Album Review; Pretty Vicious - "Beauty Of Youth"

Only last month, Welsh quartet Pretty Vicious announced their highly anticipated debut album, "Beauty Of Youth". Following on from a string of single releases beginning at the tail end of 2018, the record is a culmination of years of writing, touring and development. Combining gritty energy with accomplished songwriting and production, the album showcases the abilities of a band set to make 2019 their own.

Kicking things off as they mean to continue, opening tracks "These Four Walls" and "Move" have an instant impact with their explosive riff-laden pace and power. Latest single "Something Worthwhile" offers a more melodic, summery feel, with the band taking a slight step back from the punk-influenced sound they've made their own to produce a track that radiates positive energy.

"No One Understands" is the first time on the album we see a somewhat toned-down side from the quartet, with the first half of the track taking a more stripped back approach as it builds to a hard-hitting classic rock-tinged solo. There is no shortage of diversity amongst the twelve tracks. Anthemic "What Could Have Been" has all the makings of a brilliant alt-rock song, with a huge chorus intended for stadiums.

Things take an emotional turn on "Playing With Guns", a touching tribute to the 2015 Paris attacks. Cleaner cut vocals sit atop powerful instrumentation, the two elements combining to create a beautifully poignant sound. The next two tracks see a return to the raw energy that the band have become renowned for, both raucous "I Don't Wanna Know" and electrifying "Are You Entertained?" drenched in distorted guitars and punchy percussion. "Little Molly" is the closing track, building from softer tones to a colossal crescendo that sees the album out with one final bang.

With years of hard work finally paying off, "Beauty Of Youth" feels like album that is not only a landmark within Pretty Vicious' career, but also one in the modern punk scene. The record is an eclectic collection of tracks that easily hold their own amongst some of the biggest "guitar bands" out there right now, and will undoubtedly see the quartet propelled to new heights.

Listen to "Beauty Of Youth" here

Words by Alex Vickers