The Revenge of Rock: The Virginmarys – King of Conflict

Alex Patel

The Virginmarys‰’s new album King of Conflict is the unfiltered embodiment of grunge in a new age. The album, released in the United States Feb. 12, seemingly came out of nowhere, but no one is complaining.

The Virginmarys are a relatively underground band from the North England. Formed in 2006, this three-man crew has toured with such acts as Slash, Skunk Anansie and Ash. King of Conflict is the band‰’s first studio album, helping expand the base for this fresh band. The lineup has Ally Dickaty on guitar and lead vocals, Danny Dolan on drums and backing vocals, and Matt Rose on bass and backing vocals.

Dickaty takes over in this record; his distinct vocals are full emotion with each note. Dolan and Rose act as amplifiers for Dickaty‰’s raw talent. That is not to take away from the other band members at all — the record would not be the success it is if the band members didn‰’t work together so well. The band wrote most of the music together, and the collective effort is what forges the bold energy in King of Conflict.

King of Conflict opens with “Dead Man‰’s Shoes,‰” which is a thrill ride to be sure. The main riff is relatively simple but extremely catchy. It‰’s the music that makes you want to jump up and rock out on an air guitar, or maybe that‰’s just what I did. The album title derives its name from the lyrics of the song.

Every song on the record is just as impressive as the next. Like traditional alternative/grunge music, the band transitions between softer verses and loud choruses. However, soft is a relative term because the verses are as well executed and entertaining as the choruses.
‰Û¢ “Portrait of Red‰” contains arguably the best guitar solo in the record. The build up to the chorus is amazing. When Dickaty finally gets there, it is just 100 percent unabashed rock right in the face. There is no escaping it.
‰Û¢ “Bang Bang Bang‰” sounds just like the name: an explosion. In this song, the verses are drawn out and there is a garage rock feel to it, but the chorus literally screams grunge. The music feels so alive and becomes less of a spectatorship and more of an experience. It‰’s not surprising that “Bang Bang Bang‰” is one of the most popular tracks in the album.
‰Û¢ “Running for my Life‰” and “My Little Girl‰” have some of the best guitar performances on the record.

The second half sounds like an entirely new band. It is composed entirely of solo acoustic performances by Dickaty, almost all written by him. A lot of the songs are the same, and the solo acoustic aspect gives it a much more slower and mellow feel. The bonus tracks showcase Dickaty‰’s vocal talents outside of heavy rock and loud lyrics. The emotion is more nuanced and touching; perhaps the best example of this experience is “Stripped.‰”

There seems to be some commentaries about love and a girl(s) in the record. Most songs refer to some girl at one point or another. Most of the times, it is a generic references without a specific name, but it is still there. Even the cover art features the bare back of a woman with black V on her back. Dickaty might be talking about past relationships or newfound adventures, but ultimately the listener has to discern the meaning for him or herself. The art is open to a number of interpretations.

My biggest criticism of King of Conflict is that it is too repetitive, but there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Most songs follow the same pattern, but they are all well-made and a pleasure to listen. The Virginmarys have a certain style and they stick to it; there is no need to change it if that is what the band enjoys. It would be nice to see the group break out of their comfort zone a little bit and maybe try something new in their next record.

All things aside though, the current record is simply amazing. The debut album of an upcoming band usually sets the tone for the later trajectory in the future. The Virginmarys came out strong with King of Conflict. They defined themselves and have plenty of leeway to try new things in the future. After one record, the Virginmarys have made a place for themselves in the ever-increasingly competitive music world.

Popular culture has largely moved past grunge, but the band‰’s alternative style is reinventing a dying genre. If nothing at all, The Virginmarys are the revenge of rock.