On
Virtue,
the Voidz emphasize that, first and foremost, they are a band.
Julian Casablancas' name is gone from their moniker, and the elements of their music -- distorted beats and vocals, virtuosic guitars and synths -- coalesce into a style that's identifiably theirs. With the help of
Tyranny producer
Shawn Everett,
the Voidz bring some more clarity to that style, as well as a greater sense of fun. More often than on their bewildering debut, they find ways of indulging their anything-goes aesthetic without stranding their listeners. "Leave It in My Dreams" and "Lazy Boy" show that the pop skills
Casablancas honed with
the Strokes have a place in
the Voidz's much weirder world, while the Middle Eastern disco-metal of "QYURRYUS" is equally strange and engaging. And though
the Voidz are just as politically outraged as they were on
Tyranny, the targets of their anger come into sharper focus. They take aim at white privilege on "Pyramid of Bones," climate change on "Permanent High School," and the education system on "Think Before You Drink." Elsewhere, "We're Where We Were" sounds taut and purposeful as the band mashes up shouty punk vocals and metal's double kick drums, while the R&B-tinged "Pink Ocean" creates a surprisingly strong vibe with its murky synth atmospherics. ~ Heather Phares
