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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album of the year in my book, December 19, 2004
The Good
The first few lines of the opening track "The Same" really caught my attention; Things haven't changed / You haven't changed / I haven't changed. What I noticed though is that Nonpoint has changed. Their sound has become more refined. On this particular track the rhythms are pounding, while the vocals are strong yet smoothed over. That's a good thing. On "The Truth", Nonpoint make a strong political statement that will musicallly raise your blood pressure. When "Broken Bones" plays out at a live sure, there's sure to be a few. It's a tale of damaged relationships that makes you want to pump your fists and flail your arms.
Clean guitar tones and some serene female vocals enhance the heaviness of "Wait". "Rabia" is infused with a funky Latino percussion beat. Even though it's sung entirely in Spanish, it doesn't lose any of its ferrous anger. Punishing yet tuneful vocals and a thick lead riff dominate "Done It Anyway". If you've seen any sports promos on ESPN or ABC lately, I'm sure that you've heard Nonpoint's cover of the Phil Collins classic "In the Air Tonight". It's just as dark as the original, and I really like the addition of the tribal-like drum beat.
The Bad
Nothing
The Verdict
There's no doubt about it, Recoil is one of the best albums I've heard this year. Nonpoint keeps the heaviness that they're known for, while polishing their vocals to give things a more melodic feel. I took this one to the gym and it kicked my motivation and energy into overdrive.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nonpoint's best to date, March 19, 2005
I have been a fan of Nonpoint ever since their debut album, "Statement." That album was like a hybrid of Rage Against the Machine, Deftones, and 311. Their second album, "Development" fused a little melody into the music. "Your Signs" (a good example of the band's melodic side) was a hit single; but the album as a whole failed to break them into the mainstream, which they had hoped for. Following this release, they underwent a change in record labels (from MCA records to Lava)."Recoil", the first album under Lava records, also just happens to be my favorite by them.
This album is like their first two albums mixed together. Much of the angst filled music is still here, but singer Elias Soriano's vocal style helps to fuse in the melody. He can sing energetically (without yelling). Some songs (i.e. "Broken Bones" and "Reward") should please old-school Nonpoint fans, but a few surprises are thrown in here and there as well (such as "Wait"-which has female vocals, "Rabia" and "In the Air Tonight").
Highlights include:
"The Same" could very well be the album's next single. It has a pounding beat, but melodic, radio-friendly vocals.
"The Truth", is the albums lead single with low, grumbling riffs and thudding drums. Lyrically, however, it is a political statement that questions Bush and the war in Iraq.
"Rabia" has a Latin theme to it (with Latin percussion and other Latin instruments), and fluctuating guitar riffs. But this song is a highlight because it is sung entirely in Spanish (like "Orgullo", from their debut album).
"Done it Anyway" combines a catchy, beeping, start-stop riff with more tuneful vocals.
"In The Air Tonight" is a Phil Collins cover, and a personal favorite. All the creepiness of the original is included in this cover, but Nonpoint create their own twist to this song by adding tribal drums. There are a couple of riffs in this song, but Elias' catchy voice sings clearly. This whole song has an Ill Nino type of feel to it.
"Past it All" begins with light, spacey guitar strings. The guitars then chug and churn and Elias' voice raises.
There's a bonus track at the end of the C.D., after "Reward". It has light guitar notes (that almost sound like a piano) and more supple, gentle and proper singing.
This blend of hard rocking, Deftones -esque riffs and drums and passionate, Sevendust style melody is not only innovative but also almost perfect. There's something for a wide range of metalheads here (those who like energetic, blood pumping metal, and also those who like melodic metal).
Nonpoint are also one of those hard working, overlooked bands. Some people don't give Nonpoint their fair spin because they have been lumped in with the nu-metal crowd. But I wouldn't file this album under that genre. It should appeal to nu-metal fans, but (by adding melody) I think Nonpoint have escaped that dreaded "nu-metal" label.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
More than the average Slipknot, January 12, 2005
Have you ever had one of the those days where for some reason you sprang from your carnivorous slumber harboring a mad craving for the most disgustingly crappy music imaginable so you can write a p!ssed-off reveiw on Amazon JUST CUZ!!? Well last week I got `the spring' and sprung to Wal-Mart, eagerly searching for some selection that would surely splatter my inner earlobes with endless torrents of sticky brown feces. My radar zoomed upon "Recoil" and all of the album artwork's uber-pretentious magnificence, so I snatched it right up like a marsupial lizard snatches up hair lice in a swimming pool, a phrase which here means "casually".
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I'm about to bash this album in a literary fashion equal to that of a monster truck, ripping apart your favorite album by your favorite band like it was string cheese in Fat Albert's lunch bag, aren't you? Well, if I were reviewing Breaking Benjamin's "Saturate" for the FIFTH CONSECUTIVE TIME, then I would congratulate you on your sweet guessing skills. But since I'm NOT, and also since this album by Nonpoint is actually pretty decent, you should know that you're completely wrong. Then again . . .
The things that are wrong with this album are the things that are wrong with nu-metal in general. It's derivatively generic and full of emotional poo. It has the pathetic political clichés and eye-rollingly angered themes of every Converse-wearing teenager this side of Nirvana. And really, it's just downright retarded. But there is something that manages to separate Nonpoint from most of their segregated affiliates, and that something spells its name like this: DEPTH. When you listen to this album, it isn't really about the loud music or the loud singer or the loud, re-repeated messages; it's about honesty, it's about heart, it's about conviction, and it's about genuine feeling.
Now when I say DEPTH, I don't mean, "oh my heavens, Nonpoint is the next TOOL!!!!!" or any silly thing like that. I mean that "Recoil" takes everything to hate about nu-metal, slaps it in the face and says, "THIS is how we discuss these important things", and turns it into something (dare I say it) worthwhile. Every lyric rings true, every chord breathes honesty (sometimes), every song transpires a yearning desire for change, to make a difference, to make sure people know what's up in this world. And even if I may not agree with a lot of their views, I can certainly respect their mode of telling me.
But all that honesty crap aside, I still find myself enjoying the MUSIC on this album a little bit more than I ever thought I could. I mean really, how can anyone say no to a nu-metal band that covers PHIL-freakin-COLLINS?!?!?! Without doubt, the highlight track on this album for me is `In the Air Tonight', which has long been my favorite Collins tune, only this time huge guitars are slamming around and chemical reactions explode magically, making this probably one of the best Collins covers I've ever heard (though admittedly, I don`t think there ARE any other Collins covers). And even outside of that song, there's plenty of sweet jams on this record, starting with the huge crunch of `the Same' and staying pretty strong throughout the rest of the record. There's a lot of overused, repetitive power-chorded sections, but I'm mostly enjoying myself the whole time.
Loud, heavy, urgent. It's all been done before, and much better, no question about it. Yet, when I give my attention to "Recoil", I give it ALL my attention, generic poo aside. In short, "Recoil" challenges the listener more than the average Slipknot. 3 stars.
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