Nothing More – Carnal
Release Date: 28th June 2024
Label: Better Noise Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Alt Rock, Alt Metal, Hard Rock, Prog Rock, Metal.
FFO: Disturbed, Incubus, Gemini Syndrome, 30 Seconds To Mars, Asking Alexandria.
Review By: Paul Franklin
There are many proverbs and sayings that espouse the benefits of patience, ‘All good things come to those who wait’, ‘Patience is a virtue’, etc. Texans Nothing More have proven they can be very patient, and now it’s paying off.
Having formed back in 2003, the band spent much of the 2000s recording independent albums and struggling to maintain a steady line up and generate any interest from record labels. It wasn’t until 2013 when a lucky break at a festival saw them stepping in to replace a bigger band (on a bigger stage), that the people began to take notice and the offers started to come in.
The net result being that the band are now looking at releasing their seventh album, and with the track If It Doesn’t Hurt having been used as one of the theme songs on WrestleMania XL, there seems to be quite the anticipation around this one.
The band’s previous album was entitled ‘Spirits’ and whilst that collection of songs focussed in the ethereal nature of the soul and answering existential questions, Carnal seems to explore the darker, more primal aspects of human character. The title track is in reality a delicate minute-long intro to House On Sand (in fact in the YouTube video for House On Sand the two are presented as one), featuring an excerpt from philosopher Alan Watts (a recurring motif for the band).
So, taking House Of Sand as the first track proper, means that Carnal kicks off with a 100% absolute banger! It comes out swinging with some low-hanging metalcore riffs and a snarl from vocalist Jonny Hawkins, it’s a relentless juggernaut that combines a chorus so huge it can most likely be seen from orbit, with some truly bowel-loosening screams and “Blegh!”s courtesy of I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe.
One banger follows another as the aforementioned If It Doesn’t Hurt goes ‘all in’ with more chunky distorted riffage and possibly an even better sing-along chorus that will leave audiences euphoric and literally speechless.
And…it continues with Angel Song, a song so perfect for guest vocalist David Draiman, that if he wasn’t singing on it then you imagine he’d be suing someone.
At this point, a cursory glance at the tracklisting will reveal that Carnal has no less than fifteen of the buggers. Surely, they can’t all be as good as the first three? No, unfortunately they can’t. To be fair, three of the tracks (|Head|, |Sight| and |Sound|) are just short interludes where we hear more excerpts from the musings of Alan Watts and (like most interludes of this nature) will probably be skipped by most on repeat listenings. The same goes for |Heart| which has the same premise, but it’s stretched out to the length of a full track.
Freefall is a more of a generic straight down the line emo, alt-rock number, where as Blame It On The Drugs is a more interesting proposition taking as it does the same formula, but embellishing it with some synth and draping the whole thing in the gaudy neon of 80s Miami.
The distorted guitars return to give some heft to the surprisingly upbeat Existential Dread whilst the aggressive vocals return on Stuck thanks to Trap/Metal artist Sinizter, which with the lyrics “this is for the people who can’t break through. I used to feel just like you” acknowledges the band’s own struggle and is sure to find some resonance with those in the audience seeking empowerment.
In conclusion, Carnal is an album that, ironically (given their fascination with Mr Watts), presents an interesting philosophical dilemma. On the plus side, it’s an album that is unapologetically a collection of massive anthems designed for an all-encompassing audience. On the negative side, it’s an album that is unapologetically a collection of massive anthems designed for an all-encompassing audience.
Have a listen and start a debate.
(3.5 / 5)
