Review Summary: If bands such as Flaw, Hour Cast or Element Eighty are your cup of tea, you’ll feel right at home with Index Case.
While “Nu-Metal” may be looked down upon by many, I urge you to look past the music genre and give these guys a chance as you may be pleasantly surprised, as I was.
Formed back in 1998, Index Case is still going strong despite the lack of recognition over the years. The band currently consists of Joe Ansley (Vocals), Josh Parker (Guitar), Nick Borror (Bass) and Josh Ickowitz (Drums), as they get ready to release their fifth album “Augustagein” June of this year.
This fourth album, entitled “Index Case” was the first I have heard of these guys, and became instantly hooked. While nothing truly stood out in the beginning, something kept bringing me back and I believe that something was balance of instruments and vocals, complementing each other flawlessly on every track. This incredible blend allowed me to enjoy what each band member had to offer despite neither being outstanding at what they do. The vocals ranged from pleasant soft singing to effective screams with seamless transition, while the instruments provided a heavy yet clear sounding ambiance. The lyrics also fit right in, displaying the bands creativity with dark and at times mysterious lines that took a few listens to fully grasp.
After going through the album a couple of times, the seemingly generic formula, melodic verses intertwined with screams backed up by heavy instrumentals, became apparent and was applied on every track. Yet despite my initial fear of similarities between songs, mostly when it comes to instrumental work, I quickly realized that the band has managed to craft a unique sound, feel and pace to every song. Even now, after all this time, I don’t consider a single track to be filler and everything I’ve mentioned thus far contributes to that. To top it all off, these tunes are addictive, relatively short (not a single track over 5 minutes and most under 4) and most are upbeat, which means they will play through quick enough to not get repetitive but will stay with you for some time.
I have no illusions. Dissected, this band is nothing spectacular. The vocalist stays within his comfort zone when singing, the instrumental track on the whole is without surprises, and the lyrics while interesting, won’t be the deepest you come across. Combined however, it makes for a very enjoyable listen considering what it is, quality Nu-Metal. The end result is something I treasure to this day and can recommend without hesitation for fans of the genre, hence such a high rating. If bands such as Flaw, Hour Cast or Element Eighty are your cup of tea, you’ll feel right at home with Index Case.
