NOTSM – Only Death Brings Silence
Release Date: 3rd May 2024
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Metalcore, Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal.
FFO: All That Remains, Lamb Of God, Caliban, Mors Principium Est, August Burns Red, Sylosis, The Halo Effect.
Review By: Metal Miguel
Matt Barkley’s Solo Project “NOTSM” Brings Intensity and Insight with “Only Death Brings Silence” and in the vast landscape of metal, few albums manage to blend ferocious riffs, introspective lyrics, and experimental sonic elements as seamlessly. The debut album, “Only Death Brings Silence,” set for release on May 3, 2024, explores the complexities of human emotion and existential dread, packaged within layers of sophisticated and groove-orientated metal music, which is particularly enthralling, especially when you consider you have only six tracks to get your point across.
Matt has stated that “Only Death Brings Silence” is the culmination of years of musical exploration and personal reflection. The guitar playing crafts the album’s backbone starting from intricate guitar riffs and the deep fascination with rhythm guitar is evident as the six tracks venture into odd time signatures and engaging polyrhythms, aiming to offer a rich listening experience. The approach to songwriting is evident in the detailed track descriptions, where the balance of the lyrical themes sits within the musical composition. For instance, “Humans” criticises humanity’s impact on Earth, paired with a relentless pace and a mid-song guitar solo designed to energize live audiences. Contrastingly, “Terminal” reflects on mortality with a slower, doom-laden sound, showcasing the ability to adapt the music to match thematic depth. “The Hedonic Treadmill” and its sequel delve into the never-ending pursuit of happiness, a theme born from personal battles with burnout. These tracks blend aggressive vocals with complex guitar riffs, providing a sonic representation of the cyclical nature of desire and dissatisfaction. But these well-placed, well-written and thought-provoking songs span a variety of musical ideas, encapsulating the album’s theme in a dramatic, rollercoaster-like composition that culminates at the end with an instrumental, which was originally envisioned as multiple tracks, but the decision to maintain it as a singular piece underlines the intent to present a unified artistic vision and certainly completes a journey, giving balance to a well-crafted album.
Adding a layer of intrigue comes from the labelling of the project in that the name, NOTSM is an acronym for a personal mantra of Barkley’s (none of this shit matters), emphasizing the importance of focusing on what truly matters. Vocalist, Alex Hamilton, was found on Fiverr, which is a multinational online marketplace for freelance services, showcasing the modern ways artists collaborate remotely and intriguingly, all instruments on the album are programmed, except the guitars and vocals that Barkley records himself. This DIY aspect lends a unique authenticity to the album, aligned with its self-release status, and shows where we have come within the technological advances and what can be achieved with a can-do attitude and the will to succeed and get your art out there, but an amusing anecdote is the initial title for “Only Death Brings Silence,” or working title if you will, was “Zippicamknicks” after an obscure reference from “Brave New World,” the dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, published in 1932 and showcasing a penchant for literary and philosophical nods.
“Only Death Brings Silence” is not just an album; it’s an introspective journey into the soul of its creator. It’s an invitation to explore profound themes through the lens of progressive metal music, promising to resonate with fans and newcomers alike. With its intricate compositions and thoughtful lyrics, this album should make a significant impact on its release, urging listeners to both enjoy the primordial headbanging and obligatory “onion-face” of musical acceptance and reflect deeply on the existential themes it wrestles with, which is very relevant today and good to see, as well as hear, that the need to craft a message that resonates with everyone in the vehicle of art that can still be enjoyed in blissful ignorance.
(5 / 5)
