Review |Sick N’ Beautiful – Horror Vacui

Frontiers Music Srl

Sick N’ Beautiful, the Italian space-rock band known for their otherworldly appearance and futuristic sound, has been consistently pushing the boundaries of rock music. Their most recent singles, ,,My Wounds’’ and ,,Death Police’’, released in 2024, continue to showcase their unique blend of heavy riffs and sci-fi aesthetics, preceding their brand-new album `Horror Vacui’, Latin for ‘Fear of Emptiness’.

The band’s evolution from their debut `Hell Over Hell’ through `Element of Sex’ and their explosive Frontiers recording debut `Starstruck’ demonstrates their commitment to crafting a distinctive sound that combines hard rock with cosmic themes. Their performances and elaborate costumes are a strong selling point, creating an immersive experience that transports audiences to another dimension, with `Horror Vacui’ creating a new experience that will convey more of the beautiful and sickness!

ALICE COOPER

Sick N’ Beautiful merge classic melodic shock rock influences with modern structures and production techniques and futuristic concepts solidifying their position as innovators in the current metal scene. Their consistent output, including various singles, show the constant evolution while maintaining their core identity, and `Horror Vacui’ even goes beyond. The diversity that previous marked their thrive is explored to the extreme on the storming opener ,,(Human is) Overrated”, with its forward punching industrial elements and guttural vocal delivery of Herma Sick, alternating melodic, the Italian space crusaders explore the musical universe. The chorus is as heavy as it is melodic, displaying the band’s versatility. The heavy’d up tracks all pack tremendous stride with ,,Death Police” leaning strongly on its bass and drum interplay, as where ,,The Rat King” draws from tribal beats and rap-styled vocals, also checking in with Marilyn Manson’s ,,The Beautiful People” on the techy choruses.

,,Hate Manifesto” leans on their classic tracks and the opening solo kicking it into gear is followed by Alice Cooper-like rousing choirs before going slick and ponderous on us. The song’s fist pumping elements and brawl kept in the rousing chorus will make this a festival track with any field bouncing front to back. ,,Raise the Dragon” blends the same elements and twists it up with wonderful vocals and intense musical performances. Solos fly into the front while the drums hammer with intense dynamics and rapid double bass salvos also leaning on the roaring bass lines that line up with the riffs. Synths rain into the mix constantly, pasting the ominous overhaul shut.

SPOOKY GLOOM

Going melodic the hammering tech intro of ,,My Wounds” opens to a huge groove transforming melodic and Herma vocals varying with echoing melodic accolades and wailing elements. L0R1’s lead guitars pierce the skin and the scorching riffs from Nemes’ rhythm guitars are spiraling. The ponderous groove morphs clinical frequently with the hammering stance of Evey in the center. Band leader Big Daddy Ray lays down his dynamic chordal bass lines exploring licks and melodies weld onto the riff construction.

These melodic tracks enhance Sick ‘n Beautiful’s creative marksmanship, uniting sci-fi and dystopian atmospheres with dark melodic musicianship and gothic tinged elements, while maintaining the heavy output needed to impact with their stage appearance as interstellar marauders. Wonderful is the mid paced and ominous ,,Haunted” that preceded the record, generating chills. Herma’s vocals are wailing and packing power, while also embed a sultry sub note that is in line with her radiant appearance. The eerie vibe is captured extremely well in the hauntingly beautiful video, and when it unravels the song discharges an impressive instrumental breakdown following Herma’s grim narrative spell casted vocals.

The towering guttural roar is followed by an impressive short solo that elevates the song’s dynamics and returns to the fold with swirling fretboard magic. The same spooky gloom is resuscitated on the withering ,,God Save the Bride” that lingers onwards before sudden been lit in flames. Herma switches melancholic to melodic and shifts the vocal gears constantly. Keys, drum and bass scatter with time changes as the song progresses on a heavier trail. Ultra-dynamic as if there space vessel hit lightspeed.

SICK ‘N BEAUTIFUL – THE CONCLUSION

The marching stance storms forward on the clinical synth ‘n riff driven ,,Septem Maleficas” that touches raw energy energized with Rammstein elements and intense anger-laden vocals, and likewise clinical stormer ,,Railride” with its gutted vocals and melodic accolades. Though you don’t expect the heavy unload of drum and scorching guitars upon its title, ,,Diggity Dig Dig” fires on all engines shooting into gear with rolling tribal drum patterns and transformed vocals atop the modern guitar noise and singalong vibe of the chorus, closing `Horror Vacui’ is style.

For fans of space rock, theatrical performances, and music that pushes genre boundaries, Sick N’ Beautiful’s `Horror Vacui’ delivers an out-of-this-world experience that builds on their established reputation for combining hard-hitting music with extraterrestrial flair. With their spaceship geared up to explore the widest and darkest parts of the universe, their music shoots into gear accordingly. It is modern, fresh and varied, while it packs intense energy and wonderful creativity. With the beautiful and captivating Herma at the helm, the band features a captivating front woman able to make hearts skip a beat with her immersive versatile vocals and radiant appearance.

Release date: 18 April 2025