Black Veil Brides, 'Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones' -- Album Review
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 12:01AM 
Black Veil Brides are back with their new album, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones. The concept album is nothing short of epic. The album is 19 tracks long, some of which are spoken word cuts that help the story of a revolution against a totalitarian government along. The entire album is very dystopian - and that's right up my alley (Aldous Huxley is my favorite fiction author, after all!)
The album is full of rock anthems, meaning the band better ready a massive stage show because an album this good deserves nothing less. Sonically, Wretched and Divine is massive. Musically, the album borrows from contemporaries like Avenged Sevenfold and shows growth beyond BVB heroes Motley Crue. The vocals are more mature than previous efforts and the guitar work is stellar.
"I Am Bulletproof," "New Year's Day" and "In the End" are all winners. My favorite track is "Lost It All." I also love the "Overture" which is the album's theme reprised in strings. I like to think the guys in Black Veil Brides listened to Operation: Mindcrime (Queensryche), Tommy (The Who) and The Wall (Pink Floyd) over and over when planning their own rock-opera-concept masterpiece.
Wretched and Divine is so good, there's no doubt in my mind that the album will absolutely catapult BVB to a whole other level of fame. I hope they are ready, because their lives are going to change dramatically. Wretched is that rare album that has tons of commercial (radio) appeal but will still be accepted by die hard fans and rock lovers in general.
Be wary of someone who tells you they don't like Wretched and Divine. If they do, it's because 1) they are trying to seem cooler than they are or 2) it's because they are a hipster and hate everything fun. It is true we all have different tastes, but greatness should be universally appreciated. It is exceptionally rare for me to buy an album on its release day and listen from beginning to end without stopping. Even more rare is listening to the album more than once in a given day. Yesterday, I listened to Wretched and Divine 15 times, front to back. I didn't have the urge to listen to anything else while working, while driving, while writing, while cleaning. After my run, I found myself humming one of the album's tracks in the shower. I am not a hummer. This album is rare and special. I can't think of a better way to spend ten bucks than buying a copy of this record. You'll be glad you did. Trust me.
Reader Comments (39)
venturing dangerously into Metalboy territory when you make a blanket assertion that people who don't like this album must
have something wrong with them. I agree with you that greatness should be universally appreciated, but appreciating something and liking something are two totally different things. Case in point: my wife is a huge fan of the band Steely Dan. I respect their musicianship, and dedication to song writing and pristine production, but the songs themselves simply don't hit that intangible spot in me that would make me like their music. In other words, I get why other people like them, but I personally don't. does that mean there's something wrong with me?
Similarly, I respect BVB for what they are trying to do with this album, especially in a climate where many younger people these days don't understand the concept of listening to an album from start to finish. However, their music simply doesn't do anything for me. that doesn't make me a hipster, nor does it imply that I'm trying to seem cooler than other people. what it means is that their music doesn't hit that spot in me that makes me like it, or seek it out when I want to listen to something. If that means that, in your eyes, people should be wary of me, then so be it.
Maybe I just don't like fun - maybe that's it - I must have gotten old and not realised, cause I know I aint cool no more.
I honestly AM wary of a Glam fan who says they don't like Wretched and Divine. Liking one album is different than universally loving BVB. For all the lamenting I get about wishing for days of old and wanting a band to really bring back big songs and stage shows, there's already so much internet hate for this album, it is pathetic. This album is the closest thing I've heard to 1988 (without being hokey) in a long time.
Just like mocking Nickelback is popular, so is hating BVB. Is what it is I guess.
If you don't give the album a fair shot - and that means sitting down, listening to it from beginning to end - you're only shortchanging yourself.
Sample here: http://www.amazon.com/Wretched-Divine-Story-Wild-Ones/dp/B00A6SZS2Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1357763279&sr=1-1
I agree with the above posters. But then again, I should of known when that word "epic" is being thrown around again. :)
Sounds like a couple of good songs on this album, but hardly the opus that I get from your review. And trust me... I love to have fun with all my music, but I'm not sure how an album of future society and the story about that is supposed to be "fun'.
And yes greatness should be universally appreciated, but this is a long ways from greatness. Picking up a new album and gushing over it right away is a reaction that we all have.
Musically there, vocally ? A little to be desired. But hopefully they continue to keep pumping out music as I'm all for new bands. Right now they just seem like an amped up emo band. Rock n roll anyone ?
https://www.facebook.com/music/album/Wretched-and-Divine-The-Story-Of-The-Wild-Ones/357226731041207
Might have something you might be interested in conserning Wildstreet.
As far as BVB... Personally, I just think there are 50 or more better "newer" bands out there.
EPIC: Extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope <his genius was "epic" -- Times Literary Supplement>
Examples of EPIC --
> The football game was an "epic" battle between two great teams.
> The bridge is an "epic" architectural wonder.
> The company is engaged in an "epic" struggle for survival.
> an accomplishment of "epic" proportions.
> Black Veil Brides "Wretched and Divine" is an "epic" achievement.
Y'all are trollin' cuz Allyson is taking a stand and proclamating this album to be, in her humble opinion, a monumental, and, yes, even "epic" achievement.
The kid listened to the damn thing 17 times! I could tell in one listen, it's a monster! Guys, just listen to it all the way hrough and just try to enjoy it!
Quit naysayin' just cuz Al's so gung-ho for it. Look, I obviously disagree with her about a lot of bands. And Christian, too! Hell, his latest thing of not getting Cheap Trick confounds me to no end, just as I'm sure it confounds him (and most of you poseurs who act like you like Glam Metal) that I think Iron Maiden totally blows.
If three people who can so often have vehemently opposing views regarding so many bands actually agree on a band's greatness and said band has just put a new album out, might that not warrant listening to that album all the way through to see if the album lives up to the hype?
These guys frickin' ROCK Bada*s Balls, plain and simple. And, what's more, they're doin' it with a, God forbid, CONCEPT album! Geez, whaddya know, a Rock band of a bunch a punks with actual brains!
Unlike the fool on here who's making a snap judgement about an album just by listening to samples. Huh-uh-lo-oh! Stop bein' such a cheap a*s! Buy the frickin' album, or steal it, if yer one of those people. Then proceed to listen to the f*cker, will ya? Really take it in.
Including listening to the spoken word stuff, or "filler", as you call it (Geez, you really are a jaded f*cker, aren't you?) and listen to it in it's entirely. In succession. Uninterrupted. That's the way the band wants you to hear it. Then, after that, review it! You are fast becoming almost as big of a pain in the a*s as I am with some of your misguided statements, GNR! You really are borderline wrong about so many things so often these days! Rock and Roll anyone? Seriously? It's starin' at ya right in the f*ckin' face!
Florentine's got the right idea. Hahaha!!!
Red6ixx, I know what you mean -- I used to be cool, too. But one thing I haven't lost is my "coolness" detector, and these guys are frickin' COOL and so is this frickin' album!
Bob, you and I usually find a lot of agreement but you are now hereby officially banished from "Metalboy! (And don't forget the exclamation point, next time!) Territory" since you are incapable of "getting" the irrefutable GENIUS of Steely Dan!
Talk about marrying up! Borrow "Royal Scam" from your wife. That's their magnum opus just as "Wretched and Divine" may just turn out to be for BVB. So, wake the f*ck up! It's time to frickin' ROCK and ya might as well do it to this frickin' monolithic slab of Rock and Roll.
Meanwhile, back in my "territory", I am glad to see some people on here actually contemplate the revelation that occured to me when posing as an art student years ago -- "I don't have to like something to know if it's good or not."
DJ's got it right, too! I generally agree with your assessment, overall.
And last but not least, Rock-It: While "Epic" used as a noun can relate to time, i.e. A series of events or body of legend or tradition thought to form the proper subject of an "epic" <the "epic" of the winning of the West>, there is nothing in the dictionary that says something has to acquire "epic" status over time.
And nowhere is "epic" defined as something that has to be "timeless". So, don't use "epic" when you mean "timeless". Use "timeless". And then you won't have to worry about the overuse of the word "epic" on this site so much because you will have used it one less time. And then we can start complaining about your overuse of the word "timeless".
And, so, this album is an instant "Epic", just as Allyson has so accurately defined it.
p.s. It's pretty funny to see GNR flag Allyson with such CHARGED language as "gushing" when that's all he ever seems to do himself. Of course, I NEVER "gush". I merely report accurately, the facts about a band, their music, etc. So when I say a band "Rocks", they frickin' Rock! And if I say they S*CK, well... You get the picture. Or not.
But why did no one point out the most unintentionally hilarious comment by our great host: "I am _not_ a hummer"?!!? That was pure glam as well . . . heck, could even be a song or album title.
I sure did miss this site while I was away.
Fun Fact: Autograph was signed to Epic Records.
HIM: Yep, saw that, thought similarly, but CHOSE not to comment because I figured that's where you come in. Glad to see you're back, my friend. Also, a comment on your earlier comments on previous posts -- Don't look for any "clarification" from one Mr. Fletch regarding anything about me. His explanations were entirely inaccurate. Word of advice: Deal Direct!
Now get this album! Now! Metalboy! has spoken!
Failing to add the explanation point is like forgetting the ketchup on the Filet Mignon!
What the h*ll is this? Looks like you're gonna have to be banished from my "territory" too for awhile!
I will buy it and give it a listen - if i still dont like it - you owe me - lol.
But saying that - we cant all like the same - nobody ever did - which is why some folks still think its ok for Tommy Thayer to pretend to be Ace - but thats another thing.
I read Allison's post. Went home and showed my Daughter who loves BVB.. Downloaed the album and she made me a copy I have just started evaluating the album so far so good.. I like what I hear!!!
And we are trolling ? :)
And yes, I gush over music all the time. I've listened to the whole album. I was merely pointing out a direct link for those that want to find it quickly, directly from this site. Which I wish more posters would do.
That being said ~ I'm up to 4 songs out of the 12 that I think are ipod worthy. Maybe that'll grow with more listens.
PS - my comment about facebook was charged because I get so sick of everything being linked to facebook and having to conform to sign up.