None More Black – Loud About Loathing

None More Black – Loud About Loathing / 2004 Sabot / 6 Tracks / http://www.nmbmusic.net / http://www.sabotproductions.net / Reviewed 11 February 2005

“Oh, There’s Legwork” mixes together Joy Electric-style vocals by Jason and slightly chaotic drum beats by David to create a brand of pop-punk that mixes together some much-needed hardcore and oi to make a full sound. For a band that is from “the Mid-Atlantic region (wherever that may be), there is a shit-ton of California influence to None More Black. It is almost as if they were recent trans-plants from the area, and made sure to pack their earlier Unwritten Law albums. Continuing the same high quality of “O, There’s Legwork” for the second track, “Peace On Mars, Cause You Ain’t Gonna Get It Here”, None More Black actually uses clapping as a device to further the track instead of some arbitrary extra trill added. Using a rockabilly style to push forward “Traffic Is A Global Word”, None More Black’s assault is on a number of levels and through a bevy of different styles that just were not to be found on their last disc, “File Under Black”.

“Genuine Malaise & Misery” shows a deliberative nature to None More Black that is not to be found on any of the prior songs on this EP. The track, which incorporates a slower tempo than the rest of the disc, is still very emotionally affecting and thought out (in terms of arrangements) well. None More Black stumbles a littler during “iScrapbook”, a track that even through all of its multi-part harmonies and differing tempos cannot find its way into the hearts and minds of the listeners. Finishing up the disc with “I’ll Buy You The Fucking Single”, None More Black place together the vocals of the Replacements with a Husker Du style of guitar work and a brand of catchy vocals that are purely their own – in the space of two and a half minutes. In the space of time between “File Under Black” and “Loud About Loathing”, something must have cracked in None More Black. The album is coherent and the songs are minor works of art, and occupy a position in terms of punk music that hasn’t been broached to any great degree of success before. However, in this age, two bands are really incredible in their incorporation of pop to traditionally harder-edged music. These bands, None More Black and Strike Anywhere are the purveyors of a new style of music that for once I wouldn’t be against getting (over) played on mTV.

Top Track: Oh, There’s Legwork

Rating: 7.3/10