The Veils
Total Depravity

THE REVIEW

Three years after their last excellent work “Time Stays, We Go” (and two years after the blazing live set at the Florence Festival Di Massarella), The Veils, helmed by father/master Finn Andrews, return with their fifth piece titled “Total Depravity.”

Co-produced by Adam Greenspan and Nick Launay (who also worked on “Nux Vomica” in 2006), the work was preceded by the splendid single “Axolotl”; a river of electro sounds dominated by Andrews in a possessed preacher version, it will be featured in an episode of the highly anticipated third season of Twin Peaks (David Lynch is a big fan of the band and also wanted Andrews to act in a future episode). The track also includes collaboration with El-P from Run The Jewels, which has been teased for months.

With each album, The Veils have accustomed us to sudden changes in sound and mood (in tandem with frequent lineup changes), and this record is no exception, opting this time for a very dark and oppressive sound, often reminiscent of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds but developing its own personality, perfectly defined by the charisma and chameleon-like voice of the histrionic frontman.

After the opening with the aforementioned single, the atmospheres become smokier, and it's the turn of two more relaxed tracks like “A Bit On The Side” (Morricone-esque) and the bluesy “Low Lays The Devil,” before the fiery spoken word of “King Of Chrome.” “Swimming With The Crocodiles” and “Iodine & Iron” (splendid) are sick ballads with a melancholic pace but cut like knives.

“Do Your Bones Glow At Night?” is the only concession to an (almost) airy pop opening, “House Of Spirits” would be perfect in a Tarantino film while “Total Depravity” curiously resumes the electro discourse begun with the opener, as if to close a loop.

“Total Depravity” is one of the best albums released by The Veils, far from the raw alt-rock of the fundamental debut “The Runaway Found” (and even further from the classic ambitions of the superhit “Lavinia”) but compact and coherent in its offering. Finn Andrews’ stunning vocals and sick lyrics remain the star around which the band's sound grows and settles.

Best track: King Of Chrome