Veni Vidi Vinci by Meant To Be: A Metalcore Joyride from Croatia You Didn’t Know You Needed
Let’s cut to the chase: Veni Vidi Vinci is one of those albums that sneaks up on you like a caffeinated squirrel. Released in 2014 by Croatian rockers Meant To Be, this metalcore gem doesn’t scream “Grammy nominee,” but it sure screams “turn me up and let’s break something.” The trio channels raw energy with just enough melody to keep your ears from filing a restraining order. Plus, how could you not love an album title that sounds like Caesar got into a fistfight with Da Vinci?
The record kicks off with its titular track, Veni Vidi Vinci. It’s punchy, chaotic, and unapologetically loud—basically everything you want from metalcore without feeling like someone’s trying too hard (we see you, djent bros). What sticks out here? The breakdowns hit harder than your ex’s ghosting skills. And just when you think they’re gonna lose you in a whirlpool of noise, they throw in these cheeky little melodic riffs that make you go, “Wait…is this secretly catchy?” Yeah, it is. It’s like biting into a jalapeño popper—you know it’s gonna burn, but dang if it ain’t delicious.
Then there’s On The Top Of The World, which might as well be renamed Climbing Everest While Screaming Into A Microphone. This track has some serious swagger. The vocals bounce between growls and cleans so effortlessly, you’d think they’ve been doing this since kindergarten. There’s a moment around two-thirds in where the tempo shifts just slightly—it’s subtle, but man, does it slap. It’s the kind of part that makes you rewind three times because you can’t believe how good it feels. Picture yourself air-drumming at 3 AM while your neighbors contemplate calling the cops. That’s this song.
Oh, and we can’t forget Venice Lost A Needle. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the title means (did Venice misplace its sewing kit?), but who cares? The song slaps harder than most things released that year. It’s got groove for days and enough technical flair to remind you these guys aren’t messing around. Think of it as the cousin who shows up to family reunions wearing leather pants—they don’t say much, but everyone remembers them.
Here’s the kicker: this album came out under “Not On Label,” which basically translates to “we did this ourselves because rules are dumb.” And honestly, respect. These dudes didn’t need some bigwig label breathing down their necks—they just cranked out ten tracks of pure Croatian chaos and called it a day.
So, would I recommend Veni Vidi Vinci? Absolutely. Is it perfect? Nah. But it’s got personality dripping out of every riff, and sometimes, that’s all you really need. If anything, listening to this album will give you bragging rights next time someone says, “Name a Croatian metalcore band.”
Final thought: I bet if Caesar himself heard this album, he’d drop his laurel wreath and start headbanging. Now THAT’S art.
