Written by: Gareth Endean-Pitt
Band:
Album Title:
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No Worth of Man
What’s Your Damage
8th March 2024
What No Worth of Man actually deliver is a blistering, bruising take on modern metal that hits you full in the face and rattles your skull. The concept may be tongue in cheek, but the music assuredly is not. In fact, once you’re past the 30 sec opener you can pretty much forget about it entirely. There are monstrous riffs, Machine Head style harmonics, a touch of Pantera’s groove and a hint of vintage Lamb of God. Peter Gale’s powerful vocals edge towards the death metal end of the spectrum without ever descending into full-on Cookie Monster growls and the guitars and drums combine to create a battering ram of noise, and while there are clear reference points, ultimately the band resolutely sound like no one but themselves.
There are monstrous riffs, Machine Head style harmonics, a touch of Pantera’s groove and a hint of vintage Lamb of God.
Thankfully within the noise there is nuance and while they don’t diversify their sound hugely over this four song EP, each song is distinct from the last, and each listen reveals additional depths to the blueprint. On the downside though the songs don’t quite lodge in your brain the way you’d like them to, the often excellent riffs getting lost in the maelstrom rather than providing a hook you could hang your hat on. No Worth of Man clearly have no desire to do anything hackneyed or cliched but perhaps a tried and tested method like bringing-the-riff-back-but-slower could elevate these songs from sounding good to feeling great.
But ultimately the worst thing you can say about this EP is that there isn’t enough of it, it’s loud, it’s powerful and – slightly incongruous concept aside – it’s a serious statement of intent from a metal band to keep your eye on.
Band Members
Peter Gale – Vocals
Alex Punchard – Guitar / Bass
Gareth Lucas – Drums
Track Listing
- Intro
- Into the Dirt
- The Hands Resist Him
- An Unpaintable Soul
- Mondo Decay