A grower...
Ooh, it’s a grower. You know the sort. You put it in the CD player and, initially, think, “Ah, this is nothing special,” but you’re wrong.
It only takes a few times through and you’re nodding your head in subconscious appreciation. Memorable riffs and catchy melodies are hidden throughout, in amongst tracks spanning the genres of classic rock, emo, nu metal, and general modern radio-friendly rock.
Standout tracks include opener 'Curb My Cancer' – an impressive introduction featuring probably the best guitar riff on the CD; 'How Does it Make You Feel?' – an impossibly catchy chorus and what I imagine would be an outstanding live track and 'Repeat To Fade', one of the more commercial songs on the album but nevertheless a beautifully-constructed rock anthem. But it’s testimony to the quality of Inborn that such standout songs don’t actually stand out that high above the rest: the general finesse of this album is quite evident after a few listens.
Yes, it does take a fair while to get into, but once the head begins to nod, the chances of it stopping are very slim. Vero have delivered an awesomely beguiling CD here, with traces of so many rock genres, and a hauntingly timeless quality. It’s not the best album released this year, or anything like that, but it’s probably the best attempt at mind-invading guitar rock in a while.