Vanishing Kids - Miracle of Death

Angry Metal Guy 80

Back in the days before the Great Plague (2018 to be exact), I stumbled upon a quirky underground act called Vanishing Kids and their Heavy Dreamer album. Hailing from Wisconsin, they billed themselves as “somnambulic doom,” which intrigued me but didn’t really do justice to their unique sound and style. They play a slick mash-up 70s acid/psychedelic rock with 80s goth rock, ethereal wave, and yes, some random bits of doom sprinkled in. The end product is haunting, dreamy, and entirely gripping, full of moodscapes that envelope you like a heavy fog. I still play Heavy Dreamer regularly and there’s just something special about the album that sticks in my head and heart.¹ As the world hid away from 2020 to 2022, Vanishing Kids used the isolation to work on the follow-up, and after 5 years we get the appropriately titled Miracle of Death. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is a darker, doomier album than the sometimes upbeat Heavy Dreamer, with a noticeably more melancholic edge hanging over the material. It still features that special Vanishing Kids magic, however, and the band continues to mine a vein of emotive music that is uniquely their own.

Hearing opener “Spill the Dark” is like seeing an old friend after years apart. The graceful, ethereal, and dreamy atmosphere Vanishing Kids weave so effectively immediately draws you in and the darker feel to the music only adds to the impact as sparse, bleak guitar lines set the stage for Nikki Drohomyreky’s hauntingly beautiful vocals. The song channels some of Messa’s dark, droning magic but it’s a different beast and beautifully grim and gothy, a truly brilliant gem. “Only You” sees them exploring 80s goth rock realms in highly effective ways with an irresistible chorus andanother intriguingly mysterious atmosphere. “Demon Glove” tracks back toward doom with the guitar in Place of Skulls mode as Nikki’s vocals float in the ether and subtle organ lines rise and fall providing texture and mood. It’s all very beautiful and captivating. This one is offset well by the straight-up 70s occult rock of “Midnight Child” which has a special magic all its own with Nikki coming across like vintage Grace Slick at times as she effortlessly sells the song.

From song to song, Vanishing Kids show their mastery of this little musical world of theirs. “Feral Angel” feels like a bonus cut from Heavy Dreamer and it’s chock full of gorgeous goth-emo atmosphere, unhurried but completely gripping, reminding me of the best moments of The Eden House. Things wind out on the 9-minute plus odyssey “Dust,” which allows the band to stretch their legs and dabble in extended world and mood-building. It contains some of their most aggressive and lively playing, with some excellent guitar work and as usual, a collection of huge vocal hooks courtesy of Nikki. Much like their last outing, Mircle of Death is one cohesive dreamscape you just sit back, relax, and float through. The parts are all top-notch, but the sum is better. The 41-plus minutes go by it a flash and you may wish it was several minutes longer. The production is perfect for the material, creating a gossamer other-worldly vibe that hypnotizes you. There’s not much to quibble about here. No fat or filler, just killer, uber-moody music that sticks with you.

I continue to be greatly impressed by Nikki Drohomyreky as a vocalist. She has a special sound and way of singing that really grabs you, and she has a real ear for vocal hooks. Her dream-like delivery has just enough edge to darken the material and still feel warm and accessible. She’s a crucial part of the band’s highly effective sound, and that’s not even including her excellent organ work, which adds an important layer to the music. Jason Hartman’s guitar work is understated and at times quite minimalist, but excellent. It’s full of emotion and feeling and it pairs perfectly with the haunting vocals. It feels like he’s pushing more of a doom sound this time out, which fits with the time period in which the material was forged. He brings just the right amount of heaviness to the songs and his playing on “Dust” is especially inspired. Vanishing Kids are a band that knows exactly what they want to do and they do it so, so well.

I’ve struggled to explain what Vanishing Kids sound like to people before, and two reviews in, I know I’m not doing complete justice to the music they create. It simply has to be heard and dwelled within. I was worried Heavy Dreamer would be impossible to equal or top, but Miracle of Death is its own wonder featuring everything I love about their style. This is a band that deserves WAY more attention and hopefully, Miracle of Death gets it for them. Get this in your ears ASAP (as well as Heavy Dreamer) and spread the word far and wide



Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Aural Music
Websites: vanishingkids.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/profile
Releases Worldwide: October 13th, 2023

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