The Victory Drive: Before I Self Destruct EP Review: Vocally-Charged

Most of the best writing comes from moments of distress and despair, for example; Beyonce’s Lemonade and just about anything from Adele. The Victory Drive’s, debut three-track EP Before I Self Destruct is the male perspective of lost love and broken relationships. The EP does house a glimpse of raw vocal range and creative instrumentals which are an adequate way to embark on this musical journey seeking longevity.

The Victory Drive first offers “Bad Romance,” which is the perfect opening track for the album. The cover of Lady GaGa’s 2009 hit is all The Victory Drive’s own, they reinvented the material by building it into a new idea rather than merely restating the original. With instrumentals including; piano, drums, electric guitar and touches of techno, the pop-alternative rock number drives and stomps you into a frenzy that ultimately turns into you playing air instruments.

Next on the album is “The Countdown Pt. II,” which demonstrates the best vocal performance on the EP. Once again, drums and guitars serve as the backbone of the instrumentation for the soft rock ballad as the raw vocals take center stage narratively expressing post-relationship regret; a sentiment listeners everywhere could identify with. “Wish that I could take it back and make up for all the ways I acted/Now I’ll never get it to back or make up for all the ways I acted” he intones, addressing his former flame.

Closing track “Dynamite,” uses metaphoric lyrics “I’ll blow it like dynamite” to illustrate guilt for a series of unfortunate events, cohesive with the theme throughout the album.

The Victory Drive, proves yet again that heartbreak always delivers. Although the EP does house a glimpse of powerhouse tenor vocals supported by creative and often multi-genre instrumentals gives a tease of what’s yet to come from the band.