Vanishing Kids: Miracle Of Death

Here is a new discovery. I’m talking about Madison, Wisconsin based Vanishing Kids. They formed a few years back and released their debut in 2018 titled Heavy Dreamer. Five years later we got their sophomore effort Miracle Of Death, and folks, this one has blown me away.

In the band are:
Nikki Drohomyreky (vocals, organ, synthesizers)
Jason Hartman (guitars)
Jerry Sofran (electric bass)
Nick Ray Johnson (drums)
Guest:
Gavin Epperson (violin and viola)

What struck almost immediately when listening to Miracle Of Death is just how unique the band sounds. Sure, at its core this is doom metal, but there is so much more happening. Psychedelia, alternative, grunge, and dream rock can be heard in abundance with the band easily flowing between thundering moments of heaviness and dreamy atmospheric alternative rock. A case in point is the first track “Spill The Dark� beginning with slow and huge doom riffage and a sprinkling of chimes adding a mystical element. Soon a wall of fuzz develops, heavy and dramatic and when Nikki’s ethereal and dreamy vocal comes to fore the music takes on more atmosphere and mellowness. She has a wonderful voice, adding a sense of mysticism throughout the album. “Only You� begins with Johnson’s awesome groove and Hartman’s razor-like guitar riffs. It’s one part alternative and two parts grunge, but with a layer of sophistication with the song ending as the vocals and guitar come to a final crescendo. Hartman’s guitar is stellar here. With “Demon Glove� the organ drenched beginning has a gothic edge, supplemented with Epperson’s somber strings. Some wild fretwork and doomy riffs add to the menacing vibe in contrast to Nikki’s sublime vocals.

The band’s sense of melody shines through on “Midnight Children� and the menacing “Feral Angel�. The former unleashes slashing guitar riffs and organ, the sound gives off a heavy alternative vibe. The vocals are superb and I really dig the nuanced guitar fills rounding out the heavy riffs. With “Feral Angel� it’s back to dramatic doom, this one being a real scorcher.

For any fan of heavy rock and metal Miracle Of Death is an absolute must in your collection. A superb album and one I highly recommend!

Track Listing:
1. Spill The Dark
2. Only You
3. Demon Glove
4. Midnight Children
5. Feral Angel
6. For Lauren
7. To Dust

Added: March 9th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 300
Language: english

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