VANITY INSANITY – Insanity Fair [CD version +2] (2026) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

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Swedish / Finnish hard rockers VANITY INSANITY delivered a very strong debut album in 2017, establishing the band as one of the new promises from the Scandinavian scene. The group founded by Viggo Vain Hanssen (lead vocals, guitar) and Benjamin Bagge (guitar, background vocals) experimented some personal troubles, released some singles and had a rhythm change in between.
It took the guys almost 9 years, but the new, sophomore VANITY INSANITY full length album is here. Titled “Insanity Fair“, we have in exclusive on 0dayrox the physical edition including 2 bonus tracks. And both are excellent.
Musically, VANITY INSANITY put themselves as “influenced by ’80s American Californian sleazy hard rock stylings” and the first reference in sound we heard is early SKID ROW. Not with same range, but Viggo Hanssen has a vocal color similar to Sebastian Bach, and that’s a good thing! Just hear one of the bonus tracks (and album highlight) “Beautifully Broken”.
Production is full, crunchy, double guitar attack driven, plenty of groove.

“Opening Night” is basically the entrance gate into the whole experience. It sets the mood and pulls you into the madness of “Insanity Fair”. Then the title track really dives deeper into that feeling of society spinning between reality and illusion, where nobody really knows what’s true anymore.
“Hider” offers more heavy riffing, a song about about people we all know — talented, intelligent, genuinely good people who stay invisible because they don’t want attention or maybe don’t believe in themselves enough. On the other hand, “Wheel of Misfortune” is about how life can suddenly turn against you no matter how hard you try. Sometimes bad luck just hits out of nowhere. The latter and ”Hold On” offer some more classic sounding sleazy riffage with a strong late 70s / early ’80s hard rock touch.

”Fake It ’Til You Make It’ draws a bit more from the golden days of MOTLEY CRUE and RATT, at least before they go all Motörhead… and, aha, I see what you did there! The song is of course an ode to the band’s own influences. Any fans of the first two bands should definitely check this out!
The album continues with yet another cool riff in the fun rocker in ”See Me Coming”. Hell yeah! Slow, sleazy and stonery! Love it! It’s really about being hungover and how we’re creatures of habit who rarely learn from our mistakes, or choose what we know is good for us.

”Work, East, Sleep, Repeat” starts off with an almost RUSH-like rhythmic pattern, but soon enters into heavy, crunchy sleaze-chugging territory, while the chorus is almost thrash-ish. “Work, Eat, Sleep, Repeat” is probably one of the most direct songs lyrically. It’s about modern working life and that endless cycle where people feel trapped just trying to survive month to month. It doesn’t matter what political system you look at — a lot of people feel burned out and disposable.
”Voluntary Enslavement Of The Mind” rocks with razor guitars, sexy vocals and gang choruses. This is probably one of the darker tracks conceptually. It’s about technology, social media, digital dependency — and how easily people can lose individuality or freedom of thought without even realizing it.

Bonus tracks are very good too. ‘Beautifully Broken’ starst with clean guitars and big vocals, slow but intense. Then the song grow up into a moving midtempo rocker with great guitars. “The End” go for the throat with fist on the air choruses and a catchy rhythm.

If you’re a fan of classic, melodic, American late 80s sleazy hard rock with an updated Scandinavian-type of production, you need to hear VANITY INSANITY new album. The guys are great musicians, write kick as songs, and manage everything by themselves.
Well done VANITY INSANITY. Highly Recommended

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01 – Opening Night
02 – Insanity Fair
03 – Hider
04 – Wheel Of Misfortune
05 – Hold On
06 – Fake It ‘Til You Make It
07 – See Me Coming
08 – Work, Eat, Sleep, Repeat
09 – Voluntary Enslavement Of The Mind
BONUS TRACKS:
10 – Beautifully Broken
11 – The End

Viggo Vain Hanssen (lead vocals, guitar)
Benjamin Bagge (guitar, background vocals)
Johan Andersson (drums)
Fredrik Bergström (bass, background vocals)

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www.bengans.se/vanity-insanity-fair