Since their inception, Vessels Of Wrath have strived to bring the world a different sort of aural reality, blending metal, classical baroque influences and "world-like" sounds with the newer elements of techno and industrial. The occasional sprinkling of death and black metal makes an appearance every now and again, as well as opera, goth, punk, thrash and hardcore. It all blends seamlessly to create a musical experience like no other; music so diverse it cannot be easily thrown into an existing genre, though the elements are familiar enough not to come off convoluted or artsy. 2007 saw the release of their long-awaited debut album; ''Tis Now Struck Twelve: The Shape of Goth to Come', a culmination from years of forming their trademark of Over Dramaticized Opera Metal and brought their performances to a must see over the top theatrical experience.

Now, at the dawn of a new decade, V.O.W. brings it's 19th century suit wearing and flapper dancing show to a new level of pompousness with it's second offering; 'And We Shall Take Up Serpents', a creepy and unsettling 7-track narrative coming from the darkest and most cynically comedic places of the soul.

With a wealth of song and a vaudevillian show that makes you forget rock n roll didn't exist "back in the day", V.O.W. brings another world to you. One filled with temptation, cackling blasphemy, and with the grandeur and darkness of the olde... And you won't want to leave.

Vessels Of Wrath is: Matt(Vocals)
Jib(Guitars,Vocals)
Bryan(Drums,Programming)
Daniel(Keyboards,Programming,Vocals)
Caleb(Bass,Vocals)
Blakely(Guitars)
Maria(Additional Vocals)

Read More extensively of the Life and Times of these Troubadours!

Reviews

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
CD Review: VESSELS OF WRATH: AND WE SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS

While not deeply rooted in Horror, I still feel the need to share a review of AND WE SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS by the metal group VESSELS OF WRATH (V.O.W.). Metal music seems to go hand in hand with the Horror genre in many ways, and this Industrial/Metal group is one of the best in the metal genre...plus this is a just a damn good album I think you all should know about! AND WE SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS is V.O.W.'s follow up CD to their first album, 'TIS NOW STRUCK TWELVE: THE SHAPE OF GOTH TO COME. This follow-up CD shows tremendous growth from the group as true artists, with a wider range of sounds and different types of singing, from sections of spoken word, as heard in the song AMERICAN GOTHIC, to the more melodic singing in the 80's Sisters Of Mercy cover, LUCRETIA MY REFLECTION. Lead singer Matt Yeager does a superb job of switching between melodic singing to typical Metal "roaring", as I call it, with such grace and ease. It is seamless as he switches between the types of singing which is very impressive. Yeager is supported by a cast of extremely talented musicians. Maria Elena Martinez's soft vocals are a nice compliment to Yeager's rougher voice. The Keyboard and synthesized sounds are great and the guitars and drums on this CD are as good as any "big name" metal group I have heard. Just listen to the opening of BATTLE HYMN OF THE REDUNDANT and you will see what I am talking about. Do yourself a favor and get this great CD.

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by Jonesy
" December, 2009. The month that heralded the long-awaited release of Vessels of Wrath's second offering, "And We Shall Take Up Serpents." While a much shorter affair (this record is an E.P.), the music is much more robust, and the flow from track-to-track weaves a flawless web of atmosphere that is calming, with a sense of urgency. I found myself getting more and more into the album with repeated listens, picking a track as my favorite, then changing my mind each time. Opening song "Sliver" is a fun experiment into the dual human mind, while album closer "Angel Skin" offers the trademark V.O.W. percussive metallic genius. In my opinion, the highlight of the record is "American Gothic" for it's honest lyrical tongue-in-cheek statement of this country that we live in: The "Land-Of-The-Free-To-Rape-You-With-A-Cherry-On-Top." The song is just a blast to listen to, both for it's catchy originality and "Type-O-Negative" inspired humorous sincerity. If it isn't apparent yet, I love this band. And I love their music. Vessels of Wrath are living, breathing, sweating, bleeding, honest examples of humanity-in-action. May the heathen gods bless them. To quote the immortal Brandon Dooley: "V.O.W. are like the finest of wines. They improve with age." Do yourself a fucking favor and buy this album!

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05.23.09: Gothic Beauty Magizine CD Review
Issue 28 of Gothic Beauty Magazine features a review of "Shape of Goth To Come": With the clock tolling the Witching Hour, Arkansas-based Vessels of Wrath are gathering around the musical cauldron adding a variety of ingredients for their signature potion: to the Techno/EBM/Industrial base stock, they've blended in elements of Metal (Death, Black, Hardcore, and Thrash), Punk, and even Baroque, the resulting brew being a one-of-a-kind experience. Personally, I Love the crunches in the irreverent "Nothing But The Dream." "Zombies In Toyland" rips its percussion straight from a Voudoun ceremony. "Kristrake" flat-out Rocks! An avenger appoints himself judge, jury, and executioner in "Lock And Load." In all, not bad for a debut album! (Athena) http://www.gothicbeauty.com

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The Next Generation of Aural Art!!
by Jonesy
"'Tis Now Struck Twelve...", the debut album from Arkansas'"Vessels Of Wrath" is a sonic Masterpiece that is as vast, dark, and colorful as the cover art suggests. From the somber opener "Cellophane Save Your God", to the deep and emotional closing track "All Is On The Brink", VOW takes the listener on a journey of love, hate, anger, passion, and ultimately loss with their intelligent mixture of European Black Metal, 80's New Wave, 90's Industrial, and classic all-around Metal, with a splash of gothic Doom for good measure. There really are no proper "Labels" to describe Vessels Of Wrath besides "True Art". I highly recommend "'Tis Now Struck Twelve..." to those who are looking for an album that means something; an album that is true to the heart and leaves an inspiring impression on the soul.

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