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If you find yourself short of high-octane European-flavoured modern metalcore, right now there is noone I would recommend more than Vicious Rain. Swizerland might not be the primary spot for contemporary metal discovery, but Arising Empire certainly is, and the label have backed the Baden-based band since their huge debut single 'The Devil & Lovers'. Just two years since their innception, we now get to experience talent and determination of a promising young act that is only getting started with the exemplary genre classic that is their stellar first studio record There Is Beauty In Letting Go.
At this point there is not much else to tell about Vicious Rain, other than repeat that they make truly captivating modern alternative metalcore, and already deserve a spot at the biggest stages. The band consists of David Häusermann (vocals), Mauro Gugerli (vocals, guitar), Tristan Meier (guitar), Loris De Notaristefano (bass) and Michael Teufelberger (drums), and describe their sound as "combining influences as intertwined singing/screaming vocals – with a pinch of hope-infused singalongs, screaming melodic leads topped with crushing breakdowns – embracing everything from the heavy side of the genre all the way to the more intimate melodic side", and this is everything we need to know to dive deeper.
To start off, There Is Beauty In Letting Go does not reinvent the wheel and definitely isn't groundbreaking in any shape or form. Instead, it explores the best sides of the contemporary metal scene and interprets them in a fresh and authentic manner. There is not a single sign of pretence or hesitation, only a concise and purposeful delivery that would definitely appeal to anyone looking for a new and reinvigorated take on a favourite sound. Energetic, deliberate, balanced, Vicious Rain appear confident and free in what they do, and although they might not be ready to top charts or dominate the wider media just yet, they surely are to be considered as one of the biggest breakout act for 2024.
Personally, I am struggling to find faults that need addressing and already have eight tracks out of ten on daily repeat. If I have to be really picky, the opening 'Dead End' and closing title track fall a bit behind in pace and mood in comparison with the other songs, but the rest quickly raise the heat and this is more a question of track order and personal preference than actual flaw for everything else is impecable. The huge chorus in 'Blackout', the raging collab in 'Hysteria', the atmosphere of 'Crown Of Thorns', the electrifying charge of 'Nothing Left', the driven riffage of 'Like A Nightmare', the unforgettable hooks of 'Shadow Dancer', all key parts of the great picture that is There Is Beauty In Letting Go.
With a record like this out in the world, Vicious Rain now face a bigger yet better problem to have - where do you go from here? Such solid debut raises expectations and demands for the future and some bands crumble under the pressure, so the key moment here will be how they top this off. The Swiss hopefulls have the backing, foundation and talent to go much bigger very quick, and for the sake of the local scene and the diversity of the genre in general, I do hope we get to see a sophomore record that is even more deliberate, concise and punching as There Is Beauty In Letting Go.
Vicious Rain - 'There Is Beauty In Letting Go'
Country: Switzerland
Released: 11 October 2024
Label: Arising Empire
Tracklisting:
1. Dead End
2. Blackout
3. Hysteria (ft. Half Me)
4. Play Pretend
5. Crown Of Thorns
6. Nothing Left
7. Like A Nightmare
8. Shadow Dancer
9. The Devil & Lovers
10. There Is Beauty In Letting Go
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