you want, then the old school thrash metal sound of "The Fear Generation (Lion City Boy)" is for you. That and epic sounding "Farewell" and "City Of Gold." Note that the latter has one of the best pounding metal sounds we've heard in quite a while.
After listening to Villes tear through the ten tracks on their debut album, we're left with a distinct buzzing in our ears. And any metal head will say that that is a good thing.
Tags: Audio Junkie, Dominic Tan, high voltage band, Lion City rockers, Manila Bulletin, Manila Bulletin Entertainment, Mark Gabriel, mb.com.ph, post hardcore band, Tan Mind Jie, The Cure, their debut album, Villes
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