Spotlight - Black Veil Brides

One band that are getting a lot of exposure at the moment, and that have a huge buzz around them are Black Veil Brides. They are set to explode this year, and take themselves away from being a mere cult concern, and are heading straight for the big leagues of the rock world in the process.

They have been ones on the radar for quite some time, but I have never gotten round to really getting into their stuff. They have been making the right waves though in the scene, and they were apparently excellent as main support on the Murderdolls UK tour in February. A lot of reviews I have read have suggested that they not only gave the Murderdolls a solid run for their money, but on some occasions, they even managed to steal the show from the returning heroes, and the headliners.

They have been creating mass hysteria amongst the female contingent, with the emaciated and effeminate lead singer Andy Six becoming somewhat of a heart throb for adolescent teenage girls everywhere, much in the same way that Gerard Way spoke to a generation of teen girls nigh on 7 years ago, when My Chem first burst out of the underground and into the mainstream conscious.

From someone who was there back in the day when My Chem first started making waves, and showing signs of the huge band they were still to become, it is safe to say that Black Veil Brides are clearly on the way to replicating that level of success. They have an incredible “shlock-rock” look to them, adding a hint of the theatrical into their music, clearly influenced by the likes of Motley Crue, KISS, Alice Cooper, and all of those that have gone before them.

They have a penchant for a spot or two of the old makeup as well, including the old reliable “guy-liner” and have a pseudo-goth styling to them, which will spark a lot of interest in them. While some may direct the whole MCR “suicide cult” rubbish their way (Daily Mail, I am looking at you!) their styling will go a long way to getting them noticed, and, in much the same way as it did for the likes of KISS, and Slipknot, will do them no harm whatsoever in making them stand out, as the princes of the scene look to stake their claim over the coming months.

One thing’s for sure, and that is the world is certainly theirs for the taking right now. A high profile slot at this summers Download Festival could well be the making of them, and I am confident that they will be embarking on a headline run before the year is out. Cue mass hysteria, girls crying, and people sleeping outside venues, to get the chance to be front row for their heroes.

Looks aside though, they won’t be going anywhere without solid material to take with them. They are set to drop their sophomore record in the summer of this year, and will be a big indicator as to how big they can become. If the record is anywhere near as good as their debut, We Stitch These Wounds (see review below), then the sky really will be the limit. My Chem levels of fame await, and they could be the next big things, in the here and now.

As you will no doubt pick up from my review on their debut below, WSTW is a brilliant collection of tracks, all of which have a real quality to them, considering they have only actually been signed to a record deal since 2009. In such a short time, they have clearly come on leaps and bounds, and the album is full of anthems for the disaffected throughout. I can hardly pick a stand out as they are all so good, and BVB are clearly onto something here that could be a phenomenon. At times the debut sounds like Sevenfold, at times like Escape the Fate, and that is not bad company at all to be mixed in with. However, BVB are clearly their own band, and a unique proposition, not relying on copycat styles in the slightest. They have all the tools to be massive in their own right, and share the same levels of success enjoyed by those I have just mentioned.

I am looking forward to seeing how they fare in the live environment, something that can often make or break a band. It is still early, but they are about to make a huge splash, and become mega stars in the process.

Go see them in a tiny venue now while you get chance, because if all things go right for them, and indeed, the stars align (which is looking likely) you might just kick yourself at missing the chance.