The djent movement is alive and well, thanks to bands like the UK act No Consequence. Their sophomore release for Basick Records, IO, continues where they left off a few years ago, but this time around their music is even more technical and they've added an even more potent dose of melodic metalcore to their sound. Hardcore styled bellows & screams, soaring clean vocals, and metalcore growls form the basis for the varied vocal attack, and you can expect a non-stop barrage of stop/start technical riffing, lead fills, and rhythms throughout IO. Sure, it's a formula that's been done quite well by the Between the Buried & Me, Periphery, Monument, and Within the Ruin's of the world, but there's a certain catchy quality to many of these songs, and the complex guitar work is so well done throughout, that it's easy to overlook the obvious comparisons. Great hooks can be found on memorable cuts such as "Enemy of Logic", "So Close to Nowhere", and "All That's Left", with Kaan Tasan spewing out raging extreme metal styles and soothing melodic vocals alongside those huge, bottom heavy Meshuggah influenced riffs & rhythms as well as blazing, technical lead lines. Guitar players Dan Reid & Harry Edwards really know their way around the fretboard, and bassist Tom Parkinson and drummer Colin Bentham lock into some serious grooves throughout. "Bury the Dept" is a tech-metal/prog/jazz-fusion monster, and the atmospheric "Sentient" lays the prog and jazz element on pretty thick for all those Opeth & Cynic lovers out there.
For a great mix of brutality, melody, and technicality, there's much to like here on IO. Some might scoff at the lack of originality and the bands willingness to dive right into waters that so many other groups are swimming in right now, but this is still very well done and enjoyable music here that should see No Consequence's stock continue to rise.
Track Listing
1. So Close to Nowhere
2. Name Your Price
3. All That's Left
4. Enemy of Logic
5. Ether
6. Bury the Debt
7. Sentient
8. Illusion of Choice
9. Coerce:Conform
10. What is Dead May Never Die
11. Vela
12. Unify
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