Album Review: The Vicious Head Society – Extinction Level Event (Hostile Media)

Extinction Level Event; one could say this long awaited title reveal of the forthcoming album from The Vicious Head Society today is quite apt given what the world has endured the last year or more. At a time of uncertainty, Irish guitar virtuoso Graham Keane, the brainchild behind The Vicious Head Society, has been hunkered down like the most of us. However, while some of us were taking up new hobbies or ploughing through documentaries, and binge-watching boxsets, one of us has been quietly fine tuning his latest epic for an exciting unveil on May 28th 2021 via Hostile Media and will be available on CD, digitally and as part of a special limited edition ‘Time Capsule’ box set.

Graham discusses his new album:

In very basic terms, Extinction Level Event is an album about the end of the world. This is a concept that has been explored in various other forms of media but on this album, I wanted to explore personal stories about how people might react to knowing their demise is imminent.

It tells the stories of 7 different people facing the end, how they process the event, what meaning or impact their lives have had. It asks what they cherish, what grudges or ill will they hold on to. Will they face the end with dignity? Essentially, the album asks the same question of us, the listener. Grief and loss are never far away… are we willing to carry bitterness, anger and resentment to our death or are we willing to let go? Conversely, are there people in our lives that are deserving of forgiveness?

What would do if you knew the world was about to end? Would you take it as an opportunity to do things clean of guilt? Would you dedicate your time to your loved ones or go on one final, wild ride of excessiveness? It’s a question everyone has asked themselves at one time or another with varying answers. The truth is, no-one would know what they would do until the situation was set in front of them as reality.

The reality is Extinction Level Event from The Vicious Head Society. A 9-track grandiose progressive heavy metal album that is all about the guitar while delivering a sense of impending doom. Perfectly encapsulated by effects, orchestration and a wild array of guitar-led tricks. Epic is the understatement as The Vicious Head Society take us on a journey that has a ton of progressive elements but is undoubtedly a heavy metal album.

Don’t think for a second that The Vicious Head Society isn’t capable of going very heavy when needed. At times, delving into the death metal bag of tricks for some guttural noise. At others, the feeling of yester-year trad metal is prominent but the overall sense is one of progressive wonder. No two tracks sound the same. There’s a constant flurry of insane guitar trickery, epic soloing, thumping metal rhythm and mournful vocals that can hit truly guttural depths when needed.

It is very impressive but what is more impressive than most is that The Vicious Head Society has managed to express the stories set out in the concept. Each track feels like a spectacular retelling of an individual’s end times tale. That is no easy task at all and makes Extinction Level Event all the more striking.

The Vicious Head Society – Extinction Level Event Full Track Listing:

1. Extinction Level Event
2. Solipsism
3. The Signal
4. Judgement
5. Throes of Despair
6. YP138
7. On a Silver Thread
8. Absolution
9. Hymn of Creation

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