By TRACK LISTING:
- The Fixation
- Heavy is the Crown
- Lost in the Shadows
- The Traveler
- Nothingman
- An Awakening
- The Ghosts We Carry
- Promise Me
- Bleed for Better Days
- Lovesong
THE REVIEW:
I must admit I dragged my feet a bit writing this review as Metalcore isn’t normally my subgenre of listening choice. I’ll never outright dog on a record JUST because it’s not my usual type of material, but I knew I’d have a task discussing a style far less familiar to me. I was fairly ignorant about the history and progression of this particular flavor of Metal until I was tasked with reviewing Nothingman, the 10th studio release from AGE OF RUIN. I went down the rabbit hole of Metalcore evolution for several days trying to glean information, comparisons, and feedback.
Initially, I was expecting something “Mallcore-esque” (a la the MySpace era) that I’d struggle to find any redeeming qualities in. But this album offers a surprising amount of grit over gloss, something I was fairly surprised by.
The quintet, who hail from Fairfax, Virginia, have delivered music to confront rather than comfort – think dense riffing and grounded, relentless rhythm. This album isn’t chasing trends or “virality”. It makes no damned apologies for its commitment to Metalcore’s more uncompromising elements. That unyielding intensity will definitely be appealing to those who love the style.
“The Fixation” is a strong opening number that gets right to the point and goes pretty hard, with some notable guitar work that reminds me a lot of DARKEST HOUR and UNEARTH.
The title track, “Nothingman”, has a nice, almost folksy vibe to it that wanders away from the rest of the sound. It slowly builds into searing guitar wails and a sense of doom, but the following short track “An Awakening” sets us firmly back into the ferocity and aggression we’ve come to expect on the proceeding “The Ghosts We Carry”.
Lyrically, the album grapples with themes of existential frustration, inner conflict and disillusionment – all very true to the style they recreate – capped off with intense vocals which cycle between melodramatic and punitive.
Nothingman may not convert skeptics of the genre, and it’s not reinventing the wheel, but the band understands their lane and sticks to it with endearing tenacity and sheer force. You can hear their growth and fervor.
The album is available in full on the band’s BandCamp page, listed below.
RATING: 3/5
Recommended for those who enjoy the works of: DARKEST HOUR, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, BLEEDING THROUGH, UNEARTH, AT THE GATES
