THE HUMAN ABSTRACT "Nocturne" (Hopeless) Review by Jordan A. Baker
I don't know how Hopeless did it, but with THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, the label snatched away one of the brightest, relatively new entities on the metalcore spectrum. While I'm sure the label's success with AVENGED SEVENFOLD largely played into the band's decision to go with Hopeless, I have to wonder why these guys didn't end up on a predominantly heavier label. Perhaps the "fish out of water" effect still holds some allure...
Nocturne is an impressive slab of metal music at a time when a band like this could simply mail it in with a few rehashed with riffs and pounding double-bass. THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, for lack of a better cliche, take it to the next level. Dueling guitars, soaring melodic vocals, and MESHUGGAH-inspired percussion rule thoughout much of Nocturne and the result is a metalcore release that pushes aside straight-line projections and slashes apart middling expectations. With both harshly screamed vocals and finely-tuned SOILWORK-like melodies, there's little in the vocal arena that THE HUMAN ABSTRACT can't pull off. These guys may not be breaking new musical ground with Nocturne, but the band's forthright musical abilities are a pleasure to entertain.
With Jamie King (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, GLASS CASKET) producing the album and Eric Rachel (NORA) mixing the thing, some great ears went to bat to make sure Nocturne sounds enormous, and that it does. With a few quaint instrumental breaks putting space between the jarring thunderclaps of noise, Nocturne holds to a healthy flow, which makes the 46 minute running time a bit easier to swallow. The same can be said for the band's sharply written, well-grounded lyrics, which are a welcome change from tales about demons, vampires, dead girlfriends, and the taste of autumn (damp and cold). THE HUMAN ABSTRACT are a big catch for Hopeless and Nocturne is an American metalcore release that can easily go head-to-head with some of Europe's most accomplished metalcore acts.
