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Vice Dolls

Die Trying (2004)
Crosscheck Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 8th 2004

After receiving so many albums in the mail, you’d think I would have honed the art of judging a book by its cover fairly well by now. I thought the same thing, until this album sent my whole world crashing down. Well, ok, that’s a gross overstatement if I’ve ever written one, but the contents of this album did come as a bit of a surprise. When seeing the name Vice Dolls, and then looking closely at the cover art, I was getting ready to hear some street punk. Instead, I got some female-fronted hardcore. Weird.

The Vice Doll’s sound isn’t all that polarizing or unusual, they throw in hints of melody, as well as some heavy riffing, and some shout along choruses. Really, their music doesn’t at all deviate from that of many bands playing this style. But what will likely make or break this band for a lot of people is the vocals. Personally, I think Carrie Nance has an interesting voice, and I’d take her unique delivery over some low grunting nonsense any day. Her voice really adds a different dimension to this release, and almost certainly will grab the listener’s attention. To reiterate, the music is good, if typical, but the vocals are what will make people take notice. I’ve seen some mixed reviews, and while I will concede that Nance should avoid singing, the energy with which she barks out the lyrics is infectious.

So, I’d definitely recommend checking this out, but it’s likely to turn some people off immediately. I listened to this album quite a bit at work, and it did what no caffeine-enhanced drink could, it kept me awake. It’s energetic, it’s aggressive, it’s fun to listen to, there aren’t really any glaring flaws in this album, but there’s still room for improvement.

Killing Words MP3

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Anonymous (August 15, 2004)

love the album keep it up

Brad Addickt

lushj (June 13, 2004)

I was disappointed by the singer's lack of variety in her delivery. The music is pretty by-the-numbers yet enjoyable. I agree, maybe their sophmore release will be more dynamic.

By the way, Vice Squad and the Toy Dolls have NOTHING to do with this band. Even less than the New York Dolls. Weird comment, that name thing.

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

Yes, because I'm sure those were the only two bands to ever use the words "vice" and "dolls" in their band name. Jackass.

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

retarded. "ooh I'm gonna make my band name out of two awesome British punk bands tha in the end willt sound worse than both of the originals."

Anonymous (June 10, 2004)

i actually dont think its that bad...sounds like old stretch arm strong

sincerelyme (June 9, 2004)

Her voice is whiney. The only song I've heard which succesfully uses a female for hardcore is Racecar Theory by Cast Aside. When she screams in that it's sublime.

Anonymous (June 8, 2004)

Good review, though he seems to like the vocals a bit more than I do. I think the music is extremely tight and punishing, if not a bit generic, but the vocals unfortunately are below average and change little from song to song. But I'm sure someone will totally dig this.

Asger (June 8, 2004)

Yeah the guy who said dumbass is the fucking dumbass inhere dumbass motherfucker shut the fuck up...

btw this band certanly have qualities, maybe when they grow a little there sound will develop in a exciting direction...

And to the dumbass : "You fucking lousy old rotten dumbass lick my ill smelling sac'o nuts whiney bitch"

Anonymous (June 8, 2004)

"looking closely at the cover art, I was getting ready to hear some street punk. Instead, I got some female-fronted hardcore"

That's what I was referring to, maybe I am a dumbass, but please explain to me how I'm misreading it then if you will.

Anonymous (June 8, 2004)

That's what he fuckin said dumbass.

Anonymous (June 8, 2004)

That album screams hardcore to me actually, not street punk at all, good review though.