Nerve Gas TragedyIf you've heard of these guys I'm sure you already know that 4/5 of the members were from the final days of All Out War. The band formed when Mike Score, founding member and vocalist of AOW decided to leave the band abruptly in 2004. The remaining members decided to continue on under a new name and enlisted the services of Will Kummerer on vocals. Their first release, "Written In The Blood Of The Dead" came out back in 2005 on Spook City Records.
I always enjoy the releases SCR puts out because they always strive to found some of the heaviest and most brutal bands that still maintain a foot hold in the hardcore scene. This band could easily fit in on any heavy metal label with their brand of metal(core) that is heavily influenced by all of the good stuff; thrash (Testament, Slayer, Kreator), death metal (Skinless, At The Gates, Bolt Thrower) and hardcore (Merauder, Blood for Blood, and Hatebreed).
This 14 track album opens up with a nice melodic guitar intro and then delves head first into some ferocious tracks that include some awesome speed-metal riffs, well placed leads, and devastating breakdowns before closing off the album the way it came in. The melodies that are injected sporadically throughout the album really add a nice eerie element to the songs and actually give them some extra memorability. The strong hoarse vocals that Will implements has drawn comparisons to Brett Hoffman of Malevolent Creation. Now, I wouldn't say he's quite as good but he is damn close.
Lyrically, I shouldn't have to tell you what the majority of the content is like. It's pretty much Will getting out his demented thoughts of violence and just how worthless life can be and how easily it can be taken away. Certainly no silver line in these lyrics, no sir, these lyrics paint the bleakest of pictures.
This album was recorded by Dean at Atomic Studios, and I must say this is ideal as it gets for what these guys are doing. Certainly a step up from "Written In The Blood Of The Dead". The guitars have a super heavy tone to them without ever missing a step on the more melodic areas. The bass tone is solid and adds a low end depth to the mix. The drums are a big step up, everything sounds crisp from the toms to the double bass everything has good definition. Couldn't have asked for a better job on the vocals.
Two words can easily sum up this ones layout; fucking macabre. Tying into the title of the album, "No Tomorrow" the layout shows what the earth would look like if the devil himself came up to the surface and started decapitating people left and right. The devil/demon on the cover looks fucking awesome, the gasmask was a nice touch to tie into the band name. Also included for your sinful eyes are heads on stakes and all kinds of bloody goodness. The booklet is a bit on the thin side, sporting only two pages with all of the lyrics being displayed over the ruins of a city but the actual artwork more than compensates for it. And I can't forget to mention the awesome tray art of a soldier done in a fire silhouette.
Rating: 4.5/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: No Tomorrow and Rot Away
Thesis: This shit is heavy and completely unforgiving, if you like metal and especially death metal type stuff this will be right up your alley. Actually come to think of it this reminds me a lot of Irate, except more metal vocals and more intricate music. I highly recommend this album.