Release Date: July 14th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Vines: Tracklisting
1.Between the Evils 06:09
2.Crawling Home 06:04
3.Vines 02:44
4.Cosmic Reaper 05:05
5.Negative Revolution 04:47
6.Extended Trip 06:02
Members
Dave Taylor
Jarek Brown
Mike Kenned
Review
Vines is the debut EP from Doom/Stoner Metallers Vape Dealer who bring a Fuzzed Up Progressive vision to their music with cues from bands such as Black Cobra, Mastodon, High On Fire, SLEEP and Black Sabbath. The music has a subtle Hardcore Punk and Noise Rock energy with the harsh vocals allowing Vape Dealer to fully sell their blistering style of Doom/Stoner Metal to the underground masses.
Vines could be classed as a full length album with the record running for thirty minutes across six fantastic tracks that offers many different styles of WEEDIAN flavours with some bittersweet Psychedelic moments which you fully encounter on the outstanding opening track Between The Evils. There’s some killer flashy guitar solos that have an earthly Blues Rock energy and passion to them. This allows Vape Dealer to show off their love of Classic Hard Rock along the way.
Second track Crawling Home is more DOOM and GLOOM orientated with the opening soundclip that delves right into the action. The vocals are clean based but flirt between PROTO METAL and OCCULT DOOM territories which I didn’t expect at all. The song sees Vape Dealer delving into their love for BLACK SABBATH and other classic Doom bands of that era.
The later stages of the track sees Vape Dealer play a seedier FUZZ ROCK sound which offers a slightly more modern feel with aggressive tones and melodies closing the song superbly.
Third track Vines is a Punk/Progressive Sludge offering with areas of Doom/Stoner Metal appearing with the bombastic harsh vocals leaning in yet again. The music is more direct with Vape Dealer having less time to play with. Clocking under three minutes, this track offers the most aggressive and heaviest moments on the whole EP.
The second half of the record is where the band truly impresses the most with their technical ability really shining through especially on tracks Cosmic Reaper and Extended Trip. The sound is quite raw with Vape Dealer once again injecting different areas of Doom/Stoner Metal within the Fuzz Rock/Hard Rock structure of the whole EP. The vocals change different styles yet again but remain necessary to the volatile environment that Vape Dealer offers for each of the superb tracks on the second half of the EP.
Vines is a hugely enjoyable record that allows Vape Dealer to make a name for themselves within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground community. I’m looking forward to hearing more from his highly talented Power Trio and I can’t recommend this EP highly enough.
Check out now.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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