Vangough's first album, Manikin Parade, is one of the finest debut releases of recent years. It is the perfect amalgamation of complex song structures, melodic and multi-angled vocal parts, intense instrumentation, and powerful lyrics. After Manikin Parade, Vangough put out the instrumental album, Game On, which saw them interpreting video game music in their own progressive mindset, but I wouldn't really call it a studio album.
So now they've released Kingdom of Ruin, the ambitious two-part album that is designed in the typical dark/light fashion, with the first half being significantly heavier and darker. The arrangements are labyrinthine and complex, rife with crunch-filled guitar workout. Densely layered key motifs creep mistily into the mix, underscoring the songs' most pivotal moments as well as Clay Withrow's emotive vocals. On some songs, the vocals seem to be deliberately mixed a little higher in order to shine more prominently, especially following the intense instrumental breakdowns. That is why the 'choruses' of "Choke Faint Drown" and "Abandon Me" stand out better, given the pulverizing guitar riffs dominating the entire mix. However, there is plenty of room for sublime acoustic guitars, insane drum parts, rapid-fire vocal attacks, and melodic guitar solos.
It's not all mindless shred and full-on aggression, though. "Drained" juxtaposes heavy passages with crystalline vocal lines, setting them against a powerful guitar arrangement and a classic rock-like guitar solo. This is the band at their creative best. The song retains its heavy and melodic focus throughout while constantly bringing in new elements, and the melodies are awesome. The vocals in the title track are out of this world. Withrow sings over a simple piano theme and crippling guitar crescendo, utilizing his theatrical style. The synth tone achieved here is hypnotically beautiful, too.
The other half of the album sees the band toning things down in favour of more symphonic progressive rock. Actually, at first, this was meant to be Clay Withrow's second solo album (if you haven't heard his first one, Dissonance Rising, yet, you should, by the way), but they decided to combine them so as to give the album a redeeming quality. This is the concept album in which the 'rabbit kingdom' is possibly used as a metaphor for having to make important choices in our lives. Songs here are a lot slower paced, with instrumental parts bringing forth more focused melodic constructs, shifts in dynamics, and changes in tempo. The lullaby-like singing in the intro of "The Rabbit Kingdom" is possibly Withrow's finest moment yet. Strangely, I'd never listen to something like this, but on this album it fits the flow perfectly. He does go back to his 'regular' singing halfway into the piece, delivering a heart-wrenching finale.
Most arrangements remind me of later-day Flower Kings as they weave upbeat melodies into otherwise complex threads of guitars and piano work. When they opt for heavier idioms like they do on "Requiem for a Fallen King," they also assign powerful blues-inflicted guitar solos to the compositions. The melodies cohere brilliantly, and the drumming serves as the foundation of the whole song. Ballads like "A Father's Love" and the beautifully arranged "Alice" are right up there with the band's "One Dark Birthday" off of their amazing debut, blending dark melodies with sublime pianos and acoustic guitars.
The production is quite similar to the first album. Actually the kick drum tone is identical, which is great. The mix was once again handled by Sterling Winfield while the songs were engineered and produced by Clay Withrow.
Kingdom of Ruin is a strong addition to Vangough's discography, but it's a step behind their amazing debut Manikin Parade for me.
Track Listing
- Disloyal
- Choke Faint Drown
- Abandon Me
- Drained
- Kingdom of Ruin
- Frailty
- The Transformation
- The Rabbit Kingdom
- Stay
- Sounds of Wonder
- A Father's Love
- Requiem for a Fallen King
- An Empire Shattered
- Alice
- The Garden Time Forgot
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