ALBUM REVIEW – Nothing More’s latest album ” Carnal ” released on 22nd November via Better Noise Music

Recommended for fans of: Bad Omens, Architects, Bad Wolves, Versus Me.

The Texan rock band are giving nostalgia a new lease of life as they return to the rock and metal scene with their newly remastered album ‘Nothing More’ in honour of their 10 year anniversary.

Their is not much that I can say about the original ‘Nothing More’ album that has not already been said. Its a masterpiece of rock and metal and features some of the bands most popular tracks to date, including Jenny, I’ll Be Okay and This Is The Time. There was something for everyone in their 2014 release; including gutteral vocals, fiery instrumentals, and even hints of electronic/drum and bass, all introduced with the suspense building Ocean Floor and rounded off with the strange but oddly fitting outro song Pyre.

In keeping with their origin, tracks 1 to 17 are a classic encapsulation of the original album sound; bold, passionate and full of energy. From the mournful and ballodic lyrics of I’ll Be Ok and God Went North to the fiery and thunderous instrumentals of Mr. MTV, If I Were, and Sex And Lies; Nothing More did not waste any time trying to improve what we already knew to be great. These songs are an amazing example of remastering done correctly as they provide emphasis and enhancement to each track’s best features without changing what fans already love about them.

That being said, I am certainly not complaining about the new versions either.

I have always been a sucker for a well-done remake and the remaining 5 tracks certainly worked their way onto my list of favourites very quickly. This Is The Time’s Remix was probably the song that impress me the most, considering i’m normally one to want to add some heavy rock and roll rather than take it away, but the new rhythms more electronic style actually serves to empower the vocals and gives a new re-imagining to a song that was already very unique. To make something sound completely different and yet still the same is a rare achievement, and certainly not something that is pulled off easily when it comes to music, but this track does it extremely well.

 Here’s To The Heartache, Jenny and This Is The Time’s acoustic and piano versions are equally successful in encapsulating their predecessors power and beauty, even if it is done in a way that lowers the energy and emphasises things like the vocals or the individual instruments rather than changing or spinning the genre. I have to say though that this was always going to be a win for me because their is something so incredible raw and unmatched about an acoustic cover that reaches the soul in a way that not much else can. Jenny trades gut-wrenching anguish for mournful sorrow and This Is The Time swaps passion and anger to kindle inspiration and recognition. Even Hears To The Heartache, despite keeping more to its original design and rhythm, has been given a new sound that brings a new outlook to the song without retracting its intensity. The tracks remain wonderful because of what they were and are also incredible for what they have become. Nothing is ruined, nothing is lost, and that is something that all reimaginings should strive for. Build on what was already brilliant and you are guaranteed to succeed.

And hey, even if the new versions are not for you, your favourite is just a few short clicks back up to track number 1. This is new, this is classic, this is everything you could hope for when you hear remastering and reimagining.

And its everything we know and love about Nothing More.

Track List

1. Ocean Floor
2. This Is The Time
3. Christ Copyright
4. Mr. MTV
5. First Punch
6. Gyre
7. The Matthew Effect
8. I’ll Be Ok
9. Here’s To The Heartache
10. If I Were
11. Friendly Fire
12. Sex & Lies
13. Surface Flames
14. Take A Bullet
15. Jenny
16. God Went North
17. Pyre
18. This Is The Time (Remix)
19. Jenny (Acoustic)
20. This Is The Time (Acoustic)
21. Mr. MTV (Live on SiriusXM)
22. Here’s To The Heartache (Piano Version)