Musings: VAZUM – V-

Deathgaze/Shoegaze duo VAZUM returns with a greatest hits LP titled V-. The album consists of songs from 2020 to 2022 re-recorded with the punk rock ethos of VAZUM's live performances. What a great idea this is! It gives us listeners who haven’t seen them live yet a taste of what these songs would sound live. All that’s missing is the roar of the crowd. Frequent visitors of this blog know how much I love this band. Their album V+ landed at number 3 on my Albums of the Year list back in 2021. Let’s look at what’s included, shall we?

Here is the breakdown of which album/release the reworked tracks come from:

1. “Angel” single release

2. “Thief” single release

3. “Embers” taken from Vampyre Villa

4. “Loved 2 Death” taken from V+

5. “Werewolf” taken from Rated V

6. “Gallows” single release

7. “Eats Away” taken from V+

8. “Unspoken” taken from V+

9. “Razor Smile” taken from V+

10. “Haunted House” taken from V+

11. “The Familiar” taken from V+

The duo of Zach Pliska on vocals, guitars and drums, and Emily Sturm on vocals and bass share singing duties on all songs, but usually one of them will lead while the other joins in for the chorus and such. As is often the case with live shows, songs are sometimes played faster and we get a bit of that on this album as well as variations on certain passages in the songs. “Angel”, sung by Zach, feels more energetic here, more in your face. This version of “Thief”, sung by Emily, surpasses the original in my opinion. It’s got an entrancing Joy Division vibe. “Embers” is a song I wasn’t familiar with, but that I loved from the get-go. It’s sung by Zach and has a relentless attitude. “Loved 2 Death”, sung by Emily, is a classic by now in the duo’s repertoire. A very catchy tune that’ll stay stuck in your head. “Werewolf”, sung by Emily, is a terrific slower-paced track about, well, a werewolf. “Gallows”, sung by Emily, is a third variation of the song, having already had two different renditions on the single release. This one is equally great. Next up is a trio of solid tracks: “Eats Away”, sung by Zach, “Unspoken”, sung by Emily—two slower tunes—followed by “Razor Smile”, sung by Zach, which is an earworm. Next up is “Haunted House”, a personal fave of mine, sung by Emily, filled with atmospheric rhythms and guitars. It’s an addictive tune with a catchy chorus. The final song is “The Familiar”, a familiar song indeed if you’re a fan of the band, sung pretty much equally by Emily and Zach. It’s one of their best tunes and this version is just as memorable.

VAZUM’s V- continues the tradition in the prolific duo’s excellent output. If you’re already a fan of the band, this is a must have. If you’re new to VAZUM or have never heard of them, then this is the perfect starting point before you go down the rabbit hole and seek out their other releases. For fans of Joy Division, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, with a nod to Marilyn Manson.

VAZUM’s Bandcamp page: https://vazum.bandcamp.com/album/v-2