Review Summary: Legacy is still great release, despite it is not as polished as predecessor album Grind Viruses.
Perhaps, Noxa is one among many bands that quite lucky getting their first-three albums linear in quality. There is no any major drops, all of theirs are worth predicate 'good', and 'great' (also 'excellent', if you're fans). Their latest release,
Legacy, is the stuff what people always say as 'great'. Although
Legacy is not as polished as
Grind Viruses in production quality, at least the intensity side of grind is fairly equal.
Legacy was filled up by two different drummers. Track 1 until 12 were filled up by Noxa's new drummer, Alvin Eka Putra, while track 13 until 19 were filled up by Robin "Oxen" Hutagaol. Alvin and Robin, basically have slightly different style. Robin preferred the more intense side of thrash, while Alvin tends to play the more traditional hardcore beats. In Noxa fans perspective, this little difference between the two drummers, may be not the most crucial thing. All thing that they want is Noxa could be able to stand up again after demise of founder and drummer, the late Robin Oxen. And Noxa, finally did it. This such condition surely gladden their fans and Southeastern Asia metal enthusiasts in general.
Despite contains 19 tracks, as whole
Legacy is too damn short, only 26 minutes of music. However, this is grindcore, right? It's straight to the point. It's not the stuff what people usually could find in progressive music. So, this such duration is more than understandable, hence one of grind's character! Using both English and Indonesian (five songs), lyrical concept still concerned on social-politics and humanity themes. Majority of the lyrics is written Noxa members. Beside that, there are also two song's lyrics that written by other grind musicians. Track "My Own Worst Enemy" is written by Phobia's vocalist, Shance McLachlan. Then, track "Permanent Midnight" is written by Misery Index's vocalist/bassist, Jason Netherton. This small collaboration on lyrics-writing happened when Noxa, Misery Index, and Phobia, met and joined the stage of Tuska Metalfest 2008, Finland. Musically,
Legacy is straight-grind, despite it also has couple thrash elements, but it is not enough to put it into grind/thrash or thrashcore sub-genre. Ade Himernio's thrashy riffs in few songs just showed that he is a flexible guitar player. However the best thing is, he is real proficient guitarist. His rapid and thick rhythms nicely fitted the intensity side of their musical concept. Vocalist Tonny Christian, just like what people could find in predecessor album
Grind Viruses, he still stays consistent. However, this consistency only can be heard in partial track of the album; where his vocals character balances the music, and where his mid-ranged and somewhat heavier throaty-shout vocalizing is dealing with the speed and aggressiveness of grindcore.
People who have ever had the chance to hear
Grind Viruses, surely know that
Legacy has particular overwhelming instrument. Unlike the predecessor where vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, are linear and proportional, in
Legacy, guitar sounds is stronger and more dominant than any other instrument. Vocals, partly is quite strong, another part as if Himernio's guitar-sounds knocked out Tonny's screaming. The bass is not so audible as what people could get in
Grind Viruses. Drums, just like vocals, partly is quite ferocious. So, conclusion, aside from kinda inconsistent production quality, actually
Legacy is a great release - it's a well-executed grind stuff. A few songs offer somewhat raw feel, the only thing that people will never get it in predecessor album
Grind Viruses.
***
Recommended Tracks:
- Potential Zero
- The Leader Has Gone..
- Rezpect All Ethnic, Kill The Racism
- Feed Us Not Kill Us!
- Permanent Midnight
- Our Own Worst Enemy
- Our Way
Noxa's
Legacy line Up:
- Robin "Oxen" Hutagaol (R.I.P.) -
Drums (track 13 - 19)
- Alvin Eka Putra -
Drums (track 1 - 12)
- Ade Himernio Adnis -
Guitar
- N.N. Dipa Biomantara -
Bass
- Tonny Christian Pangemanan -
Vocals
