Vices Inc’s Alkaline Kiss: A Bold New Chapter for Portland’s Alt-Rock Rebels
By the time you’ve reached the halfway point of Alkaline Kiss, the latest offering from Portland, Maine’s Vices Inc, you’re struck with the sensation of witnessing a band evolve in real time. Their ninth album, produced with polish and bite by guitarist Jagger Hicks, marks a sonic metamorphosis for the quartet, shedding their pop-punk roots for a daring dive into the moody depths of alternative and post-modern rock. The result is a sprawling double album—four sides, 19 tracks—that feels as cohesive as it is ambitious.
From the opening notes of “Bright Skies Overcast,” the shift in tone is palpable. Eleanor Langthorne’s voice—equal parts raw emotion and theatrical precision—cuts through Hicks’ layered guitars and shimmering keyboards. The track’s delicate balance of melancholy and hope sets the stage for an album that feels deeply introspective yet universally resonant. Lyrically, Langthorne navigates themes of identity, self-doubt, and redemption with a poet’s pen and a punk’s heart.
The standout tracks are plentiful. “Unsure Within Insecurities” is a gut-punch of vulnerability wrapped in driving percussion from Kristy Jo Yeaton, while “Cinnamon” offers a haunting, viola-infused number that showcases Langthorne’s dual talents as a vocalist and string player. On the second side, “Like Cyanide” delivers Cure-esque soundscapes with a hook that’s impossible to shake, and “Imposter Syndrome” plays like a confessional set to an arena-ready anthem.
By the time Alkaline Kiss reaches its back half, the band takes listeners on a more experimental journey. The cinematic “Madrugada” feels like a late-night epiphany, its name (Spanish for “early hours of the morning”) capturing the mood of existential reckoning. “Vilify,” a slow-burning crescendo of sound, transitions into “Forgotten Dust,” a track so emotionally raw it might leave you in silence long after its final chord fades.
What truly elevates Alkaline Kiss is its attention to detail. Hicks’ production is sharp but never overbearing, allowing Hanna Leigh Adams’ basslines to shine with a groove that anchors even the album’s most atmospheric moments. The interplay between Langthorne’s viola and Hicks’ guitar work feels like a dialogue, underscoring the theatricality that has become Vices Inc’s signature.
It’s worth noting the care the band has taken with this release. A vinyl version, currently being mastered at Abbey Road Studios, is set to drop in March 2025, a nod to their commitment to the album’s immersive experience. Their Northeast tour in early 2025 promises to bring these songs to life on stage, where Vices Inc have built their reputation as a must-see act.
With Alkaline Kiss, Vices Inc have crafted not just an album, but a statement. It’s a bold step forward for a band unafraid to redefine themselves while staying true to the spirit that’s driven them since their pop-punk days. For long-time fans and new listeners alike, this is the sound of a band hitting their stride and daring to dream bigger.
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