From the moment the first “bleurghh” pukes from the mouth of Megan Targett, vocalist with Hertfordshire quartet Vexed, the fuse is lit. From there, as the band then lurch into Culling Culture opener “Hideous,” you’d be wise to strap yourself in for forty-five minutes of uncompromising, suffocating, alt/tech-metal. Ironically, “Hideous” is an absolute beaut of an opener, the kind that will have your neck muscles twitching before the quartet has dropped that first glorious chorus. It’s a track that sets the tone for not only the rest of the album but also as a showcase for how much depth these metal heavyweights have to their sound. Packed with the kind of jackhammer drums that bruise your ribs, the kind of riffery that just melts your head, before coating the whole thing off with perfectly ...
