Derivative it might be . . . you can hear NIN, G'n'R, Metallica, Radiohead, and a well formed punk ethic, all sliced 'n diced and spread around
'Unlucky Stars' like a serial killer's calling card. In between times,
Point One flesh this album out with a densely constructed, sonically solid slab of highly melodic hard rock/ nu metal that's hardly conventional but very much in their own image.
Point One's third album is produced by Scott Humphrey, who's produced/mixed/engineered for Rob Zombie, Trent Reznor,
Tommy Lee and The Cult, among others.
Give or take a few variations, the opening and title track is the album in a microcosm.
Ragged edged vocals, a thumping rhythmic crunch, thick cut riffs, stuttering guitars, in your face vocals and a sublimely melodic, almost Beatle-esque chorus. "All That Glisters Is Not Gold". Indeed not.
The charging
'Oxygen' and the sinister, dark edged '
Monochrome Mistress' kick in with galloping tribal rhythms, providing a hard hitting visceral thrill.
Lyrically, the band draw blood with the customised metaphors that pepper their often bleak but always human songs. Songs that generally focus on fractured relationships, told with commitment and conviction.
That said, it's worth repeating the fact that the band place a strong emphasis on melody.
'Crime' and '
Best Part Of Me' may well have the same, abrasive, uncompromising sound that percolates through the whole album, but like many other tracks here they are sweetened by gorgeous melodies and powerful vocal harmonies.
Humphrey's contemporary production schtick is most pronounced on '
Sometimes' and '
Drama Queen'. Clanging, cacophonic guitars mix with bass heavy rhythms, sturdy, spiky melodies and vocals that alternate between a brooding baritone and an apocalyptic scream.
Album standout might just be
'Cruel', if only because it turns down the intensity a notch or two. It cruises on a deeply satisfying chord progression and an eminently tuneful, cleverly layered call and response chorus.
Written by
Brian Thursday, August 30, 2007
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