When bands want to whore, they play metalcore, but they make me bore and my ears become so sore. Now that's fucking poetry, right?! As you might have figured out about that, I don't exactly love metalcore. There are a very few exceptions, that I can listen to. And those band are on the more metal side of the genre. You know what? Los Sin Nombre are on the right side. Whoopee!

Los Sin Nombre (LSN from now on) come from Sweden and you can hear it. The cover letter mentions The Haunted and In Flames (especially 'Reroute to Remain' [2002]) in "for the fans of" section, and I'm not going to knock down that claim. Thus, Gothenburg bug quarters on this album, and tightly so. Melodic death metal as a term is more or less misleading, but there are numerous riffs of it, straight from the beginning as 'Ashes to Ashes' blasts into action. One of those elements that lift LSN out of the grey mass are "weeping" guitar melodies heard on the song, because many of these Gothenburgish riffs are indeed so familiar stuff. Not the band's fault, I think, but the style is done just so through and through already. So, faster stuff is mainly okay, but some has a feel of rehashing.

Slower 'Enemy' is a welcome change. Even though it is slower, it is no emo gayness, but the song really rocks and contains a ripping solo! Emotional instrumental 'Passing Through' is a weird one on the album, but it still gives a breather between faster material. 'Raised in Anger' sounds like a Gothenburg band playing Finnish Diablo's song, thanks to the beats and more technical guitar work, plus Rainer Nygård-ish vocals. The rock influence is from Alice In Chains style stuff and such darker rock. At the fastest and toughest, the band aren't what The Haunted can be on their meanest, but this still kicks In Flames' arse, and hard. There's not much of modern jerky riffing, but the band's attitude brings in that metalcore side.

The vocalist is very able. His growl, shouting and screams are metalcore-ish, but from the listenable side of it all, he actually sounds pissed. Some clean singing is more than okay, too. But the lyrics... Words like "hate", "hatred", "broken", "anger" and such are abound a lot. Just too normal, typical life stuff it is. But as I mentioned, this guy sounds that he's pissed. The production reminds me of 'Reroute to Remain', because the pounding, but beautifully resounding drums are very high in the mix. Not so high they interfere the voice or the guitars, but the bass must be somewhere there, right?! The bass is just a bit quiet in the mix.

LSN sound like it that they have soul, and this separates them from so many whoring bands. They also have good enough songs, but there are a few fillers. At least it feels like that when listening the album in order, but thankfully my old CD player already has a "random" button. Quite a strong debut album, but as they've done four demos since 2002, I waited for a bit more of variety.

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/13/2009 20:29