Vower
A Storm Lined In Silver
Self-Released
If this were a Marvel-type scenario, out there in the multiverse, there exists a reality in which Vower are headlining festival bills, that’s a fantasy that by rights should be a reality. This EP is phenomenal, let’s get that straight. There are huge soaring melodies that could bother air traffic control courtesy of Josh McKeown, surely one of the best frontmen this country has produced in years.
No auto-tune in sight, no masks, no gimmicks, just a masterclass in hooky yet complex post-hardcore adjacent metal and rock. Bombastic opener ‘Dawn In Me’ sets the scene with vast swathes of pure power, with the incredible ‘Deadweight’ boasting the kind of quality that much larger bands wish they could achieve. We truly mean it,
Vower demands your attention; this is a band that you should and hopefully will be championing, in the UK especially. This is a win for music over yet another exercise in savvy commerce. It’s also an EP where songwriting and virtuosity know when to shine and when to serve the song, courtesy of guitar wunderkind Rabea Masaad, who also handles production duties here masterfully. Recent single, ‘Stuck’ is the best accessible take on progressive metal we have heard since the first time A Perfect Circle emerged on our speakers. The classy, deeper moves of ‘Moth Becomes The Flames’ give way to propellant rage before pulling you back only to release you full throttle to a crescendo that features another jaw-dropping heartfelt vocal display. The waves of authentic emotion and humanity that emanate from this recording put literally any other supposed top billers to shame. ‘Satellites’ sees Vower’s take on the kind of space usually occupied by Tesseract, and you can see why this band is equally at home at ArcTangGent and 2000 Trees festivals.
Close out track ‘Serpent’ shimmers into view, pulsing with soul and beauty, before the incredible rhythm section takes centre stage, crushing you with a wilful abandon. Vower are clever without being too showy, they’re accessible without losing integrity. This band is literally everything the British press should be focusing on when pushing the next big thing. Let’s hope we all get the reality where Vower are headlining festivals because, on this evidence, there’s zero reason why they shouldn’t.
https://www.facebook.com/Vowerband
Reviewed By George Miller