Fake Baby – Bad Veins Fake Baby – Bad Veins (Buy)

Conflicted, I write this review of the Outliers EP from Bad Veins. After seeing this Cincinnati band open up for Frightened Rabbit, I’ve been following their ascending journey.  Currently, they’re on tour with Thrice, catering to thousands of screaming fans of varying ages.  Because of this pairing, they are, without a doubt, garnering praise from fans of multiple genres.  Here lie my mixed feelings of admiration and frustration with Bad Veins.

At times, I feel as if my enjoyment of the Outliers EP is merely due to it reminding me of bands I used to listen to nonstop such as Nightmare of You and The Notwist, making me a bit apprehensive to shell out an outrageously high rating.  Nevertheless, the EP is stellar. It’s filled with distorted vocals, well structured percussion, and highly effective lyrics.  They do the same things a lot of other bands do, but do it a shit ton better.

I can relate to what lead singer, Ben Davis sings, and can feel his words as I listen.  Seriously corny, but Bad Veins is a precise music machine that doesn’t stop with the previously mentioned qualities.  Sebastian Schultz is a phenomenal drummer and, together with Davis, shines on the stage.  They even have a telephone hooked into a recorder on stage that helps produce an even more distorted sound on selected vocals.

Though this bands reminds me of so many other acts, that list is filled with some of the best that the rock genre has to offer.  For its overall quality and injected emotions, I am giving this EP a 7.5.