Search - Once Nothing :: First Came the Law

Bland reproduction of a trendy genre

Michael Meyer | Colton, California | 01/25/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Well, just look at the song names. Once again we have kids who think metalcore is the craziest thing around and try and be intellectual about it. We have song titles like "Juliet Or At Least What's Left Of Her," or "The Truth About Me Or Someone Like Me" Ooooh, deep! It seems that the trend of having long song titles that dont' make sense but are intended to be deep starting with Norma Jean, and since then every wannabe metal album that has come out has these sorts of things.

For the music, well.... It's just formulaic reproduction of anything else in the genre. Not new, nothing exciting, just screams with no technicality and methaphorical lyrics that mirror anybody else in the genre in an attempt to be "deep." Which I guess makes any band cool nowadays. If you want to hear anything new or exciting, don't look here, Check out "Wintersun" or "Ensiferum" for some great, real metal. If you're looking for a carbon copy of any metalcore and anything "core" genre

people creat every five seconds, then get this. If you love innovative musice, you WILL be dissapointed with this.







New: 1 star edit (won't let me change) With another listen... I have become even more disgusted with this album. Having listened to actual metal in the past weeks, this album fails to pique any small ounce of interest within me. The chords and instrumental patterns of this album are laughable, and make me wonder why these grown men refuse to progess their instrument playing past only a few simple chords. The singing is awful, and the cute little ballad is a joke.

Maybe if they had actually been gritty southr'n fellas, and actually made it sound a little bit southern like they say they are doing, it might have been deserving of 1 star. As of now, If I would be able, I would give this 0 stars. But because that is not possible at this point, my official review is 1, but my personal review is a dismal 0. Sorry, but I just couldn't take any more of this, I tried to give them another

listen, but it just falls flat on all levels imaginable. There are much more qualified and talented bands you can spend your money on, but for this, it is a waste."

...

SirTheory | 01/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If this album was by The Showdown and was the follow up to A Chorus of Obliteration (rather than the weak Temptation Come My Way), then Once Nothing's new album would be a lot more tolerable. However, since it is not by The Showdown it merely feels unoriginal and trend-hopping. There is as much southern edge to Once Nothing as there is to Norma Jean or The Chariot, so fans of those bands (and The Showdown) will find things to enjoy here. But as far as originality and creativity (or even technicality) this album fails to be compelling."

Oh, Please......

C. Meyer | Asgard | 02/01/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, what can I say that hasn't already been said. This is pure garbage. Once Nothing, eh? Still nothing. This band, in an attempt to create something 'new' and 'fresh' has conformed itself to every single band out there in this 'metalcore' genre. They try some 'southern twist' into the music (even though they're from a big city in the north, pittsburgh) and it really doesn't work out. The only souther edge is on the cover and some of the song titles. Not much county flavor here except a couple seconds of the beginning of some songs. Nothing here but bland 'chugga chugga' riffs and incredibly simplistic song structure with vocals so generic you couldn't even tell this band from any other metalcore band. They call themselves 'blue collar metal' ok.. so where's the METAL? Hmmmm.... Even the rollings stones are more complex than these guys. If you want brilliant music with a sound and complexity that will makes your ears spin, then pass on this, period. It's pretty bland and repetitive."