VELVET ACID CHRIST – Hex Angel (Utopia – Dystopia)

I could start this review with sociological treatise on public images, gossips and misconceptions. Couple of paragraphs could go about the scene, public relations and managements. Why here? Because Velvet Acid Christ album is to be dissected. You’ve probably heard stories about him. Not about his work, about him. Why there is not going to be such ‘introduction’? Because I am here to write about something more real and more serious. His work, not his image.

Mature work. Professional. Consistency in quality through the entire length of Bryan Erickson’s latest release. This album is not a dark Hollywood-entertainment type approach to death and deviance. Samples are not Brad Pitt’s delusional rants but atmospheric pictures, true elements of composition. “Hex Angel” will move Velvet Acid Christ out of that ‘infamous novelty’ shadow and finally prove that it is more than Industrial Drugs Death. And songs, while still retaining trademark concept, through meticulous production and improved sample integration sound serious and should be perceived seriously: as a story, as a complex perspective.
I don’t think that ‘Eva’ would have ‘worked’ on previous albums or it would have been taken too lightly. Here, on “Hex Angel”, it is perfect. A short confessional masterpiece with true poetry as a storyline. Honestly, I never expected such creation from Bryan Erickson. And there is more. Not like on previous works where we used to get two or three club killers, a couple of experiments and the rest was ‘just VAC’. Now, perhaps there are no super hits, but eleven high quality songs. Short flash of brilliance is replaced by hour long light of true substance. ‘Collapsed’, ‘Hypoxia’, ‘Convex’ – songs that demand attention, with hope that they represent a foundation of new, more solid phase of VAC. Interesting guitar sample on ‘Crawl’ adds another dimension to this work. Unfortunately, duo of fast paced tracks ‘Misery’ (non-Erickson music!) and ‘Dead Tomorrow’ do not make as strong impact as his recognizable, creeping music. That segment is simply unnecessary, it affects overall atmosphere of Utopia - Dystopia.

One other segment needs further inquiry – lyrics. Being known as skillful writer that uses picturesque lines, Bryan Erickson gave up descriptive style and used repeating segments. Deliberately?

Speaking of pictures, another thing worth of looking closely (full praise to duo of Shawn Gaddy and Morgan Perkins!) is album’s artwork, which is truly that, an artwork – gloomy gruesomeness is still present, but this time has more depth than a poster for teenage horror film. Disturbing but not just visually, their (imaginative) stories hurt as well.

There was a band that was able to present negative side of psyche better than Velvet Acid Christ. Dassing brothers’ focus on dark collective mind is still unmatched. Erickson puts attention on personal demons and deadly drives and with this album goes further than before, getting near to creating true art. Somehow, now, his words are not just fictitious account. Maybe, after four albums, we will finally take him for real, not for granted.
Many reviews gave previous VAC releases grade this high for innovation, wicked musical appeal and bloody taste. “Hex Angel” will get HYSTERIA for maturity, sharp production and for being really, truly, deadly serious.