Sluka
Vampire's Ball (video)
Review by Gary Hill
I have also reviewed the digital single of this song, but wanted to look at the video, as well. While the focus here will be on what is unique to this, it's also appropriate to repeat some of the content from that other review to describe the song.
Here is how I described the song: Piano starts this cut with a pretty and rather timeless melody. That holds it for the extended introduction. The vocals come over the top with a real classic rock sound. I'm reminded of the Beatles, Dream Theater and Queen on that section. There are some other elements that grace the arrangement, bringing a sort of symphonic majesty. After the first vocal section, the sound fills out and turns heavier. There is an electronic meets metal vibe in place in some ways. The cut is decidedly proggy and has a lot of psychedelia built into it. I'm very much reminded of David Bowie in a lot of ways. The Queen reference still works in some ways, too, though. This is effective and powerful stuff. The synthesizer sounds are so cool, and the vocal hooks are positively infectious.
Let's now turn our attention to the video itself. The video is extended a bit from the song with the sound of waves (and actually video of dark water to correspond) begins this. An abandoned bridge can be seen over the water. There are abandoned vehicles on the bridge here and there.
Then the sound shifts to children playing on a playground, but you can see said playground, and it's deserted. Sounds of traffic are heard as we see an empty parking lot. The song proper begins there, with the piano coming up as a window in the center of the other image that gradually expands to fill the screen.
As the video continues, it becomes an array of video imagery that cuts from footage of the band playing to scenes from our modern day, with abandoned places getting replaced with BLM protests. It is a powerful visual montage, really. The whole thing ends with "Black Lives Matter" footage as the chanting takes control after the song ends. In a lot of ways, the video conveys a powerful message of its own. Don't take my word for it. Watch the video for yourself on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wArsuTZMGfM
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2020 Volume 5. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2020.
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