Single Review: Victoria Lies - Red (2026)
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Written: 21st July 2026
Formed in 2023, Victoria Lies are a Canadian metalcore band from Calgary, Alberta, featuring vocalist Brett Hetherington, drummer James Cuncannon, guitarists Chris Koehler and Rory Fitzsimmons and bassist Jay Powell. Having previously released the singles Trial By Fire, ...Ready For It? and Zerotonin, as well as performing across Alberta and appearing at festivals including Gatorfest II and Decimate Metalfest, the band are now preparing to release their debut full-length album, Vendetta, in October 2026. Red is the first single to be taken from that record.
Victoria Lies have spent some time developing a dark, lore-rich universe and Vendetta delves deeply into themes of power, violence, moral ambiguity, and personal trauma. Red marks the turning point where the main character, Victoria, undergoes her defining transformation. “The moment when Victoria becomes Victoria… heavy, disorienting, and urgent,” adds vocalist Brett Hetherington. The track begins with pummelling drums, punishing riffs and a cry of anguish as we are plunged into the murky world they create. Not sleeping much, I hate to say / The chemicals and the pill popping / Getting weaker by the day / I can't afford a better way / Can't keep going on like this / It's bleeding out from inside of me / I'll never be the same. Hetherington attacks the lyrics with unrestrained ferocity, inhabiting the character rather than simply narrating the story.
While the verses sit within established metalcore boundaries, the sheer conviction with which they are delivered by the entire band will make listeners sit up and listen. There is nothing held back as the quintet weave their tale. Aggression pours from the speakers, yet Victoria Lies demonstrate an equally keen understanding of tone and dynamic contrast. At the end of the first verse, a female voice delivers a line of dialogue that is credited to Victoria, further directing our attention towards the character.
Instruments fall away as a staccato spoken word section follows that introduces the antagonist as a constant presence in Victoria’s mind. From a storytelling perspective, it serves as her epiphany that sets her on a new path: revenge. When I close my eyes and see your red silhouette / A purpose forming from within I had not thought of yet / These vices have only wounded me, now I clearly see / The only thing that can heal me is seeing you bleed. Musically, a single throbbing pulse brings these thoughts into focus and there is something delightfully twisted about the way the band play the lyrics against the musical atmosphere.
Following a return to the musical themes of the verse, a short bridge leads us towards the chorus which explodes with cathartic melody. The cleaner vocals in the first part of the chorus are used with restraint, providing a meaningful contrast to the caustic bitterness of the verses. Guitarists Chris Koehler and Rory Fitzsimmons adopt a more shimmering, yet still vital, approach that conveys Victoria committing to and crystallising her chosen course of action. To forgive and forget / Yielding to my regret / Creating a fuelled death machine / Trust me this ain't over yet.
Throughout the track, bassist Jay Powell and drummer James Cuncannon provide a formidable foundation, their lockstep synchronisation with Hetherington in a crushing section just before the second chorus lending the passage an immense sense of weight. A blade’s too messy, what if I miss? A pivotal moment in Victoria’s journey, Red is set to be the fifth track on Vendetta and as it sets up the consequences of her choices, it will be fascinating to see how it fits into the wider story of the album.
With Red, Victoria Lies demonstrate an increasingly accomplished grasp of how to fuse storytelling and songwriting into a cohesive whole. What resonates most is the way the band balance ferocity, hook-laden passages and atmospheric flourishes, allowing the song to evolve naturally while maintaining its focus from beginning to end. Metalcore fans will relish the grooves, tension and sense of release woven throughout the track. While there are shades of Architects within its contemporary approach and traces of Infected Rain in some of its rhythmic interplay and contrasting musical textures, fans of bands such as Killswitch Engage, Atreyu and AFI should also find plenty to connect with here. As the first glimpse into Vendetta, Red not only stands on its own merits but also leaves the impression that Vendetta could prove to be a compelling addition to the modern metalcore landscape.
Red is out now. Watch the video here.
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