Musical Morgue Review: The Attic by Jerry Vayne
Listen up Deadites!
Gruesome Joe here with the latest installment of the Musical Morgue, right here on Rotting Flesh Radio.
This week I’ve got an album that just came out from the Haunt Rocker himself, Jerry Vayne, and I think it is one you’re going to like. We’re talking about his new album titled The Attic—so let’s get right to the music!
The very first thing that jumps out at me when listening through this new CD is the amount of detail Jerry has worked into the atmospheric elements and overall ambiance. There are several tracks on the disc that are completely ambient, gearing us up for his soaring guitar melodies and orchestrations. The very first track on the album is one of these ambient tracks, appropriately titled “The Attic.”
(“The Attic” clip)
Immediately after “The Attic” is the track “Alone In Darkness.” This track features Jerry’s more signature lofty guitar stylings. I think this track is perfectly placed on the album because it is heavy, driving, and gears us up for things to come. It is then followed by the track “Manifestation,” which introduces us to some new elements in Jerry’s musical arsenal—stranger guitar effects intertwined into heavy metal styling and a good driving beat. He also incorporates ambient elements into this track to really make the “Manifestation” come to life!
(“Manifestation” clip)
The next track is titled “The Ghost of Marianna Odile” and I think it is a terrific track because it incorporates Jerry’s heavy guitar styling, his lofty picked styling, cool ambient elements, as well as killer epic swells—and it sounds like he may have incorporated some synths, of which I love! The best part is that this track is almost 6 minutes long and changes pace several times—making for an awesome audio journey within the track itself.
(“The Ghost of Marianna Odile” clip)
The next track is an ambient, synth-heavy track titled “Possessed.” I thought it was pretty cool how Jerry incorporated these dark thematic elements to get us musically off-kilter and ready to rock, which is exactly what he does in the next track “Insanium.”
(“Insanium” clip)
The next track is a delightfully creepy track called “The Skin Marionette”. It begins with a very spooky ambience, but then heads into a driving, pulsing piece of metal madness. This track would fit perfectly into an intense scene in a haunted house because of how it keeps the beat moving and is constantly evolving and changing with the guitars. It would add that “intensity” we’re all looking for in our mazes, strobe rooms, and chop shops…
(“The Skin Marionette” clip)
Everything then gets taken down a notch with the next two tracks, “Midnight” and “Thin Trails of Red.” The track “Midnight” features some very lofty guitar solos on a bed of ticking clocks and clean guitar picking. It’s in a great spot on the album as well, as we’re halfway through, so it acts as a sort of intermission. “Thin Trails of Red” is a very interesting, disjointed track that is definitely musical, but almost acts more like ambience that music…
(“Thin Trails of Red” clip)
The disjointed feel is continued through the beginning of the next track “Self-Inflicted Wounds,” but once the driving beat kicks in—you know it’s time to rock! This heavy metal track gets the pulse pounding again, and utilizes a really nice, dark bass line to root the guitar overlay.
(“Self-Inflicted Wounds” clip)
The speedy beat really comes back with the next track “Death’s Throes.” Utilizing double bass pedal drumming counterpoised with some more ambient guitar arpeggios, Jerry creates a very dark, moody atmosphere reminiscent of his earlier work on Damnation’s Embrace. This feel continues through to the next track “In Darkness Forever.”
(“In Darkness Forever” clip)
The next track “Nightmare’s End” is a very cool, up-tempo piece that begins with a strong heavy metal vibe. It’s a fairly long, hard-rocking track, and changes pace several times throughout. After the first significant change, it has a very Goblin feel, because of the use of underlying effects, a distinct bass line, and maybe even a synth or two. It then ends with a more driving metal underbelly and a crazy, explosive ending. What really makes it stand out to me is how it has three very musically distinct sections that all come together to make almost a “Haunt Rocker Opus.” It’s by far my favorite track on the album.
(“Nightmare’s End” clip)
We’re then brought into the next track “Alone In Darkness (Reprise)” that brings the tempo way down and sets us up for the final ambient track of the official album “Epilogue.” There is one more track on the album, a little bonus track if you will, but I’m not going to let you hear that one—it’s too good. You’ll just have to buy your copy of the album to enjoy the heavy rocking track that is “Necromantix.” Let me just say it’s a perfect final track on an album that has already proven to be a delightful, dark treat.
So overall, I give The Attic a full 5 stars and highly recommend you pick up a copy. I am very impressed with how Jerry’s musicality has evolved, as well as how he’s begun to incorporate more ambient features into the pieces. Given his main audience is haunters, you can tell he’s really trying to craft gems for his fans and listeners that not only rock out musically, but that also stand to be very useful within a haunted attraction. I absolutely loved this album from start to finish, and can easily say that it is his best work to date.
And at $8.99 for a digital download of the entire album, the price couldn’t be better for 16 killer tracks. Head over to his website www.JerryVayne.com or to his Amazon store to get the album for $8.99, or you can log in to iTunes and download it there for $9.99. You won’t be disappointed when you add this one to your music collection.
Well Deadites, that about does it for this week here in the Morgue. Be sure to check out GruesomeJoe.com for the written version of my review, as well as well as all the links to buy your copy of The Attic from the Haunt Rocker, Jerry Vayne. I’m Gruesome Joe and I’ll be chilling out here in the morgue, waiting for you… until next time…
