ALBUM REVIEW: Deadly Sins And Virtues – Webb
What makes an album progressive? The definition of the word is something that happens in stages or develops gradually, which could be said for a lot of the progressive rock and metal bands. A lot of them, like RUSH and TOOL, utilise different time signatures and weave many musical layers upon syncopation and other complex rhythms. For the trio WEBB, they hope to expand on this style and their influences into their own commentary on society and its toxic nature. Throughout Deadly Sins And Virtues, the band explore the themes of good vs evil, seven deadly sins, and their relation to life within these nine tracks to deliver their own style and thoughts via music. Does the album stand up to the heavens or remain in musical purgatory?
As mentioned, WEBB have a number of influences that they build upon within each of the songs, like DISTURBED in Spread Your Wings, METALLICA in You’re Going Down and Don’t Ask Why, and TYPE O NEGATIVE in Hate. Whilst the influences are prevalent, it doesn’t deter from the intent and creativity the band deliver musically and lyrically. For example, with each song mentioned above, whilst each subgenre is recognisable, there are elements of tech and prog metal that take them to the next level to deliver the intent of the song. You’re Going Down, whilst a surprise from the moment it starts, gives a heavy sound that’s filled with great riffs, rhythms and sounds all around to deliver lyrics of resilience and fight with the right tone and punch in the vocals.
Standing on their own sound, songs like Keep Fighting, Can’t Break Me and closer Stay Alive continue this theme with fantastic rhythms across instrumentation that resembles djent and helps chug along each song. The lyrics, composed by Sonya Webb, are simplistic, depicting the raw core of the emotional weight of each song, and it’s pulled off effectively and exceptionally. It captures with honesty and earnestness the things that many people are feeling in this day and age. The words resonate with the listener without disguising or camouflaging them, which helps balance the song against the more complex rhythms and not overload each track and moment. Within this, the band also cover THE MOODY BLUES’ Nights In White Satin, adding a smooth gothic sheen to the song that works to deliver a rawer and more emotional take on the classic that perfectly does what a cover should do: pay homage to the original whilst creating a version that is iconically WEBB.
Overall, Deadly Sins And Virtues is a fiery, heavy, and rhythmically exceptional record that knows when not to take it over the top with their influences whilst also delivering a poignant collection of songs that resonate with many different music fans. There’s something for everyone to enjoy; some thrash, some goth, all prog, and all great. WEBB are certainly not a band to be overlooked, and if this album’s anything to go by, there’s a lot more to expect from the band going forward. If the band keep going in the direction away from their influences and more towards their own prog-metal sound, they could certainly do wonders with their next release.
Rating: 8/10
Deadly Sins And Virtues is set for release on June 30th via self-release.
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