Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Black Veil Brides
Title
Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones
Type
LP/EP
Company
Universal
YOR
2017
Style
Hard Rock
10/5/2013 - Review by: Eric Compton
Heavy metal opera
BanThe band broke into Billboard’s Top 20 with last record, ‘Set the World on Fire’, and follow-up that momentum with this heavy metal opera. After stints with Avenged Sevenfold, I can’t disagree with references to the Avenged sound. Loads of melody knits together groove-oriented wallops that simply progress the songs to the next “pop” chorus. It’s extremely accessible if you pick the album apart to find the hits. Already the album’s leading single, “In the End”, is soaring through various media video games, wrestling themes, etc. Producer John Feldmann (Escape the Fate, Atreyu, Saosin) knows exactly how to treat it. The strings aren’t terribly heavy and the percussion is closely tied to the rhythm without a lot of variance. Is it a good album? Absolutely, and there’s plenty to like and dislike over 19 songs. The concept involves a young girl who’s a fan of the band. Somehow, in a bit of murky lyrics, she’s playing out this apocalypse in her own mind (in a hospital) about rebels (wild ones) facing off against a totalitarian wing (F.E.A.R.). It ties into some biblical stuff, God in all of us, etc. You can immerse yourself into the storyline or just let it play. “I Am Bulletproof”, “In the End” and “We Don’t Belong” are modern hard rock staples with uber-clean vocals, positive lyrics and some bigger harmonized parts to preach the unity. Digging in deep there’s instrumentals, symphonic pieces and a good use of violin. With its size, I can dissect and place half the record on my BVB playlist. Like rock Gods before them, the album was made into a feature-length film called ‘Legion of the Black’.
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    4 :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: BLACK VEIL BRIDES
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Set The World On Fire
2011
Universal
Eric Compton9/30/2011
3.5
Vale
2018
Universal
Eric Compton3/2/2018
2.5
Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones
2017
Universal
Eric Compton10/5/2013
4

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: BLACK VEIL BRIDES
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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