Artist: Nonpoint
Title: Miracle
Type: Album
Label: Powerage

Nu metal is sometimes an oft maligned genre. I personally think that is due to the number of acts that could play live, Soil and Drowning Pool for example, being overshadowed by the likes of Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit that have to align themselves to assorted drum machines, sequencers and tape machines to get anywhere near their album sound when they’re onstage. As such, some bands that can play the sound live have been relegated and ignored. The aforementioned Soil and Drowning Pool, despite a live pedigree and an unmatchable live touring ethic have not hit the same stadium filling level, and Nonpoint is in danger of being the same.

‘Miracle’ is an album of undoubted competencies, from vocals, to guitar, bass and drums, that could easily be dismissed as the art of the producer rather then the skill of the band. However, a certain indefinable roughness sets them apart from the note perfect and overproduced major label corporate bitches, an edge that leeks through in ‘Frontlines’ and ‘Looking Away’; this is a band I could actually imagine playing their sound live with just guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, not relying on a host of sequencers to fill out the depth of their tracks. Nowhere is any track so over layered that it sounds like the primary force was the engineer rather then the band. ‘5 Minutes Alone’ has a particular rough edge, hinting at the early attack of Pantera in its layered vocal/guitar blast, adding immeasurably to the albums whole with its Southern Rock blast and breakdown.

I’ve never heard Nonpoint live in the UK, despite their recent Download spot, but on the strength of this album, will happily add them to the list of bands to catch on stage. ‘Miracle’ has every indication of being a solid introduction to a solid live act.

http://www.myspace.com/nonpoint
http://www.nonpoint.com