Viva Death ‘Illuminate’ Review: 90’s alt-rock supergroup has anthems to spare.

What do you get when combine members of Face to Face (Scott Shiflett, Trever Keith), Foo Fighters (Chris Shiflett) and A Perfect Circle and Weezer (Josh Freese)? You get an excellent throwback to heavy 90’s alternative rock, that’s what.

The band in question is Viva Death, unafraid of unleashing monster melodic hooks, euphoric choruses and monolithic riffing (achieved using baritone guitars), as shown on their latest album Illuminate (out Oct 26 on Functional Equivalent Recordings).

Ready to Go kicks off the album in fine fashion, acting as a mission statement, offering an odd but winning mix that simultaneously recalls the Foo Fighters, The Beatles and Orgy.

Sound The Alarm would be a huge radio hit if rock music still ruled the radio, featuring a massive widescreen chorus and surging guitars.

Windows combines elements of hushed electronica to conjure Bowie-esque soundscapes and melody, while Don’t Box Me In feels like Bauhaus gone heavy metal, and I mean that in the best way possible.

The band aren’t afraid to get experimental when the mood calls for it–take Two Hands, which combines ambient music with an odd injection of Spanish melody, or the pummeling industrial dirge Petitioning The Black Wall.

Likewise, Storm is a fusion of hard rock with experimental psychedelia, while New Terrors is a welcome injection of blues riffing that tips its hat to grunge.

At a whopping 14 tracks, Viva Death’s Illuminate offers serious bang for your buck, and should be a must listen for those needing a fix of unapologetic melodic rock with a quirky edge.

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