VICEPIRATE are:
Tristan - Guitar / Vocals, Alex - Guitar / Vocals, Steve - Bass / Vocals, Paul - Drums
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BLUNT Issue #67
RAZORCAKE Issue #45
PEE #42
Bombshellzine
Die Shellsuit, Die! Webzine [UK]
Sic Zine [USA]
Subba-Cultcha [UK]
The Dwarf
www.myspace.com
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VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
One of the best Pee Records releases yet, VICEPIRATE are a 'punk rock band' from Adelaide with enough melody to be likeable but also enough technicality and discordant chords to meet the demands of punk kids looking for more substance. While I don't think this will be on everyone's favourite list, it should be, because this is a demonstration of what passionate music is about. This CD is undeniably Australian - think Away From Now and Daysworth Fighting - mixed in with a bit of Hot Cross. From start to finish this CD keeps you interested and guessing for all the right reasons. LC
7/10
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
These guys sound a lot like Rise Against, which would be okay in my book, but add in some more technical bits (a la latter Strung Out) and it can start to lurch precariously between being good, like Smoke Or Fire, or bad, like Paramore. My main problem with the band lies in the fact that I can't get into the vocalist, who has too much of the nu-emo forced angst, bordering-on-whiny sound going on for my taste. I guess, given the right circle, these guys could get big, but I'm not feeling it too much.
Review by: Adrian
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
Vice Pirate are a young Adelaide band (don’t hold that against them lololol etc) pumping out some solid emotipunk like a skittish Daysworth Fighting, and Discovering the Origins of Language is their terribly named but fuckin decent debut. Making Rise Against look like hacks, the boys have delivered a potent collection of corkers right here. The vocals could do with a bit of cleaning up, but screamonies are really fuckin hard to record well and the guts more than compensate for the few sketchy moments. The guitars are doing some real spacey shit mixed with break-ya-neck noodles, and I hope that develops a bit on their next release cos it’s one of their strongest attributes. Overall, a damn promising EP-album-thing loaded with passion - even if it hasn’t been focused yet. Get it, get excited, go see ‘em live.
Rating: 84
Review by: Ash
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
I reckon a few years ago these guys were listening to The Movielife, a lot. Not a bad thing of course, because they have been one of the most underrated bands in the last decade and no-one has really tried to continue on the sounds they left us. Well these Adelaide lads seem to borrow some of those ideas and crush them into their punk / hardcore style that's laid down on this 7 track EP. If you like your punk rock fast, loaded with frantic vocals and a little left of the same old chords then check these guys out. The EP is a nice mix of tunes, no two sounding the same as the band isn't afraid to dabble around with ideas to give them a sound rarely heard from an Aussie band.
4/5
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
If I said to you "I’ve just discovered this band that mix melodic, West Coast punk with ATDI style, left-field introspection, and they’re from Australia!" You would probably tell me to go away and stop smoking crack. Well, I had laid of it for a few days to listen to this little curiosity.
On first listen, this debut EP from Vicepirate seems like it’s lost for what sort of sound it wants to be. It swings from West Coast melodi-punk ala Lagwagon, NOFX, Strung Out etc to ATDI, Refused style atmospherics. As jarring as that sounds (And believe me, it is on first listen) it does click after some listening. The speedy, melodic punk parts work as launchways almost, into the more cerebral sections.
“Fuck The Green....” is the introduction into this more left-field aspect of the bands sound. It’s part Fall Of Troy part Lagwagon. Weird but it does work. Mixing the rapid riffing and effects laden guitar picking has given the band an interesting dynamic to play around with. Of course it can come apart quite easily in a few places but it’s a debut. With some stronger tracks and a push I reckon the next release will be something worth listening out for.
We rate this: 6 out of 10
by Oliver Turner
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
Vice Pirate has a very interesting background to their name; essentially vice pirates was the term used for the idellwiss pirates who were a group of revolutionaries in nazi Germany who spread banned material and literature that spook out against the atrocities of the nazi regime. Eventually they all got hung for treason. Now that is a truly fitting name for a punk minded band, never back down from your beliefs, even in the face of death.
So with such a sweet name they have a set the bar high for this listener. Luckily these Adelaide, Australian natives deliver some extremely powerful and memorable punk rock that you could compare to the likes of Moneen, NOFX, and Gallows. But there is even more to be found here from this four piece. This is not your standard punk rock band, they list The Mars Volta and At The Drive In as major influences because as the band says, they are bands that you can't simply lump into any one genre and these guys show on this 7 song EP that they are not willing to align themselves within any one niche. And that is certainly refreshing.
I am very impressed with the quality of the recording, everything sounds so crystal clear, you can hear every note ring out in its entirety. There are different kinds of effects used throughout the disc but it's sparingly so it doesn't take away from the music itself. The bass tone is really lush and has plenty of room to breath in the mix. The guitar tone is nice and bright with a slight touch of distortion.
The layout is printed on recycled cardboard sleeve (which I'm always a fan of) with an image of a man staring out at the distance with a rainbow crossing his vision, that rainbow dominates the backside and is used to display the lyrics. My only gripe is that there isn't a lyric sheet included. I mean you can easily make out what the vocalist is saying but still, it'd be nice ya know?
Rating: 4/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Fuck The Green Mile, I'll Do It Myself and Forged Conviction
Synopsis: Got a lot more than I was expecting. The seven songs fly by faster than you'd like, leaving you wanting more. The song writing is exceptional and has a memorable quality, there's sweet bass lines, atmospheric layering, and soothing vocals. I would love to hear these guys on a full length!
Jeff Karbow
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
A frenetic mix of The Movielife‘s emo tinged, blunt hardcore, NOFX’s speed addled mindset & performed with the intensity of The Gallows. With it’s roots in hardcore, post-hardcore & pop-punk, but remaining uncommitted to each style it’s a refreshing mix of style and passion!
(J.C)
VICE PIRATE - Discovering The Origin of Language
I don't like Vicepirate. I'm sorry, I just don't. I've got no real reason not to like them, I jut don't. They've go a solid punky sound, but I can't find anything on their cd to really appreciate.
The lyrics are lacklustre. The vocals are mediocre. The band sounds fine, but nothing they do will cause you to soil yourself with surprise, excitement or alarm. I wasn’t impressed by them at all. The songs on the cd are a conglomeration of undistinguishable averageness.
Unfortunately for Vicepirate, I think that they must have caught me on a particularly bad day. Normally I eat this kind of thing up and ask for seconds. Today however, I’m not feeling the love.
The EP feels like it’s over before it’s even begun. It kind of hurtles in and then hurtles back on out. If it were the bad guy in an old western, he wouldn’t even have to time to challenge the local sheriff to a pistol duel. I sense that the reason for this is that the songs are a gluggy pot of sameness.
I have nothing more to say that might even be vaguely productive.
Sorry.
Steph "I do love Operator Please. I think they’re magic. Crazy sexy and just brilliant" Maker