Number One Son are Liverpool's newest prospects, providing us with a slice of 'supercharged, dynamically executed crossover metal'.
Stolen directly from the band biography, like their entire musical output is from other musicians, we have Scouse cacophony made to make Pinhole look really good. If you want the genetic crossover of Linkin Park and Lost Prophets, then we have the answer here, although even the fat men in Slipknot do more for me on the aesthetic front than these guys. (no sizist comments please, i just don't like bald men)
And with a storming Linkin Park-esque guitar crashing opening, 'Contrasts', they make their presence felt and make me determined to enjoy their album. Skilful rapping, with impressive freestyling and conveyance of angst, with synth squelching and turntables bring us the excellent 'Hourglass'. And it's on Track 3, they take emotion and delivery to another level with the introduction of screaming. It's not just any random screaming, it's carefully placed, and thus effective. The end of 'Becoming' shows the tender side of these guys, with Nick Whitmore's vocals showing passion and depth.
Unfortunately, it is at this point that the guys begin to get formulaic. Every song seems to merge into another seamlessly, and I'm not learning or hearing anything I haven't heard before. Until I hear the instrumental effort of the fluid industrialist piece, the welcome break of 'Insert'.
And unsuprisingly, after this, it's back to the grind again, for more agit-rock.
I'm not a happy bunny. Three potential singles, and nine pieces of tripe.
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3Sajini Wijetilleka's Score