Artist: This Human Disease
Title: Dead Before Dawn
Type: 3 Track EP
Label: Self Released

I don’t give a rats arse for what’s happening in the mainstream world of rock/metal. Since I lost the Kerrang! TV channel which I would once flick onto every so often (granted, not for very long periods), I honestly have no idea what’s hip any more, but I know enough to say that nu-metal is dead. A corpse that’s been slowly decaying over a matter of years and is now writhing with maggots (oh, isn’t that what Slipknot once called their fans?) It did leave a half-worthy legacy in its wake however, with a handful of tunes that have become a perpetual mainstay of the alternative club circuit not to mention one or two damn fine albums such as Korn – Follow The Leader and SOAD’s debut. But I just have a hard time believing there are bands out there…NEW bands, young bands, that are playing this style of music when the mainstream has so obviously moved on, and it’s not quite old enough to be deemed retro “cool” yet. To admit to ever liking nu-metal it seems is akin to admitting you fancy your girlfriends mother – it’s something most sensible folk would just rather keep to themselves.

That said, I suppose it would only take one band to bring it all back to the fore. In recent years, I’ve reviewed a good few albums of this style and so far most have just been a stark reminder of why nu-metal’s decayed corpse should never be reanimated. Bland, insipid, uninspired rubbish. That, my friends, is where This Human Disease differ. Okay, I don’t think there is a single original idea to be heard – there’s plenty borrowed from all the bands you love to pretend you always hated and it’s a bit like playing spot the plagiarism! ‘GTFU’ brings the mid-90s era Sep groove while lacing in a really funky beatdown complete with rapping that has be thinking back to early Slipknot sound. ‘Viral’ has a bass-driven grungyness that gives a baggy pants-wearing nod to the Deftones or perhaps even a bit of Pantera, while ‘Never Coming Back’ begins with an intro that bears a certain similarity to Papa Roach hit ‘Between Angels And Insects’ before things really kick in with a massive dose of melody on this clean vocal driven number, which is perhaps my favourite of the three.

For all it’s derivativeness, this is actually an enjoyable listen. The songs are highly catchy and bouncy, and with an accessible pop edge, which is what you’d expect from a half decent nu-metal record. There’s a healthy amount of teenage angst, without too much self-pity and overall there’s a genuine spark there that I’ve found to be missing in many other bands attempting this style. It’s unchallenging stuff, but good for a trip down memory lane. And who knows, with a bit of work they could be the ones to bring nu-metal back to the mainstream.

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