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Victory Pill
Victory Pill

Corporate Punishment Records / Otherside Recordings

Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

Those familiar with Jim Davies will remember him as the onetime guitarist for Pitchshifter and The Prodigy, so it should come as no surprise that the debut album from his new band Victory Pill would feature his distinctively edgy style rather heavily. Taking on the role of the front man, Davies pulls all the stops with his talents as a guitarist, programmer, and vocalist, with Kieron Pepper and Pete Crossman rounding out the trio. Victory Pill present 12 songs of vitriolic industrial rock in a vein so similar to Pitchshifter's later work, bringing that band's P.S.I. album particularly to mind, that one might be inclined to mistake the two bands for each other if not for Davies' notably deeper drawl versus the scathing sneers of J.S. Clayden. This might seem ironic given the lyrics of "Another Clone," which could be viewed as a statement on the band's part to stand apart from their peers in the genre, although songs like "Odds Get Even," the instrumental "Red Pill," and "King and Country" are chockfull of screaming guitar textures and squelching synth lines that signify Davies' unique style admirably. "Set in Stone" and "Wasted on Me" hit hard with blistering rhythms that recall the punk/jungle energy of Pitchshifter, while the slower rhythms of "Worst Case Scenario," "Free Fall," and the closing instrumental "Scaremonger" are more reminiscent of hip-hop and breakbeat electronica. Even the vocal layers and grating melodies of "Salvo" have a hint of Curve's ambient Brit-hop approach, but given a more rocking edge by the abundance of guitars and Davies' forceful voice. In all fairness, Victory Pill's debut album is a varied yet consistent effort that shows the band's skills wonderfully, but it's all marred by a familiarity that can't be denied. The songs are certainly catchy and aggressive, sure to send the listener running to the mosh pit and/or the dance floor, and credit should be given to the band for their sound constructions. Alas, it's not enough to elevate Victory Pill beyond the scope of being simply good; nothing more, nothing less.