Index Case
Self Titled
4.6
You are not going to like this record. I didn't know anyone was still trying to rip off Linkin Park, but I guess these guys have been trapped in a well or something for the last four years or so. The good news, if you are looking for some good news in a review of a record like this, is that they spent their well-endowed (tee hee) time perfecting some of what would at one time have been considered good songs for the genre. I mean, I was not into the LP style of nu-metal even when I was listening to that type of music. I was more of a Static X/Sevendust kind of nu-metal person. But this record, as dated and derivative as it is...sounds OK. Better than (what might have been) its peers, anyway.
The song structure is generally the quiet, clean lyrics/screamed loud choruses with melodic undersinging. The chords are bar, the riffs are simple, the beats are a homage to predisco styled funk. You know how this plays out. The crunches hit hard, the melodies "waft". The singer is a little too earnest, but not too bad. At least he doesn't sing the clean parts through his fucking nose. A couple of times I even found myself kind of taken unawares and enjoying the experience. But this was more a result of a loss of attention than actual involvement in the music.
As far as musicianship and production, both are just fine, nothing out of the ordinary. It's definitely an easy record to listen to. If that's a recommendation, then I guess it is. I would rather hear something this dated on a good recording than a bad one.
Lets try a thought experiment. Take this exact same band, exact same musicianship, exact same production, but add songwriting that is more vibrant, more cutting edge, and riskier. Give them the kinds of ideas Cephalic Carnage or Crowpath seem to be able to churn out unthinkingly. Dillinger Escape Plan or Faith No More, even. This would be one of the better bands around right now, I bet. That may be what really disappoints about this. With all the incredible resources to draw from....why fucking delve into a shitty genre from the past?
The bottom line is that you are not going to get past the fact that this entire genre of music was played out almost before it got started, and THAT was like five years ago. If there are people out there still buying these records, I have serious doubts that they will be reading a review here at Metal Review dot COM!!!, and the rest of us are just not going to spend money on something like this. I can't rag these guys too hard for their effort, honestly, because it's really not that bad an album for what it is. It's just a shame no one around here will care.
