Noise Cult
End of Days
7.4
Interested in hearing Black Flag crossed with Black Sabbath? That’s pretty much what you’ll hear on Noise Cult’s latest, End of Days. Also present is the influence of outfits like Motorhead and AC/DC, which the band makes note of in their website bio. In addition, I personally detect a strong Testament influence in the band’s midpaced, thrashy sound. In short, End of Days is a fun, immediate album that doesn’t require too much concentration or deep thought. The band’s throwback style is an amalgam of different genres and is well worth checking out if you are an afficionado of any of the bands mentioned in this paragraph.
As is to be expected, the compositions are relatively simple, though it undoubtably takes a certain degree of skill to arrange a selection of catchy riffs in a complimentary manner, which is what Noise Cult have managed to do. The band makes sure that things are pretty varied, sometimes utilizing fast, punky riffing, and sometimes sticking to a slower tempo, like on the fourth cut, “Shadows of Doom,” where the pounding pace emphasizes the guitar parts. There’s not really a whole lot to say about the band’s songwriting; it’s solid, and exactly what you would expect due to the style that they play.
The musicianship isn’t particularly thrilling either, but once again, one must be mindful of the genre in question. Motorhead are never hailed for their technicality, or for having particularly intricate songwriting, for that matter. What Noise Cult are able to pull off is a tight sound with good hooks. The drumming is good, the guitar playing is good, and the bass guitar is solid, but nothing qualifies as mind-blowing. The band is strong vocally, with a frontman whose style is like Phil Anselmo’s, only rawer. The production is notable as well, sounding clear but also retaining a gritty rock ‘n’ roll vibe.
Is End of Days an amazing record? Is it worth running out and picking up immediately? Probably not. It is, however, very fun and enjoyable, and if you’re into some of the bands that Noise Cult borrows ideas from, you may want to check this stuff out. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by this record. You get exactly what you expect.
Related
Noise CultOne From None
5/9/2006