Album Review: VEXED – Culling Culture

May 21, 2021 | Reviewed By Nick Davarias

It’s been an impressive start to VEXED’s journey into the metal scene and with that has come huge expectations for the band’s debut album ‘Culling ‘Culture’. With the debut single for the album ‘Hideous’ already having over 200,000 streams on Spotify alone, I think it’s safe to say VEXED has got our attention. I’ve been eagerly anticipating this release for quite some time now so without further delay, Here are my thoughts on VEXED’s ‘Culling Culture’.

Sirens ring out over an ominous instrumental before the heavy-hitting instrumental hits in ‘Ignorant’. The song is a short opening to the album that flows seamlessly into the track ‘Hideous’. Boasting a plethora of heavy riffs from Jay Bacon on guitar and some gnarly percussive sections from Willem Mason-Geraghty, the song is an absolute beast. It’s a great choice to have opening the album as it gives you a pretty good impression of what you can expect from VEXED. This is followed by the atmospheric ‘Fake’. The band establish that they will say what they want when they want early on in the album and this track is a prime example of that. You can really hear the passion and emphasis behind Megan Targett’s lyrics which adds a level of relatability to the music.

‘Epiphany’ was the first track I had heard from this new album and I was instantly hooked. The switches from Clean and guttural vocals from Megan is almost addicting to listen to. It’s one of those songs that as soon as you hear it, you know it’s going to be a banger. I highly recommend this track! So, if you’re into neck-snapping basslines, Al Harper has you covered in the form of ‘Misery’, the song is held together by his contagious bassline and it gives the track that extra bit of oomph. Not to mention that this track has some of the catchiest riffs on the entire album.

If heavy is what you want, then ‘Narcissist’ is what you need. Opening with a vocal assault from Megan accompanied by a brutal as hell instrumental. This is the kind of track that will have fans moshing themselves into the ground. I have absolutely no doubt that this will quickly become a fan favourite and I cannot wait until VEXED get the chance to unleash this one live. Continuing down the heavier side, ‘Weaponize’ opens with an atmospheric intro that is ambushed by an onslaught of brutal proportions. Without question, this song became my favourite track on the entire album after my first playthrough. The song’s natural flow is impressive to hear, and the band seem to nail their parts perfectly. What a track!

A more accessible track in ‘Purity’ follows and it’s a great example of how VEXED haven’t put all their eggs into one basket and have proven that they can rock multiple styles. The more melodic nature of the guitar throughout the track is a nice contrast to what has been heard previously and it is further complemented by Megan’s vocals once again. If you’re looking for a gateway song into heavier bands, this would be a great choice for you! Next up is the track ‘Drift’. A short little instrumental track that does a great job of mellowing the mood to transition into the final two tracks.

‘Aurora’ will certainly catch people off guard as it opens with a vastly different style to what you’ve heard thus far. I found that the track sounds similar to many architects songs and it works with the band’s style. This track allows you to hear just how talented the band are as it highlights each member beautifully. From Jay’s more technical playing to Megan’s cleans being given a spotlight during this track. I think it’s safe to say that VEXED are not one-trick ponies.

So how do you finish an album that has already surpassed many’s expectations? ‘Lazarus’ is the answer! The song features a natural blend of everything VEXED have tried throughout this album and it culminates in one hell of a memorable song. Awesome riffs and head-splitting percussion carries the song into a league of its own. What a way to finish the band’s debut album!

VEXED are one of the hottest commodities in the UK metal scene right now and they have exceeded everyone’s expectations with this album. They are a needed breath of fresh air into the scene and I think the sky is the limit for the up and coming band. You have got to check this album out for yourself and make sure to keep a close eye on VEXED.

We recently got the chance to catch up with Megan Targett and discussed the album, future plans for that band and more! Check out the interview here!

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