REVIEW: All The Damn Vampires - Vicecore
- Itay Gilad
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Synthwave as a genre, is extremely unique when compared to other alternative music genres. Whilst some synthwave projects are bands, there are tons of synthwave projects that are invented by just a single person, even though these acts usually have more than a single member when they put on gigs. ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES is a combination of both. This project is designed, and performed by Davey Oberlin, as well as vocalist Ryan Rose. What ultimately makes this project stand-out, is that it includes several features on their debut album Vicecore. It is extremely rare to find artists that are willing to collaborate when it comes to this specific type of music, and on top of that, Vicecore includes covers, as well as a good mix of fast and slow-paced songs which results in a debut album that has identity, ambition, and surprises throughout.
The album begins with a short intro, before the first full track, the title track, begins. This song has a slow, mellow beginning and first verse, before the chorus explodes, bringing the song to life, because of the infectious vocal melody. One of the reasons why Vicecore stands out, is that the guitar seems like an afterthought, but you get surprised as the bridge is a guitar solo which segues into the final chorus, which ultimately wraps the official album opener up. Falling Into The Darkness is the first track with a feature on it. Jack Underkofler from the band DEAD POET SOCIETY lends his vocals to add a layer of passion and melody which truly makes this particular song sensational. The hook has an extended build in the form of a epic pre-chorus, and the guitar solo is simple, but does the job in getting us to the final chorus, which is a must listen on this record.
The halfway point in Vicecore is marked by a song that is both fast paced, and slow at parts. Last Man Standing starts off with a slow verse before the chorus, which is exceptionally produced, with the different vocal layers sounding vastly different on the repeating line of the song title. Another unique aspect of this chorus is that it gets repeated twice, and each time it gets repeated, it speeds up. This makes the hook, and the overall way it was written that much more infectious. If there was one song which was expected to receive a cover on this album, it is the iconic In The Air Tonight. Throughout Vicecore, the PHIL COLLINS influence eases out occasionally, so this cover did not come as much of a surprise for us, but how good it is, did. The build up to the eventual world-famous drum fill is sneakily slow, and quiet. When the fill arrives, the cover transforms into a much more bombastic alternative metal version, and it works exceptionally. The one problem this version of In the Air Tonight is that it fades out not too long after the main beat and riff kick in after the fill. This section is easily the best part of the track and having it be so short is such a shame.
The record ends with Sunset Over The Final Chapter, and features a guitarist who needs no introduction whatsoever; Miles Dimitri Baker. The closer starts with synths that introduce the vocals. As the first verse progresses, the guitars and drum machine get introduced before the chorus hits, showcasing the phenomenal vocals Rose has at his disposal. The second verse is much heavier with the drums and guitarwork being much more prevalent. Where this song shines, is the guitar solo played by Baker. His prowess fits this particular song perfectly, and he delivers a solo which is just as emotional as it is technical. The final chorus feels more impactful as a result too, which should always be what a good solo is all about.
Overall, Vicecore is a really solid debut album, which combines the different music that inspired ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES, with features from some of the best musicians in alternative music today. The songs are fantastic, and include some great choruses as well as solos, but some of these tracks have the potential to be much stronger, and if some of them were slightly longer, they could have been sensational. Debut releases should be an example of what an artist or band sound like, and ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES have provided with a synthwave release that showcases their inspirations and musical ability extremely well, and it is evident that there is a lot more to explore sonically, and the wait for more will be torturous, just like a vampire draining the blood from a human.
Score: 7/10
Vicecore was self released on 6th February 2026.
Words: Itay Gilad
Photos: Alexander Bemis
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