Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Black Veil Brides - Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (2013)

Not much about Black Veil Brides can reach the greatness of their metalcore debut We Stitch These Wounds. The quality tries to climbs back up but falls down again. Their 2013 album Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones gets the band up to a good level, heading into hard rock/alt-metal and being a concept album. It's not often a band that isn't progressive/power metal can make a concept album of cinematic proportions, but I'm all for it...

Wretched and Divine certainly makes up for the d*mn glam of Set the World on Fire. The concept is quite good, and the cinematic part comes from the symphonics and spoken word interludes, the latter of which doesn't really do the album much favors.

"Exordium" is the spoken intro. It leads to the excellent "I Am Bulletproof", starting the album with one of the best here. "New Years Day" is nicely done. "F.E.A.R. Transmission 1: Stay Close" isn't too bad for a spoken interlude, adding in some nice dramatic violins. The title track could've had some improvement, but I still like it. Now, "We Don't Belong", that's a song I truly enjoy.

"F.E.A.R. Transmission 2: Trust" is another unwanted transmission interlude. "Devil's Choir" doesn't impress me much either. "Resurrect the Sun" is a true step up and one of the best here. "Overture" is the only enjoyable interlude, as symphonic as it should be. "Shadows Die" I also like. "Abeyance" is the worst and most unnecessary interlude here.

"Days Are Numbered" is another well-done highlight, featuring The Used vocalist Bert McCracken. "Done for You" is the weakest non-interlude song here. "Nobody's Hero" is another good track. "Lost It All" is a depressive power ballad that I love. "F.E.A.R. Transmission 3: As War Fades" has more intense strings. "In the End" is the most amazing song in the album. It was written in memory of Andy Biersack's grandfather who guest appeared in the debut. "F.E.A.R.: Final Transmission" ends it all decently.

The Ultimate Edition of Wretched and Divine comes with 3 bonus tracks which I don't wanna talk about as they return to the previous album's glam sound, apart from the heavy "Victory Call" that I like. The main album has a pretty good concept, songs, and guitarwork. Would've been greater if not for those sh*tty interludes....

Favorites: "I Am Bulletproof", "We Don't Belong", "Resurrect the Sun", "Overture", "Days Are Numbered", "Lost It All", "In the End", "Victory Call"