VEIL VEIL VANISH Into a New Mausoleum
(self-released; 2007)
Veil Veil Vanish deliver a strong effort on Into a New Mausoleum, their self-released 6 song EP. In each of the songs, the band uses minor chord droning guitar and synth noise to create a charred landscape for Keven Tecon’s dark, clear baritone crooning. He sings of regret, sexual tension, and alienation. As with Trent Reznor, it feels like watching a man battle his spirituality on the dark side of pop music.
Robert Marzio, an energetic and tasteful drummer, propels the songs at a brisk pace. The guitarist, Cameron Ray, sprays out a wall of chords from his twelve string guitar, creating an impenetrable blanket (or veil) of sound that is punctuated—but never pierced—with melodic motifs.
The problem with Into a New Mausoleum is that this talented band has put so much effort into making a carbon copy of the Cure / Joy Division / Depeche Mode sound that their perspective on life in San Francisco in 2007 is obscured. The record stands as a signpost pointing listeners to the not-so-distant past, leaving me wanting more of a personalized, maybe even quirky, update to this overly familiar sound.
never pierced—with melodic motifs. 