ALBUM REVIEW: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

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WRITTEN BY: Sydney Martin

PHOTO BY: Joshua Gordon

Vegyn’s recent release The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions is a reminder of the multi-dimensionality songs have the power to hold while remaining cohesive, and uniquely touching, across an album. Ambient sounds and the fluid use of percussion and violin allows grief and triumph to be encapsulated simultaneously; songs incorporate select artist’s voices, dreamy interludes, and at other times, highlighting the craft of lyricless compositions.

Artificially curated sound is personified within Veygn’s often heavy hearted music; an illustration of an over-caffeinated, over-prescribed, over-indulgent society– but nonetheless human– through the progression of these electric sounds.

Predominantly deep house, tones of the psychedelic and trance genre are prevalent throughout the album. Ambient music holds glimmers of electricity–loose within its movements and gentle within its use of drum and bass. Synthetic sounds, through trilling and twinklings, gesture to the natural and astral world, holding an air of child-like whimsy that is both grounding and inspiring. Compositions, often mellow in origin, move towards an aching optimism.

Lyrically, this album prompts listeners to look outwards at the inherent beauty of nature and  humanity. The interlude within “A Dream Goes on Forever” makes references to a higher power in alignment with the topic of maintaining gratitude.

John Glacier, furthermore, is featured on “In the Front”, speaking heavily upon the importance of looking forward as well as reflecting on the past without rumination– dreams and desire assisting greatly in this journey.

Topics of religion and spirituality are presented but not forced upon the listener, an aspect of this album that can be greatly appreciated in the sense it allows for comfort to be felt without the imposition of any specified beliefs. Additionally, Ethan P. Flynn’s electric borne vocals, and Lea Sen’s stunningly soothing voice are featured. Mastered as if originating from the 80s synth genre, these unique features satisfy the need for a sound formerly unrealized– food for the deludedly-full soul.

Achieving an untraceable nostalgia, goosebumps and deja vu are sure to be experienced upon listening to The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions.

Once again, Vegyn gifts us with an album free of facade; an exhausted expression of the living, and an ode to all that falls beneath the sun.