Progressive post-hardcore outfit Vagrants shared their new album Be Consumed, out now on Equal Vision Records. The band has also shared a visually stunning official video for focus track “Aimless”, which can be viewed here. Formed in 2017, Vagrants’ current line-up is composed of Jose DelRio (guitars/vocals), Anastasia Hayes (Drums), and Bryce Ballinger (guitar). Be Consumed shows different sides of the bands sweeping, progressive sound – awash with intricate guitar and drum work supported by modern electronic elements and huge breakdowns. There is a palpable jam-like quality to the record, the band is tight as ever but falls into a groove with one another that speaks to their mature creative alliance. The vocals are equal parts soaring and powerful, conveying the message of each song with a melodic sensibility that is undeniably catchy.
“Aimless” is one of the harder edged songs on the album – angular guitars and harsh vocals add a sense of aggression to the track before the powerful melody is introduced at the first chorus. The official video is shot in a beautiful cinematic style, highly stylized live performance shots are paired with a gripping narrative that adds a compelling emotional element to the song. You can view the video here.
The band has this to say about their new album:
“We are incredibly excited to have Be Consumed out into the world. Being able to pour ourselves into the writing and recording of this record truly served as a ‘life raft’ to get us through these past couple of years. We really feel like this record serves to define where we are right now as a band, and give a glimpse into where we might head next. Our next step is to get back on the road and play these new songs in a live context. We are really looking forward to seeing which of the 12 tracks really translate and connect with people.”
Be Consumed vinyl and merchandise is available now from Equal Vision Records, you can purchase the album here. The band plans to announce tour and show dates throughout the remainder of 2022.
Vagrants is Jose DelRio (guitars / vocals), Anastasia Hayes (drums) and Bryce Ballinger (guitar)
BE CONSUMED TRACKLIST:
1. You Still Linger
2. Day By Day
3. Skin and Bone
4. Failure
5. Aimless
6. When I Let Go Of What I Am, I Become What I Might Be
7. What It Means To Love
8. Blind
9. Keepmesafe//Komorebi
10. Be Consumed
About Vagrants:
When post-hardcore trio Vagrants sat down to begin work on their debut album, there was no grand plan in place. The Pensacola, Florida band – vocalist/guitarist Jose DelRio, guitarist Bryce Ballinger and drummer Anna Hayes – adopted a very simple mantra: write the best songs they possibly could, and present an honest and true representation of their band. And that’s exactly what Be Consumed – released April 29 via Equal Vision Records – is. A thrilling collection of 10 emotionally-charged, deeply personal and sonically vibrant songs, it’s a record that breathes new life into the post-hardcore scene, showcasing a band operating with a true belief in their craft.
Recorded during lockdown with producers Matt Goldman (Underoath, The Chariot) and Sam Guaiana (Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada), Be Consumed scales-up the promise of Vagrants’ 2019 EP Separation, broadening their sound and pushing their emotive brand of post-hardcore into new and exciting directions. Anthemic single “You Still Linger” offered an early taste of that power and what is contained within Be Consumed. A song that, according to Jose, recounts his experiences with depression and “the ghost on your shoulder that follows you around as you search for closure,” it’s a fitting introduction to a record that tells of the Vagrants frontman’s experiences with mental illness and trauma.
“Be Consumed was like trauma therapy for me,” Jose says. “It’s me working through stuff I’ve been holding onto since childhood. The original title we had for the record was What It Is To Love Is To Be Consumed, and I think that summarizes what we’ve written about here. This album is about being consumed by your emotions, by love and by depression; it’s about submitting to being hurt, letting your guard down and putting yourself in harm’s way, because that’s the only way to fully feel everything that love and life has to offer. I’ve felt consumed by my anxieties and emotions in recent years, and Be Consumed reflects that.”
Wherever you look on Be Consumed, emotions run high. The title-track, for instance, tells of the feeling of hitting rock bottom when consumed by depression. The titanic “Aimless,” meanwhile, sees Jose, Bryce and Anna take a more universal look at a world consumed by darkness, and how, with every passing day, we’re coming closer to destroying the planet we call home. “It’s about where we are as a society,” Jose says. “It’s a nihilistic perspective on all the things that are fucked up in the world – deforestation, war, famine – and how we’re collectively turning a blind eye.”
Supporting these strong sentiments throughout Be Consumed is a vivid musical backdrop. According to Anna, Jose went down the rabbit hole during lockdown, as Vagrants’ leader experimented with new textures, electronics and instruments that could enhance the band’s sound. The result is a record with a beautiful sound design, and for Jose, it’s allowed him to further define the bands sonics by fusing the best of old and new.
Be Consumed represents a beacon of belief for Vagrants, in both themselves and the power of music to make a positive change. For Anna, it’s that belief that will be driving them as the band unleash their debut album on the world.
“We’ve never worked harder than we have with Be Consumed, and that shows in the quality of the record,” she concludes. “We pushed ourselves to the fullest, grew our confidence and made something of which we’re all incredibly proud. And there’s more to come from Vagrants yet.”