E.P Review: Vice Killer - Alone, In This World

             Vice Killer - Alone, In This World E.P

I'm not entirely sure I'm convinced by the concept of an 'Addictive Personality'. I mean - I have one if you're going by the true definition - but I don't think that definition is as set in stone as it seems. I read 'The Psychopath Test' by Jon Ronson several years ago and that provided me with the inspiration behind my thinking. In the book, Ronson explores the nature of how Psychologists score psychopathy on a spectrum on which we all score; perhaps raising the possibility that can change throughout life. Is it possible that addiction has the same type of spectrum?

Why am I asking this? Well, I've just given up smoking. I haven't had a cigarette in over a month now, and if truth be told I don't miss it. The only time I'm tempted is if I have a drink and that's not a regular occurrence now either; perhaps my propensity towards addiction has shifted.  I'm probably going to sound a bit cheesy now, but the old music addiction is still very much in play - it's slightly better for the mental health.

This is the ideal time then to be listening to the debut E.P by County Durham's Vice Killer;  a band we've reviewed before when their debut single 'Commonplace' featured on our first Submission Hold section. The band, based around the songs of Thomas Gilling, spent 2020 forming and building the tracks that make up 'Alone, In This World' and are looking to transfer them next to the live arena. 

The lead single from the E.P was the title track 'Alone, In This World', which after a short intro is the opening track - and it's easy to see why the band plumped for it as early as possible. It's the track on the E.P that shows the combined talents of the band as a unit the most. Starting with a guitar line that wouldn't be totally out of place on a Led Zep or Cream album, before the full band enters leaving the platform for Gilling's vocals to take centre stage. 
 
This is the age of anarchy, with no purpose of any existence is a cynical and slightly wounded opening lyric and as they progress to the chorus, Gilling laments at the state of the world's affairs and longs for companionship in the madness; with the sort of croon that has sustained Alex Turner for so long. The song continues down this pattern until post 2nd chorus, where the band shake loose into a slightly lighter Talking Heads style jam. 

                        
'Midnight Walking' has a very different approach, with James Langan's guitar licks very much the star of the show. It lights up the opening exchanges of the track with it's Latino-inspired touches that wade into Carlos Santana infested waters. The track builds into a cavalcade of noise, but doesn't quite reach the heights of the title track - perhaps suffering more with it's placement.

There is a shift in dynamics with the next track 'The Last Dance'. Stripped back to basic strummed guitar and vocal; it's a very different beast to what has come previously. Gilling's lyrics are given room to breath here and it's a wise move as they're intelligent and it's thought-provoking writing. 

In the last dance..
who do you sleeplessly, think about? is the question that looms large in the chorus, revealing a sense of romance that has parallels to Morrissey; in that time when he used to concentrate on writing great pop lyrics and not gravely defecating on his musical legacy. From there, the rhythm section comes to the fore, with groove that elevates the track to a satisfying conclusion.  
Closer 'Everlasting Road' is an anthemic rocker that has the kind of riff that dances and weaves with the backing perfectly; it has that edge to become a sing-a-long fan favourite. The unsung heroes here are the tight and energetic rhythm section of Jack Langan and Lewis Muir, who keep the tempo of the track to the right level. The lyrics seem more upbeat in nature and there is a sense of closure from the darker themes of the previous tracks - perhaps giving us a peak into the future of the band's material. 

I've found in recent weeks that vices are quite difficult to eradicate from your life entirely, the craving's keeping coming back one way or another, but you can replace one vice with another. 'Alone, In This World' has a similar effect, in that these songs keep coming back to you and giving you the urge to re-listen every so often - It's the vice that it's fine to give into. 

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