The Ultimate PTV Rewind

Like every other Mexican scene kid in 2013, the members of Pierce the Veil were my idols.

Pierce the Veil was IT for those outcast scene teens of music. It was dark and energetic, filled with rock that incorporated the perfect mix of rebellious lyricism. PTV's image catered to anti-societal norms, and was loaded with typical angst aesthetic of their time. Their sound can be placed into "emo rock" or alternative genres of music, but it's honestly pretty unique to me. There isn't really a specific genre that comes to mind, because PTV is its own form of rock and screamo. But for all the Warped Tour teens of the early 2010's, this band was essential to anyone's playlist.

All I can say is, Pierce the Veil ruled the scene. Regardless of the critics saying they were just full on "cringe", it was invigorating for people! They topped charts in Alternative Press magazine and were basically a common household name for emo kids of the world. If you went to the mall, you could find several displays full of PTV t-shirts, rubber bracelets, and merch at Hot Topic.

PTV was it's own trend, lifestyle, and fashion sense!

It was every girl's dream to see their long-haired, tattoo-covered idols appear on stage. For PTV, this band was composed of Vic Fuentes, Jaime Preciado, Tony Perry, and Mike Fuentes. Vic was the main vocalist, and heart-throb of the group for millions of fans!

Breaking Down PTV's Discography

Revisiting memory lane for my Pierce the Veil phase isn't really hard to do. Even nowadays, I still put on their songs when I'm cleaning or working on my art projects. The scene phase never really left me, and I'm hoping many angst filled teens could say the same as adults! For this section, I would like to take my reader's through the unique elements of each PTV album and my favorite songs.

Without further ado, let's get to it!

1. A Flair for the Dramatic: 2007

This album was the debut of Pierce the Veil, and included many recognizable songs for me, such as "Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides."

The title of this album is a play on getting fame and attention. PTV certainly kickstarted their band's representation into the public eye after releasing this gritty album. This was a project full of songs that catered to the core of teen angst. Although PTV felt isolated from the general ideas or assumptions about fame, they still grew popular in the sphere of Warped Tour hits.

>The Writer's Pick: "Yeah Boy and Doll Face"

With a knife in the back

And a grip on the glass, it's cold

And I don't want to be here

I guess I'm never comfortable or situational

• This song was about failed relationships and painful emotions from breaking it off with someone you still love
• Vic shows heavy and dramatic emotions in his singing, which a lot of teens could relate to! (including me, of course).

2. Selfish Machines: 2010

After gaining success from their first studio album, Pierce the Veil dove deeper into the confusing and troubled emotions universal to teenage years. It was a heartbreaking album, with various scenarios related to mental health and symbolism of loneliness or hard times.

The lyrics were morbid, strange, and startling. Yet, they conveyed an essence of passion that many fans were drawn to!

>The Writer's Pick: "Besitos"

Yeah!

We all break down

Sometimes the bedroom walls become my only friends

But they were there from beginning to end

• The words were darker, full of scratchy sounds, and cut deep!
• Even though this was a more sad and emotional song, it was a song that remained a favorite of mine for years. Every angst filled teen could relate to feeling the downward spirals PTV conveys in their songs.

3. Collide with the Sky: 2012

This album was a shining gem of Pierce the Veil's music history! It included a collaboration with Kellin Quinn, the lead singer of Sleeping with Sirens, which drove fans nuts with excitement. This was a combination that all fans were dying to see, and this album further brought PTV into emo stardom.

>The Writer's Pick: "A Match Into Water"

Make me a promise here tonight, let's go

Dreamers and early graves, I never wanted to be this way

• This song is a deep dive into topic of mental health, as Vic sings about feeling the loss of a friend
• My favorite elements of this song included the opening guitar riffs and the abrupt transitions!

4. Misadventures: 2016

Wrapping up the era with Misadventures, PTV left fans with a familiar taste yet something new to add. These songs were similar to the startling delivery of their previous albums, but had a much softer tone to it. I loved the slight pop elements and imagery that PTV includes in songs such as "Floral and Fading". Overall, it was a nice conclusion to their long-standing reign over emo rock.

>The Writer's Pick: "Circles"

Listen, do you hear my heart beat thump over the monitors?

You pretend to close your eyes

Don't breathe in

Pieces of candy and leaks of light

• The opening lines of this song make me smile extra wide, because I reflect on the old days of PTV and attending concerts. Because it was written in 2016, there is visible change that I see in the type of songs PTV released and their vibe.
• Circles is upbeat, lively, and extra fun to sing along to in the car (yes, even as a young adult).

That concludes this PTV packed review 😊 Hope you enjoy the playlist linked below, and redraw that winged eyeliner once again!

My Playlist ❤