Friday March 29th 2024

Villain – “Funeral Recession”

ww

Villain – “Funeral Recession”

 

Now, this band is called Villain. I know, I know, that’s the bad guy. But I think of the poet Villon. Francois Villon is the best known French poet of the Middle Ages. He was born in 1431 and disappeared in 1463, right around the time I was born

He was a ne’er do well who was involved in criminal behavior. A thief at one time, which was one of my occupations, as well. And he might’ve been a murderer, too.

But how does this relate to the band Villain? The hardcore band from Western Mass. The superb hardcore band from Western Mass.

Well, Francois Villon came to me in a dream to beseech me to review them and I told him to fuck off- “Fock, off, France-wah,” I said to him. But then I did see them opening up for Biohazard a few months after and I was duly impressed. And then I contacted Villon and said I would as long as he did the second half of the review. Contracts were then drawn up and signed.

Villain plays straight ahead hardcore with no frills attached. Heavy, with politically-social comments but not the New York metal influenced kind. They remind me of Disaster Strikes a little, but they have their own unique style which I think is great.

Let’s check out some tunes:

A drum roll, some smashing guitars, a grunt and then the drummer setting up an energetic beat, impatiently waiting with the stuttering guitar for all to join in starts off “Debt Nature.” (Which features the members of Colin Of Arabia on group vocals). “Where do we go to save our souls. To save our dreams?” When everyone finally decides to play, this song explodes in excitement and frustration, desire and despair. “Cut your loses/ Kill your bosses/ Smash the State…Everything is fine/ We’re totally fucked.” A chugging guitar and group vocals leads us towards doomsday but with a really great song to go out with.

Four guitar chords followed by a drum roll starts out “Intro (Survival 101)”. Once the drums start pounding four to the floor the vocals commence to kick the doors down. This is a straight ahead, intense and powerful short song or maybe it’s a raw nerve exposed or even just a blast of energy and pain. “Do what you have to do to survive/ The world is full of vultures/ They’d rather see you die.”

While true it’s also true this song is a winner.

Some doom-y sustained guitar chords and the drums answering with some fine, hot steaming rolls- starts off the beginning of “Acceptable Losses.” After a pause and a formidable drum roll bringing the song forward we then crash into a fast, hardcore tirade. The song races forward with the drums chopping and a second low guitar line joining along. This continues towards an intense breakdown using the beginning as a frame. An excellent song.

“Fuck The Hype” starts with “Oh” shouted and then a stop and go beat that chops away but stands clear as the buzz-saw guitars topples trees. Then some slow minor key metal chords spring out like a switchblade before the vocals enter as the tempo accelerates to hyper space. “One thing I’ll never get/ Is that having more fun gives you more respect.” The guitars grind, the vocals are hard and clear while the drums wallop away. “I’m sick of the scene that’s telling me how to live…Who you try to portray/ Isn’t who you fuckin’ are.” This song is full of energy, passion and venom and like the drums pack a wallop.

I know when a hustler rattles on/ I know fools raised on whipped cream/ I know the wine by the barrel/ I know everything but myself- Francois Villon.

I am a dead Frenchman. In my time I was accused of being a murderer, I most certainly was a thief. I barely lived three decades but my work survived. Just like in your day, the important works of beauty, works of passion, truth and art- survive.

Will this band Villain, who your jocular writer Slimedog confuses with me, survive? I do not know. But I can tell you this, that the music they play, the words they write, the emotions and ideas they express will survive and live on in others, as it has before them. For they speak the truth, just like I did at one time. And though my lips do not move anymore, I tell you this, I hear them in my soul.

I die of thirst besides the fountain…In my own country I’m in a distant land/ Beside the blaze I’m shivering in flames/ Naked as a worm, dressed like a President…I cheer up in sad hopelessness/ I’m joyful and no pleasures anywhere/ I’m powerful and lack all force and strength / Warmly welcomed, always turned away

I’m sure of nothing but what is uncertain…Doubt nothing but the certainties/ Knowledge to me is mere accident/ I keep winning and remain the loser…I never work yet I labor to acquire goods I don’t even want…The people who harm me think they help/ Lies and truth today I see they’re one/ I remember everything/ My mind’s blank…Warmly welcomed, always turned away- Francois Villon.

(Frankie Villon)

Related Tags: ,

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More from category

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”
Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”   Every New York band that TNB has written about in [Read More]

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”
Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”   I recently saw Miracle Blood perform for [Read More]

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”
Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”   One of my favorite things about writing about bands and [Read More]

Triggered – “Piss You Off”
Triggered – “Piss You Off”

Triggered – “Piss You Off”   Triggered is a fairly new band upon the local Boston scene. I [Read More]

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”
A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”   A lot of people rightly accuse TNB as being “a [Read More]

Insider

Archives