Black. Veil. Brides. If you’re as ancient as I am and in your 30s, you probably went through the “it’s not a phase, mum” emo years, and Black Veil Brides were almost certainly in your YouTube or iTunes playlists.
“Knives and Pens” was on repeat back in 2010, and although I haven’t listened to them consistently since that emo era, I have listened to them enough to know that they’ve had some great tracks over the years. Still managing to stay true to their core sound while evolving and maturing as a band (and their fringes getting shorter and shorter to boot), bangers like “In The End” and “Scarlet Cross” have kept them in the spotlight at a steady rate.
Then 2024 came. “Bleeders” dropped as the first taste of this new chapter, and although it still sounded like BVB, Andy Biersak’s iconic voice instantly recognizable, something felt different. It felt revitalized.
“Hallelujah” followed in 2025 and then “Certainty”, “Vindicate” and most recently “Revenger” in 2026. With each release, my excitement kept building for what this album was going to be. The breakdowns feel heavier, Andy’s vocals feel more refined, the melodies feel stronger. Teen emo James is excited for the nostalgia; current James is excited for the new era and modern core elements that BVB are diving into.
And finally, Vindicate lands.
“Invocation To The Muse” opens the album with dramatic organs providing a grand, almost theatrical entrance, before everything pulls back and Andy begins to speak. Not sing, just speak. Quietly at first, reserved, and with that organ intro it almost feels like a confession. But as it builds, that vulnerability twists into something darker. The words don’t heal, they harden. The resentment grows, festers, sharpens, and by the time it bleeds directly into “Vindicate”, the tone has completely shifted. This isn’t just an intro, it’s a warning.
“Vindicate” hits with that same menacing energy, but almost flips it on its head with a tongue in cheek, carnival-like accordion melody that feels unsettling in the best way. Then Christian Coma lights it up on the drums, Andy unleashes a shriek and BLEGH back to back, and we are off. Catchy chorus, heavy verses, everything you want. I loved it as a single, but hearing it in the full album context just reinforces how complete it feels. Every member is firing here, rolled into one dark, heavy, seductive track. The breakdown is brutal, Andy gets gnarly with the growls, and Jinxx and Jake Pitts step in with that short but standout dual solo. Vindication and vengeance are fully in motion.
“Certainty” brings back that epic feel immediately, choir voices and dramatic electronic ambience setting the tone before the guitar chugging kicks in and you may find yourself headbanging without even realising it. The slower pacing gives it a punchy weight, the guitars and drums hitting hard and clean. Andy’s screams in the pre chorus are on point, and the breakdown once again lands exactly where it needs to. Honestly across the whole album, the mixing stands out. There’s a lot happening, a lot of layers and experimentation, but everything feels crisp, deliberate, and distinct.
Another familiar track, “Bleeders” hits differently now sitting within the album. The opening feels eerie, the riffs feel thicker, the energy more urgent, and Andy’s delivery sits perfectly between control and chaos. As the first single released for the album, it doesn’t just feel like a comeback track, it feels like it was a statement for their evolution, and the full album listen only enforces that.
Voices reminiscent of a church choir sing out the word “Hallelujah”, before the track shifts that energy into something more sinister yet anthemic. Where “Bleeders” is aggressive, “Hallelujah” is big, soaring, and unmistakably BVB. This one’s built for a live crowd, the kind of chorus that’s going to be screamed back without hesitation. There’s a confidence in the delivery.
Then “Cut” comes in and catches you off guard in the best way. Surprisingly chill, leaning more into rock vibes, “Cut” changes the pace of the album without losing its identity. Then you hear Lilith Czar come in, and it clicks. Her voice cuts through “Cut” and Andy’s vocals beautifully, and the way they work together adds a whole new dynamic. As “Cut” builds toward the end, the solo shines again, and in a world full of recycled breakdowns, “Cut” stands out by doing something a little different and doing it well.
“Alive” brings a lift after the darker tones of the first half of the album. There’s still weight here, still ties to the album’s themes, but there’s a sense of resilience pushing through the darkness rather than being consumed by it. Leaning fully into the atmosphere, it’s constantly building without ever letting you settle.
Then, sitting right in the middle of the album’s emotional arc, “Purgatory” feels caught between vengeance and reflection. It’s dark, immersive, and quietly intense.
“Revenger” featuring Robb Flynn is one I didn’t see coming. Robb Flynn on a BVB track was not on my bingo card, but “Revenger” makes it work seamlessly. It feels perfectly blended, like it belongs here, while also feeling like it could slot into a modern Machine Head album just as easily. The soaring chorus hits those highs before dragging you straight back into the lows, and just like a perfectly aged whiskey, Robb’s verse is fiery but smooth, and doesn’t overpower the track. Instead, it complements it, adding grit and depth without taking away from it being a BVB song. The galloping drums, filthy screams through the bridge, and tight guitar work at the end make it a clear standout.
“Sorrow” is one of those tracks that just locks in. Like a lot of songs on Vindicate, it opens with ambient backing before building into one of the album’s strongest melodic moments. This one is chef’s kiss. The vocals lead, but underneath them, the guitars are working overtime, intricately weaving through each verse with an infectious riff that I loved once I focused on it beyond the vocals. The drum work complements that detail perfectly without overpowering it, and the balance across the whole track makes it easy to focus on every element without anything pulling you away.
Like a theatrical intermission, “Grace” is exactly what it sounds like, a graceful, symphonic breather that lands at the perfect point in the album. It gives you just enough space before everything ramps back up again.
“Ave Maria” wastes no time throwing you straight back into the thick of everything. Vindication and vengeance are still felt here, but now they carry more of a burden, more sorrow, more shame. It’s not just about proving something anymore, it’s about what that pursuit costs.
Holding onto those powerful emotions, “Woe & Pain” strips things right back to begin with. Piano keys, distant wailing guitars, and Andy starts softly with a simple electronic beat underneath. It’s different straight away but still carries that same weight. As it builds, it shifts from soft intro to sing along choruses, then into dark, haunting spoken verses delivered with anger and force. Then the guitars take over, leading into a synchronized solo that keeps rising, before orchestral elements and ultra fast blast beats drop it into almost symphonic deathcore territory. It’s chaotic, dramatic, and in its own messed up way, beautiful.
“Eschaton” is a spoken outro, like the end of the theatre play. With dramatic strings and keys as the main musical presence, it becomes a reflection on the journey that Vindicate has taken you on. After everything, the realization hits. Maybe it’s not worth it. Maybe holding onto all of it isn’t the victory it once felt like.
Black Veil Brides have come back with a vengeance on Vindicate, and that effort shows across every track through every member. Andy’s harsh vocals are stronger than ever, controlled but aggressive where they need to be. Christian’s drumming is crisp and precise, driving the album forward. The guitar work across the album is gnarly when it needs to be, gentle in moments, tight on the solos, and completely dialed in from start to finish.
The production, mixing, ambience, everything bleeding through this album hits exactly where it should. The piano work, orchestral layers, haunting textures and dramatic moments all play their roles perfectly.
While the repetition of those big, soaring choruses and choir backed sections across multiple tracks can feel a little repetitive at times, it’s also one of BVB’s biggest strengths, and they know it. So Vindicate leans into it.
And it works. And if I haven’t mentioned it enough, I LOVE the solos throughout the album. In an age where every band is following a simple chugging guitar riffs and breakdowns pattern, it’s refreshing that BVB haven’t just cut and paste what many others are doing today.
This isn’t just nostalgia. This isn’t just evolution. This is Black Veil Brides, sharpened, refined, and stepping fully into a darker, heavier, more modern era without ever losing who they are, and I am all for it.
Rating: 9/10
VINDICATE TRACK LISTING:
01. Invocation To The Muse
02. Vindicate
03. Certainty
04. Bleeders
05. Hallelujah
06. Cut
07. Alive
08. Purgatory
09. Revenger
10. Sorrow
11. Grace
12. Ave Maria
13. Woe & Pain
14. Eschaton
