Released: Apr 1, 2008
Genre: Deathcore / Progressive
Label: Sumerian Records
Number Of Tracks: 10
The breakdowns on The Collapse Of The Common Man are very catchy and original, each of them are introduced well and fit with the songs as a whole.
The Common Man's Collapse
Reviewed by:
XenititesX, on march 24, 2009 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Sound: I first heard of VoM when I started listening to Born Of Osiris. Everyone said VoM was 10 times better and much more technical. In some cases, they were spot on. But also they were not. I purchased the album about a week ago and it hasn't left my CD player. I enjoy the album very much, they sound great and the mix appears to be spot on. They only have one guitarist, yet he records multiple tracks and harmonies throughout. As for the drummer, he's a very standard deathcore drummer with his blast beats and various fast sections, which brings me to my next point, the breakdowns. The breakdowns on "The Collapse Of The Common Man" are very catchy and original, each of them are introduced well and fit with the songs as a whole. Now, the guitar playing. The guitarist in VoM is a very talented guitarist. Sweeping when necessary and never overdoing it. Like challenging riffs and time signatures throughout. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics on "The Collapse Of The Common Man" are your pretty straight forward deathcore lyrics. For example, on the track "It's Not Safe To Swim Today" he says "it's not safe to swim today, this shallow water is my grave" and "I knew this would be hell but it's not living". But aside from the sub-par lyrics, the vocalist is a very good screamer. His highs and lows differ throughout the CD and fit very well with the music // 7
Impression: Veil Of Maya doesn't have the most original sound and aren't really anything groundbreaking. Sounding a lot like bands such as Born Of Osiris and The Faceless. Overall, some of the best songs are "It's Not Safe To Swim Today", "Pillars", "We Bow In It's Aura" and "Entry Level Exit Wounds". If this CD were stolen, I'd give whoever did it a pat on the back for their good taste in bands and go buy another. // 9
The Common Man's Collapse
Reviewed by:
champayne, on march 26, 2009 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: I've been stumbling upon Veil Of Maya time upon time, but I've never took much interest. I've been a deathcore fan for a while, but it got way too repetitive, and I lost interest. When I picked up this album, I was amazed at how much it was different it was from other deathcore bands. It was head and shoulders over most of it's competition. The songs actually differ from one another, it's technical without sounding completely random, and it's melodic and brutal at the same time. It's just perfect. Everything is memorable. The sick tone of the guitar from Wounds, the melodic high riffs of It's Not Safe to Swim Today, and We Bow in It's Aura is probably my favorite song, I just can't even describe it. I also enjoy how they sometimes spice up the breakdowns with some background riffs, sometimes with a sick tone that makes it impossible to stop listen to. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: There lyrics are a bit above standard, but they're still nothing special. The themes vary and are once again better than the normal -core lyrics. Some of the lines rhyme and sound really good put together, like from Entry Level Exit Wounds,
"Just wait there's more.
More from this whore?
Oh yes, there is...
She ruined her kids."
The lyrics are decent, the parts I can understand atleast. I'll leave the rest for the eggheads. // 8
Impression: Veil Of Maya is hard to find these days, but wherever I do find it, it is critically acclaimed. I hope someday that they can be widely recognized for death metal bands. I think that some bands that are hogging up the spotlight are undeserving. Veil Of Maya has at least twice the talent, catchiness, and lyrics of most of those bands. I would definitely recommend this to any extreme metal band fan, deathcore or not. I hope to expect more material from this amazing band. // 9
The Common Man's Collapse
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on july 15, 2009 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: From the second I heard VOM I fell in love. "The Common Man's Collapse" is undoubtedly one of the most original cd's you will hear. The guitarist, Marc Okubo, is extremely talented. I myself am a guitarist of 11 years, and the technicality of the song "It's Not Safe To Swim Today" blew me away when I learned to play it. The drummer is also very talented as evidenced in songs like "We Bow in it's Aura" and It's Not Safe To Swim Today." The ability of the guitarist and the drummer to work together is evidenced beautifully in the song "Pillars" as they switch between the two instruments with precision timing. The bassist (former guitarist of Born of Osiris) is also a pretty talented one. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics of the album, I think are quite a bit better than most deathcore screamers who basically just talk about, raping and pillaging in all their songs. Brandon switches between piercing high screams and incredibly low, deep, growls. His varied vocal skills fit the band's amazingly heavy, yet wonderfully melodic music perfectly. // 10
Impression: VOM has been compared with Born of Osiris a lot, and I agree that they sound somewhat similar to their significantly less skilled peers, although if you want to talk about copying sounds, VOM released their first album in 2006, whereas BOO released theirs in 2007. This is by far the best album I own, if it were stolen I'd buy it again before I took another breath. // 10
These guys need to learn what it means to write as a whole, for a whole. The vocalist is very monotone, and the drums are mixed WAY too high.
This is proof that good players can't always write good albums. I do enjoy a few tracks off of this CD, such as 'It's Not Safe To Swim Today', but there's not much here for people looking for tasteful writing and playing.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that while this band may sound different and original at first, it won't take long for any person to see that Veil Of Maya is just another Sumerian band. You said that they sound similar to Born Of Osiris and The Faceless. Good Call. These bands are also on the Sumerian label. The guitar player from The Faceless is actually the guy who mixed this mess.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that while this band may sound different and original at first, it won't take long for any person to see that Veil Of Maya is just another Sumerian band. You said that they sound similar to Born Of Osiris and The Faceless. Good Call. These bands are also on the Sumerian label. The guitar player from The Faceless is actually the guy who mixed this mess.
I can see how Michael Keene might not be the best at mixing since I doubt he's had much practice.
but what I really want to say is wouldn't it make sense for a fairly new record label to pick up similar bands? I mean, haven't all record labels done that? Find a band that sells, and try to find similar bands that will sell as well? I like all the bands you listed, and I can see how they're similar, but they are still pretty unique in their own way.
I've seen these guys live and they played extremely well. I think they're pretty original but stay well within the deathcore genre. The guitarist is quite talented and the vocalist has a great scream. Also this is their first album so I'm expecting good things from them in the future.
I would call this album kinda mediocre. Although i do like a couple of the songs I can't find myself constantly listening to them like I did with Born of Osiris, The Faceless, or After the Burial. I think they tried to isolate every instrument too much and ended up not getting a very full sound. I know it's kinda cool that they only have one guitarist but it kinda shows when all the second guitar plays on the recording is harmonizing riffs. I think they need a second guitarist for a seperate creative flow and a possibility of a lot of cooler riffs. The bassist seems non-existent and the drums are almost louder everything. Michael Keene needs some more practice on mixing before he starts lending everyone his services.
These guys need to learn what it means to write as a whole, for a whole. The vocalist is very monotone, and the drums are mixed WAY too high.
This is proof that good players can't always write good albums. I do enjoy a few tracks off of this CD, such as 'It's Not Safe To Swim Today', but there's not much here for people looking for tasteful writing and playing.
Get you a good sound system with a subwoofer... the bass drum kicks SOOOO hard. One of the many things I love about these guys
This is proof that good players can't always write good albums. I do enjoy a few tracks off of this CD, such as 'It's Not Safe To Swim Today', but there's not much here for people looking for tasteful writing and playing.
Get you a good sound system with a subwoofer... the bass drum kicks SOOOO hard. One of the many things I love about these guys
I listen to all my music through my blue sky studio monitors and veil is always fun cause they bump so hard. Don't use computer speakers, your getting jipped.
well not everyone has a good sound system even when they are not listening to the music through computer speakers. tbh the bass drums might sound good with the bass turned all the way up but the bass drum is ridiculously clicky sounding otherwise. I think michael keene notices that a decent amount of these bands are taking a little of The Faceless' style so he purposefully mixes their stuff worse so as to make people lean more towards The Faceless
well not everyone has a good sound system even when they are not listening to the music through computer speakers. tbh the bass drums might sound good with the bass turned all the way up but the bass drum is ridiculously clicky sounding otherwise. I think michael keene notices that a decent amount of these bands are taking a little of The Faceless' style so he purposefully mixes their stuff worse so as to make people lean more towards The Faceless
well not everyone has a good sound system even when they are not listening to the music through computer speakers. tbh the bass drums might sound good with the bass turned all the way up but the bass drum is ridiculously clicky sounding otherwise. I think michael keene notices that a decent amount of these bands are taking a little of The Faceless' style so he purposefully mixes their stuff worse so as to make people lean more towards The Faceless
Blamefail. That theory is ridiculous.
ridiculous or not, michael keene is an awful producer and should stick to playing with the faceless.
I've seen these guys live and they played extremely well. I think they're pretty original but stay well within the deathcore genre. The guitarist is quite talented and the vocalist has a great scream. Also this is their first album so I'm expecting good things from them in the future.
It's not their first album. Their first album was All Things Set Aside, which nobody bothered to review, and they have another album out now, [id].
i like veil of maya a lot and i think marc is one of the sickest players in modern metal, but has anyone else noticed a lot of veil of maya's stuff is a chain of 16th notes, he also has repeated idea's in his songs like the triplet down strokes on resistance and conquer. none the less i still like the music they make and find nothing wrong with the mix.
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