Panic Theory by Vacant Skies
Vacant Skies is a band from Flagstaff, AZ. They just released a new album, Panic Theory, on Allegedly Records, one of my favorite labels because it’s run by some of the dopest people in the scene and puts out rad tunes to boot.
Based on my research, they say they are for fans of AFI, Turnstile and Authority Zero. I can see that. It wasn’t my initial thought, but that’s because I don’t listen to either band very much other than older AFI. I picked a song at random, and I quickly thought they’d have fit right on that first Fat Music for Fat People CD that was handed out for free to me in the halls of the old 9:30 Club in DC as I waited to gain entrance to check out NOFX during their early 1990’s Punk in Drublic tour. The drums are very Good Riddance, Lagwagon-esque and the vocals range from skate punk style a la Millencolin to melancholy singing that would fit with goth/metal bands like The Cult to some aggressive hardcore barking/screaming in there as well. Sick guitar solos abound.
Stand out Songs:
Panic Theory: It’s like a compilation of the best parts of several Fat Wreck bands: Good Riddance, No Use for a Name, Strung Out, etc. with a soft jazz interlude that would fit right into a NOFX song. But then it goes into this distorted bass riff that is definitely not a Fat Wreck sound and kinda reminded me of the bass in Metallica’s Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth). It’s a pretty dope 3 minute instrumental which gets you ready for what’s to come.
Wake Up Call: Love the opening riffage. Definitely got that double picking muted metal sound that can go so well with a skate punk song. The solos and leads are super tasty. They bring to mind licks I’d hear in mega epic metal bands like DragonForce. Loved the vocals doing the uh uh uh after the intro.
In a short questionnaire about the album, the band stated: “[We] don’t think it is possible to choose a “best song’. Each of these songs are created and written from a very personal place, but if we had to choose, ‘The Wake-Up Call’ would be a song that we have all agreed shows each of the strengths that each member brings to the table within Vacant Skies.”
Who’s in the Mirror: I could see myself skateboarding all day to this or just thrashing around at the VANS Warp Tour in the 1990s. Love the ska break down there. Definitely see the Authority Zero comparison here. Song also has some sick melodic vocal harmonies going on too.
The Space Between Us: I just dig the mixture of brutal hardcore vocals and clean melodic vocals. They aren’t the first band nor the last to do it, but when it works well, it works well, and that’s why bands keep doing it. This works well.
Damaged Visions: Great mix of metal and punk with full throated hardcore vocals mixed with the melodic again. There’s a floor punching breakdown followed by a blazing guitar solo that I could see forming fans into a sick circle pit.
Poisoned Kiss: Are those chimes? I’m pretty sure those are chimes! It’s not at all overindulgent, it fits the epicness of the song and as do the sick group harmonies that just lift the song up.
A solid record for sure, and if they are any good live, which I’m sure they are, they’d be a great fit for The Fest in the upcoming years.
Panic Theory and their other release, Circa 18 are available in CD format, as well as all streaming platforms.
Pick up the CD at: https://www.allegedlyrecords.com/product-page/vacant-skies-panic-theory-cd
Band Bio:
It is no news that each member of vacant skies has a vast history within the music scene in northern Arizona. Marc could be found fronting and playing guitar in his band ‘Nothing Add All’, Larry and Jade were crushing skulls (literally) in their horror punk act ‘GRIMM’, and Eric was slappin’ strings in his band ‘Belletrist’. Vacant Skies began in June of 2021 in Flagstaff, AZ but was not a complete band until October 2021 when Eric joined and took the role as bass player. After the demise of ‘GRIMM’, Jade and Larry made it known that music was something they wanted to pursue full time. After a short time, Marc contacted Larry and immediately began sending and working on demos, which the first of those demos is now “Who’s in the Mirror’ and ‘Buried Beneath The Surface”. We began jamming and continued working on these songs, as well as a few others, and immediately began recruiting for a bass player. Once we found Eric, it was like all the pieces were finally together. We continued writing and created a collection of songs, which we debuted at our first show, a house show, on 11/29/21.
Band Members:
Larry Reynolds: vocals
Marc Cornejo: Guitar
Jade Lloyd: drums
Eric Corum: Bass
Band Socials:
Domain: www.Vacantskiesaz.com
Bandcamp: Vacantskiesaz.Bandcamp.com
Instagram: Vacantskies_az
Facebook: Vacantskiesaz
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCawX6bVPdiN6H3W25QVO4ZA?sub_confirmation=1
Upcoming shows/tours:
12/30 - Flagstaff, AZ @ The Hive
“The Runaway Tour”
1/21/23 - Albuquerque, NM @ The Launchpad
1/22/23 - Denver, CO - 7th Circle
1/23/23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Quarters DLC
1/24/23 - Las Vegas, NV - Cemetery Pulp
2/4/23 - Flagstaff, AZ @ The Hive
2/10/23 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Yucca North
3/11/23 - Flagstaff, AZ @ The Hive
“The Damaged Visions Tour”
4/1- Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
4/2 - Anderson, CA @ Demented Designs Shop
4/3 - Portland, OR @ Eastside Bar and Grill
4/4 - Seattle, WA @ IP
4/7 - Pocatello, ID @ Sixes LLC
4/8 - Missoula, MT @ Monk’s Bar
4/9 - Fargo, ND @ TBA
4/11 - Rapid City, SD @ Rapid City Gutter
4/12 - Omaha, NB @ Dream On The Green
4/13 - Kansas City, MO @ Sk8bar
4/14 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Flux
4/16 - Arlington, TX @ Growl Records
4/17 - El Paso, TX @ BFE Rock Club
4/18 - Tucson, AZ @ The Edge
4/20 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
4/21 - Prescott, AZ @ The Den
Speaking of live shows, I’ve got a playlist I’m working on featuring bands I want to or love to see live and this band totally deserves to be on that list! Hopefully I’ll catch them soon, and so should you!
Bands to See Live:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4d5o5aeodHjkk2GWaos9Xg?si=b4605b69816647b9
