One album, five EPs, and two mixtapes deep, VAMP arrived at a key moment in Magnolia Park's trajectory. Having already ventured into a harder, less pop-punk direction on tracks like "Do or Die" and "Animal," both off 2023's Halloween Mixtape II, VAMP found the Orlando natives taking their sound into a more (nu)metalcore direction. The result was an exciting mix of gothic, R&B-tinged modern heavy rock exemplified by the band's breakout hit "Shallow." Almost a year out from the release of VAMP, the band have returned with NIGHTS AFTER VAMP, a self-described "preluxe" edition of their sophomore album. These five new tracks—six if you include the acoustic version of "Shallow"—showcase the band's continued growth while also offering surprising synergy with the initial album's eleven tracks.
Right off the bat, these new tracks have a distinctly sexual energy. It's clear the success of "Shallow," the sexiest and most forthright track on VAMP, has emboldened the band, and lead singer Joshua Roberts in particular, to dig into the more fraught early stage of the relationship(s) that inspired so much of VAMP'S material. While there's a notable difference between the new tracks and the rest of the album—it's that old complaint of the Star Wars prequels looking more advanced than the original trilogy—the discrepancy works in practice, revealing a dark logic of its own. Putting these slicker, sexier songs at the top of the concept album gives a fresh context to the older tracks.
Where "Pain" opened VAMP with anger and bore strong Linkin Park and Sevendust influence, "Dangerous" layers modern R&B vocal stylings over atmospheric synths and bass. When the guitars finally arrive, the interplay with the other instruments in the mix is more precise, more dynamic, and more sophisticated. Even then, the Roberts' vocals maintain the sexy cool vibe. The electronic flourishes clue the listener in that this is a slow jam in disguise. Lyrically, the track hints at the more lurid imagery to come: "Said she want it dirty when we play / Said she want my money and my fame, ah / Sexy, won't you put it on my face? / I don't want to say it."
Similarly, "High," which features a guest appearance from Victor Viramontes-Pattison (Arrows in Action), finds the band doubling down on their mix of heavy and sexy. The pre-chorus riffs on Ginuwine, while the production (credited to Tristan Torres, Vincent Ernst, Freddie Criales, and Andrew Wade) keeps things sonically interesting and firmly planted in the 2020s. Given what comes after, it's worth wondering if a line like "I'll give it however you like" carries meaning beyond the immediate physical gratification. While others are more qualified to assess the album's Vampire Hunter D-inspired concept/storyline, the eventual vampire imagery is clearly fraught with regret. If this album is a kind of deluxe prequel while also carrying the words "nights after" in its title, it's not unreasonable to interpret the overarching concept as an examination of cyclical patterns of behavior. The events of VAMP happened before, and they will happen again. Pretty dark stuff.
If much of VAMP was about the hurt of failed relationships, these new tracks highlight the allure of relationships in their early stages. The self-awareness and self-loathing that cropped up in "Shallow" ("I hate myself more than you know") take hold in tracks like "Mindgames." ("When you told me that my friends are fake, I should've cut you off / Now I'm alone with no one left to call") and "Chasing Shadows." The latter features some of the most evocative production on the entire album as icy synths and an electronic beat underscore the flashes of wintry imagery in Roberts's lyrics about wanting to know "How to love you when I'm broken." Crucially, he never even questions how to become less broken.
"Ask For It" is easily the boldest of this new batch. The band even saw fit to highlight some of the lyrics on social media. The only thing wilder than a line like "Let's not pretend / That you don't want my hands around your neck / And all the things I do to make you wet / So, ask for it, ask for it" is the fact that it's the chorus. Just two years ago, this band was covering a track from A Goofy Movie. But even lyrics like these take on added meaning in contrast to a line from "Worship" ("Broke into my brain, then you grab me by the throat"). Here, again, the guitars are given ample support from the synths, casting the entire thing into a thoroughly modern sonic space befitting this subject matter.
In her review of VAMP, our very own editor-in-chief Lucia suggested "Shallow" would make a great acoustic version. And she was right. At first blush this seems like a pretty straightforward reworking of their breakout hit, but repeated listens reveal thoughtful, subtle touches throughout. The delicate guitar work and detailed production help Roberts to wring even more emotion out of the track, resulting in another clear standout.
Taken as a whole, NIGHTS AFTER VAMP suggests a band pursuing new creative avenues rather than completely reworking their sound to chase (admittedly deserved) success. Fortunately, these new additions consistently rank among the best material here. Far from a cynical cash grab, NIGHTS AFTER VAMP is the sound of a band expanding their sound and building on their strengths.
NIGHTS AFTER VAMP is available now via Epitaph Records. Check out our previous coverage to learn more about the upcoming tour of the same name.
