REVIEW. YEAR OF THE WHORE --- VULGARAS.

Vulgaras are a New York based band who blend elements of disturbing performance art and burlesque with metal/Goth/blues influenced music.  Their second album showcases the formidable vocal talents of lead singer, Velocity Chyaldd whose vocal range and raw emotion bring to mind performers like Diamanda Galas.  Musicially, the band do tend to stick within the metal/grindcore genre presenting songs that are brutal slabs of powerful guitar riffs and ferocious drumming.  Bands that fall under the "shock rock" label often tend to focus too much on the shock element and not enough on the rock front but Vulgaras manage to deliver on both fronts and come across as genuinely interested in exploring transgressive ideas and pushing boundaries --- not for some kind of cheap thrill but to reach a deeper emotional truth.  Velocity (who has worked as a sex worker for a number of years in NYC) has said in interviews that she wanted to explore the darker side of life, forcing people to confront ideas of sexuality and overcome the shame society places on the genuine expression of sexuality, both male and female.

I would have liked to have had a lyric booklet with the CD especially as they're hard to make out in some of the songs due to the overpowering music or Velocity's vocal style.  I wouldn't have it any other way though as I wouldn't want them to water down the the viscereal impact of such amazing music.  The last 2 songs (Hooker Barbie and an unnamed bonus track) do offer a change of pace as they go in for disturbing spoken word pieces set to slightly less heavy music that's reminiscent of some of Lydia Lunch's work.  Since this album was recorded, Vulgaras have had another change of personnel and are currently working on a 3rd album.

Vulgaras strike me as an intense and intelligent band who are driven to provide an emotionally powerful experience, both in their recorded music and performances, to inspire people with a truth that can be as frightening as it is beautiful, as poetic as it is scary.


ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MAY 2008.