Nothingface

Skeletons (TVT)
by Adrian Bromley

I used to like Nothingface, but as time goes on, the band seems to’ve modified the intense hooks and grooves that once made their heavy-set sounds explode on impact. Now the pummeling ways have been shed for a much more palatable, almost nü metal stride of sweet melodic hooks and distorted vocal effects. Yeah, this is Ozzfest material, for sure. Not to say that there aren’t a few good moments on Skeletons (“I Wish I Was a Communist” and “All Cut Up”), I just hoped the band would be able to further their intense momentum of 2000’s Violence disc. Seems it’s the norm nowadays for bands to grow out of their angst-ridden, rebellious ways, slow things down and soften it up for the masses. I continue to ignore releases like this, for the most part, and will continue to do so.
(23 East 4th St. New York, NY 10003)