Buried in the middle of this album is “Katrina”, an instrumental track that serves as the eye of a storm called “Wilt & Rise”. The rest of the album is a storm indeed that crashes and rages around you while vocalist Chlo Edwards lets loose with a series of hoarse screams.

Vales has taken a cue or two from outfits such as Touche Amore and managed to combine beauty with brutality, restrained by tight rhythms. Edwards may steal most of the attention but it’s not for lack of trying from the rest of the band. They do a pretty bang up job on tracks like “Scripted”, the moody “Branches” and the intense closer that is “Waterfalls”. The only qualm that I have with “Wilt & Rise” is that Edwards’ voice becomes a bit monotonous after a couple of tracks.