Mindrage is sort of new school metal, taking the old school metal of yesteryears and adding to it a bit of the new metal/hardcore influence. As far as metal goes, the music is tight, exciting and has that something extra. On the downside (this is not a Klank reference) I wasn't a huge fan of the vocals, which reminded me of old Living Sacrifice vocals (circa Inhabit). While there are many metal-core bands these days straddling the line, it's great to see a band like Mindrage who is squarely in the metal category. If they can iron out their vocal situation, I see no reason why these guys can't fight their way to the top. Good stuff. Grade: B
Nailed Promise plays the sort of generic pseudo hardrock/metal/hardcore that has been pretty popular on MTV and other such sources. They fit pretty well into the company of the many other bands that sound so much the same: Powerman 5000, Godsmack, Monster Magnet...and the list keeps going on. The whole composition of the music and vocals failed to reach any sort of solid footing. I listened several times, but just couldn't find anything there. Grade: D
Overall Grade: C
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerMindrage and Nailed Promise are two of those heavy bands that a teenager just getting into metal and hardcore will think really ROCK. If that's you, read no further and go support these bands. For veteran moshers, though, Mindrage isn't much more than your average groovin' rumble roarcore--all brawn and no brains. Meaty distortion, meaty riffs, meaty drums (lots of double bass), meaty bass (a…
