:: Vanden & Repeat Offender - Black Hearts & Poison Girls

Vanden & Repeat Offender

After releasing their debut EP ‘Victims’ earlier in the year, Melbourne based rock outfit Vanden are back with the second split EP effort ‘Black Hearts & Poison Girls’ with rising Brisbane act Repeat Offender. Vanden are the first act to debut new material, with the opening track ‘Black Heart Street’ a strong opening number packed with memorable choruses, weighty guitar riffs and some interesting violin work woven throughout the number. ‘Just Take The Ride’ is every bit as driving and impressive as the opener, while the slow and dynamic ‘Side Streets’ mixes quieter passages with all out heaviness, intermingled with various media samples, making it one of the real stand out tracks from the band. Vanden finish up their set of three originals with great acoustic and dreamy sounding rendition of Repeat Offender’s ‘Amphetamine’, which they manage to make sound like one of their own.

On the other side of the disc, Queensland melodic rock band Repeat Offender kick off their contributions with stunningly catchy ‘Poison Girl’, before allowing the listener to be carried away with the laid back ‘I’m Yours’.
The hard rocking ‘Have Your Lies Begun?’ certainly doesn’t lack any power or punch from the group, while the group returns Vanden’s favour by covering their ‘Dirty Sneakers’ in acoustic form, transforming into something completely different, yet totally magical. When it comes to split EPs, more often than not there’s generally one act that manages to outshine the other. But in this case, both Vanden and Repeat Offender manage to come out as clear winners, with both acts delivering some first class rock. If you happen to be a fan of either group, my advice would be to purchase without thinking twice. You won’t regret it one bit.