Review VENDED “Vended”

Vended (short for “vendetta”) is an interesting band in many ways. The five piece hails from Des Moins, Iowa and yes, Slipknot is from there too. Which brings up the next question. Are there any connections between Vended and Slipknot? Yes, there are. The Vended line-up includes two sons of Slipknot members. Griffin Taylor is the son of none other than Corey Taylor and Simon Crahan is the son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan.

There is always the question whether such a family constellation helps a young band or makes life even more complicated, because they are always “the kids of”. Probably it’s a little bit of both. The popularity and the network of the parents might open some doors and it’s that Vended got support slots for bands like Korn, P.O.D. and others. They have also played the bigger festivals, but in the end it is the music that counts. You have to have good songs to create your own trademark sound. In the case of Vended it works well, in parts.

“Vended” is the title of the debut album the guys are releasing as a self-release. Taking a direction outside the usual label network approach is probably a new way, but since the guys have already gained some popularity, it makes things less risky.

The band’s first album contains thirteen songs and they are furious. “Vended” starts with an intro that sets the scene for the album. It’s like an overture to a wicked circus show that kicks off with “Paint the Skin”. The latter is a brutal nu-metal smasher that embraces the chaotic ferocity of bands like Slipknot. It’s a first blast on the album and there are a few more to explore.

“The Far Side” is next and shows a few more twists without even coming close to some layered structures. It is a sonic slap in the face. And like his father, Griffin Taylor jumps between furious screams and melodic clean vocals which is not a new approach, but it works in this context.

“Going Up” is an interlude that allows you to regroup before “Nihilism” continues the round trip through the aggressiveness of contemporary nu-metal. The clean vocals are used again for some parts of “Serentity”, while the heavily pounding “Disparager” is a grooving riff monster that doesn’t want to take any prisoners.

The last three songs on “Vended” are a bit different. They are all under two minutes, starting with the atmospheric interlude “Ones’…”, which leads into “Downfall”. “Downfall” captures the wildness and madness that Vended exhale through their music, before the throbbing “As We Know It” acts more as a chaotic outro.

What also needs to be mentioned is the great production. Chris Collier, who has worked with bands like Korn and Prong, has given the album a very dense and powerful sound that works perfectly with Vended’s music. It actually increases the energy that the music conveys and makes songs like “Nihilism” a massive musical outburst.

“Vended” is certainly a well done debut album. Based on their biography they might have a bit of a head start compared to other young and upcoming bands, but what makes your eardrums vibrate is modern metal that is furious and frenzied.