Review Summary: Taking half-a-step into hard rock territory, Nonpoint have crafted an album that sees the former nu metallers at the top of their game once more
It has been fun following Nonpoint for all these years, witnessing their every rise and fall. The last few years weren’t exactly generous for the band -
Vengeance was a disappointment compared to Nonpoint's other records, and the loss of original guitarist Andrew Goldman didn’t simplify things either. But, after recruiting Zach Broderick to fill the void Goldman had left, the guys in Nonpoint obviously had only one thought in their mind – to get back into the game, stronger than ever before. Now Nonpoint have refined and refurbished themselves as a collective of musicians, and after listening to
Miracle, it becomes evident
Vengeance was, thankfully, just a stepping stone in the band’s career. With
Miracle Nonpoint have shed their nu metal roots and after taking half-a-step into hard rock territory, have certified themselves as one of today’s most interesting metal/rock crossover bands.
Everything about Nonpoint sounds revitalized on this cd. Elias’ voice, the guitar work, the amiably familiar basslines – on one hand you can hear good ol' Nonpoint from every direction, but on the other it also sounds like a completely new band comprised of the same members. The guitar work is tighter and gone are Goldman’s distorted, crunchy guitarlines, which are now replaced by Broderick’s gritty ’n groovy guitar playing. On
Miracle there is also an aggrandized emphasis on (crude) melody – something that was slightly shadowed before by Goldman’s highly distorted, discordant guitar technique. Also notable is the Pantera influence that is breaking through every hole, albeit in a strictly melodic fashion. Be it because Pantera is one of Broderick’s main influences or because Nonpoint covered their song "5 Minutes Alone", groovy yet muscular guitar riffs dominate
Miracle through and through.
It’s not only the guitar work though that has been kicked up a notch; every other facet of Nonpoint’s music has also gone up since
Vengeance. Elias has abandoned the annoying "macho" voice he exhibited on that record, and is back to singing and yelling in his typical, Latin spiced manner, putting on what is his career’s second best vocal performance right after Statement's. Robb Rivera also holds his own in the drumming department – as always he isn’t in the center of attention, but is a commanding force behind the kit, even surprising us with a few unexpected double-bass sections and tom waves, which compliment his usual snare/cymbal patterns well.
The sheer size of the jump Nonpoint have made since
Vengeance is astounding.
Miracle isn't their best album -
Statement still holds that place - but it is an album that proves once again Nonpoint are far from a one-trick pony and opens up a variety of options for the band. Will they take a concrete hard rock direction from here on, or will they elaborate on the Pantera influence and turn to groove metal later in their career is to be seen, but as long as they keep their determination and, like the youngsters say nowadays, keep it real, they’re in great shape; maybe even in the greatest shape of their whole career.
Miracle isn’t an album that will please everyone. There will most certainly be people who dislike the whole new direction the band are taking, but one thing is undisputable -
Miracle is the best thing the band could've possibly returned with after the flop that was
Vengeance.
Miracle shows that Nonpoint still have plenty of will, talent and determination left in them and wether you like it or not, are one of today’s best metal/rock crossover bands. So is
Miracle actually a miracle? Well, maybe not on a full-scale, but it sure might be the start of a one.
