MAGNOLIA PARK - VAMP
Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner
Magnolia Park's fourth studio album, VAMP, marks a bold departure from their pop-punk origins, venturing into a darker, more theatrical soundscape. Released on April 11, 2025, via Epitaph Records, the album is a concept-driven exploration of a cyberpunk dystopia, blending nu-metal, metalcore, and electronic elements to craft a narrative as compelling as its sonic landscape.
This album represents a thematic transformation. VAMP introduces listeners to Nocturne Nexus, a cyberpunk world inhabited by vampires and cyborgs. The story follows Aurora X1, a half-human, half-cyborg warrior leading a rebellion against the oppressive Shadow Cult, led by her biological father. This narrative framework allows the band to delve into themes of identity, rebellion, and sacrifice, creating a continuous arc that runs through the entire album.
With the musical evolution from everything we’d expect to everything we’ve got from the album, there are some great tracks mixed in with a couple of average ones. The record opens with ‘PAIN,’ a track that sets the tone with its heavy riffs and chanting choruses, embodying the uprising's fervour. ‘SHADOW TALK’ follows, incorporating nu-metal influences and eerie whispers that hint at the antagonist's mind-control abilities. ‘CULT,’ one of the album's singles, stands out with its aggressive energy and death-like screams, symbolising the rebellion's escalation.
Tracks like ‘THE SCREAMS,’ ‘WORSHIP,’ and ‘SHALLOW’ showcase the band's ability to blend down-tuned djent riffs with intimate lyricism, creating a seductive atmosphere reminiscent of bands like Bad Omens and Deftones. ‘CRAVE’ explores themes of toxic desire, while ‘OPHELIA,’ the album's closer, delivers a sombre reflection on loss and the cost of victory.
As hinted at earlier, this is a work that's heavily influenced by all areas, music, art and creativity. The band have explained that VAMP draws inspiration from various sources, including anime like Vampire Hunter D, cyberpunk aesthetics, and bands such as Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon. The band's guitarist, Tristan Torres, cites the fusion of old and new in Vampire Hunter D as a significant influence on the album's aesthetic.
Vocalist Joshua Roberts aims to emulate the emotional intensity of Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, pushing his vocal range to new heights. The band's admiration for Bring Me The Horizon's amo is evident in their pursuit of dynamic riffs and genre-blending compositions.
It is true that VAMP is a significant improvement over the band's previous work, particularly 2023's Halloween Mixtape II. However, fans and new listeners alike may notice that the band occasionally echoes their inspirations a bit too closely, with tracks like ‘'THE SCREAMS’ and ‘SHADOW TALK’ being compared to Bring Me The Horizon and Motionless In White. Despite this, the album has a cohesive narrative, and the band should be praised for their willingness to experiment with new sounds and break out of the box they’ve previously been allotted.
All in all VAMP represents a daring and ambitious step for Magnolia Park, showcasing their evolution from pop-punk roots to a more complex and darker musical identity. While the album may not entirely escape the influence of its inspirations, it offers a compelling narrative and a diverse sonic palette that demonstrates the band's growth and potential. For fans of concept albums and genre-blending music, VAMP is a journey worth undertaking.
Cat Wiltshire
★★★★☆
