VEER is a hard rock band based in the historic and charming Maryland capital of Annapolis. Formed in 2016, the band consists of brothers Ronald (vocals and guitar) and Jon (drums) Malfi, Ryan Fowler (lead guitar), and Christian Mathis (bass). They hit their stride in 2018 with the release of their debut album Apocalyptic, Baby, which made the Amazon Top 100 Rock Albums list. That same year, they won a Maryland Music Award for Best Rock Band, then went on to win Best Rock Song for their 2017 debut single, “Come Clean,” by the World Songwriting Awards, an international organization that promotes and recognizes songwriting in various genres throughout 129 countries around the globe. They’ve had the pleasure of opening for such acts as Buckcherry, Sponge, Fuel, Puddle of Mudd, Trapt and 40 Below Summer, and their aggressive and melodic style of rock and riveting live performances have earned them a loyal following throughout the mid-Atlantic region

The band followed Apocalyptic, Baby with a four-track EP Shut Up and Breathe in 2019, then two excellent singles – “Red Tide” in December 2020 and “Science” in November 2021 both of which I reviewed. (Those reviews can be found in the “Related” links at the end of this post.) On July 22nd, they dropped their long-awaited second album Soft Machines, featuring 12 tracks, including “Red Tide” and “Science”. It’s a solid work with no throwaway songs, but to keep this review from running on too long, I’ll touch on my favorites.

“Science” kicks off the album in a big way, with super gnarly psychedelic guitar riffs layered over an otherworldly backdrop of spacey undulating synths, throbbing bass and thunderous drums, all of which create a rather unsettling mood appropriate to the title. Band vocalist Ronald says “‘Science’ is about fact versus fiction, hard science versus fantasy.” The beautifully executed and surreal video, created by band drummer Jon, has a futuristic, space-themed feel, in keeping with the song’s subject matter.

“Red Tide” has a moody, grunge undercurrent that gives it somewhat of an early Pearl Jam vibe, with a touch of Creed thrown in for good measure. The instrumentals are fantastic, with layers of intense gnarly guitars over a fuzz-coated shimmery riff that serves as the basis for the song’s ominous melody. Christian lays down a throbbing bass line in perfect accompaniment with Ryan’s moody riff, while Jon fervently attacks his drum kit, pounding out the powerful rhythm with impeccable timing. As to the song’s meaning, Ronald said it’s about “the repetitive nature of human beings, continually making the same mistakes over and over—be it in society in general or our personal lives.” The album’s title is taken from a lyric in the song: “Welcome, all you kings and queens, you soft machines!” His raw, impassioned vocals convey a strong sense of exasperation as he wails the refrain “I’ve been here before“.

VEER’s skill for writing catchy and beautiful melodies is showcased on “Photograph“, a poignant song that has Ronald lamenting about a broken relationship and his past mistakes: “When I stop, look back on the pieces, these broken shards seem to light the way. Cause I remember your photograph, you kept it with mine. And I remember how we both looked back, it was a matter of time. I’ll bide my crime.” I love the strong driving rhythms, gritty guitars and Ronald’s wonderful plaintive vocals. And on the superb rock ballad “Carry On“, they inject a healthy dose of Americana into the mix to create an arresting and beautiful song. Ronald nearly breaks our hearts as he pleads “Well I’m on my knees, beggin’ please don’t go. Well I’m on my knees, beggin’ please come home. Still we carry on.”

“Overcome” is a dark and stunning grunge song that seems to touch on survival in the face of adversity: “I will lose my mind, I will lose my mind out there. In time, overcome.” Ryan and Ronald’s dual jagged guitar riffs, layered over a deep chugging rhythm, are a thing of wonder. The guys keep the dark, grungy vibes going strong on “A New Place (Pretty Loser)“. I love the haunting and cinematic feel of this song.

Arguably one of the standouts on Soft Machines, “Figure it Out” is a magnificent rock song, with a glorious mix of shimmery guitars and raging riffs over a powerful foundation of throbbing bass and pummeling drums. To my ears, the song has a discernable Shinedown feel, and in fact, Ronald’s vocals even sound like Shinedown front man Brent Smith, especially in the chorus when he yells “Breathe out, when you’ve gotta find a reason to learn“. The guys serve up another generous helping of grungy vibes on the anthemic closing track “Keep it Good“, where they pull out all the stops to showcase their impressive musical talents. Running nearly six minutes, the song is a tour de force of intricate gnarly riffs, buzzing bass and smashing drums, making for a satisfying end to an outstanding album.

Connect with VEER:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Stream their music:  Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Purchase on their Website