It was a huge shame when Fei Comodo died a death in 2012, nearly nine years after their first formation; they were a talented bunch and the underground music scene seemed a little bit emptier without them and their name appearing on a tour or festival poster. However, on the back of this, vocalist Marc Halls and Will Thompson immediately bounced back and created Hey Vanity, and since their birth, they’ve been touring up and down the country, delivering their rough-and-ready post-hardcore and (albeit diluted) punk rock music to the masses.
In the short two years that they’ve been around, Hey Vanity have done incredibly well for themselves – touring alongside bands like Don Broco and The Swellers, they’ve also released their mini-album ‘Breathe, Bleed, Grow’ in 2012 and, more recently, their full-length release ‘Blindfolds’ via Small Town Records.
‘Blindfolds’ is full of raw energy, which is evident from the opening chords of ‘Wordly Possessions’ – huge riffs explode with frenetic power, whilst Hall’s intense vocals are reminiscent of those that belong to Lower Than Atlantis frontman, Mike Duce. Soaring riffs and catchy hooks make ‘Some May Say’ an instant standout track, while ‘Keep Your Shoulders Cold’ is a raw, visceral track.
‘Broken Artist’ cranks up the energy levels, with intense adrenaline and gritty riffs that are simply amplified when the rip-roaring ‘Old at Heart’ kicks in. The colossal ‘Fun & Games’ ends this album with a bang, marking the end of this tremendous effort – it’s evident that the previous years of touring and recording have been well utilised to produce such a considerable release.
It’s an incredibly strong and stellar release, but it sadly seems that ‘Blindfolds’ may not yet be that stepping stone that Hey Vanity are looking for to gain that much desired upward spring. With the recent wave of new pop-rock bands that are taking the UK by storm, this Chelmsford quartet have been left lagging behind in the dust slightly as these guys have been overlooked by many potential fans.
However, saying that, the talent that the guys in Hey Vanity possess is astounding and they definitely blow many up-and-coming bands well and truly out of the water. It’s only a matter of time before they receive the attention and hype they’re due.
JESS TAGLIANI