Vlad in Tears: blood brothers running up that hill

If there is a song that sums up the year 2022, this is certainly a song written over 30 years ago, precisely in 1985. You may find it strange, but I am referring to “Running Up That Hill (A deal with God)”, written by none other than Kate Bush. The thing is, as you may already know – after all, even the doorman of my building knows – this song was rescued this year as the soundtrack of the Stranger Things series, in an emblematic scene in which Max needs to hear the song to survive (spoiler). Used in this new context, Kate Bush’s music gained another contour and interpretation, being discovered by generations who would never have heard of the singer if it weren’t for Netflix.

The coolest thing about it all, is that not only were covers rescued (a lot of them by the way), but new covers started to be made. And I say that it was a pleasant surprise to discover the cover of the amazing VLAD IN TEARS, this Italian band (as you can see, I’m not referring to Maneskin this time) which, although it is close to the cover made by Placebo, has a gothic and sadistic touch that takes Bush’s composition to another dimension. The track is one of 12 from the album “Porpora”, released in September, and what I can say is that it’s a track full of passion and fervor. Something I only remember hearing at some of U2‘s early messianic shows. The love these guys invest in this song is notorious, while avoiding all possible clichés. Despite the industrial references (Nine Inch Nails) and even New Metal (Linkin Park), Vlad in Tears manages to make a cover so beaten in 2022 an authorial song.

In addition to having an amazing name, VLAD IN TEARS is formed by three brothers Kris (vocals and piano), Dario (bass), Lex (guitar) and a school friend, Alex (drums). The group has participated in festivals such as Castle Rock, Hexentaz, Maximum Rock Fest, Autumm Moon and in 2016 participated in the European tour of the Finnish THE 69 EYES. Well, the shared DNA perhaps explains the origin of so much passion for music. That’s what I call blood brothers.