I’ve always had a soft spot for Nonpoint, ever since I heard “What A Day” from their 2001 debut, Statement. Blending the common nu-metal themes of the times with more eccentric and esoteric styles (latin, especially) and a whole load of personal character that has made them stand out from every other band before and after. They defy categorisation, and that might be their secret to success, leaving them free from being tarnished by any fleeting fad or “it” genre.On Vengeance, Nonpoint haven’t broken their original mould too much, growing still in the direction exhibited on 2005’s To The Pain, which showed the band simultaneously going in a heavier and more melodic (some would say commercial) direction. After the success of their cover of “In The Air Tonight” (which feature in the Miami Vice movie remake), the band sound more confident to try new things.
Elias Soriano’s vocals are more husky in the opening numbers of Vengeance, the melodies less overt, but at the same time still there.
The pace of this album is actually pretty slow, despite the urgency that comes across occasionally in the vocals. The title track typifies this – the vocals are pretty urgent, but the instrumentation behind it is not especially fast. This is the perhaps the only thing I found a little disappointing (only a little, mind). I was hoping for something a little faster and urgent, but after accepting the slower pace, the album really started to grow on me. Whether it’s the anger of “March Of War” and “Wake Up World”, or the more introspective and considered “What I Do Best”, “A Way Out” and “Breathe” (the latter two are particularly excellent songs).
Often it feels like the band are throwing nods to their previous output, perhaps something for the long-time fans that might have been wary after their successful, aforementioned cover-single. The songs all blend nicely together into a cohesive whole, which makes it difficult to really pick stand-out tracks. Some won’t like the “vanilla” feel of the songs (to quote another reviewer), as if you’re not paying attention you could be made to think you’re listening to just one long song. But, if you do listen properly, you’ll be able to hear that Nonpoint have written a solid rock album. Perhaps it doesn’t meet their previous albums in quality or experimentation, but that shouldn’t disqualify it from your collections.
A surprisingly slow-burning album, that should translate well into the live setting, it’s clear that Nonpoint are a band that, while purveying their own take on hard rock, will continue to survive, long after their peers have faded away.
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