“I know you can be overwhelmed and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?” The answer to one of 10 Thing I Hate About You’s burning questions is yes, if No Devotion’s debut, ‘Permanence’, is anything to go by.
This is an album polished to within an inch of its life. Despite an impressive array of soundscapes it is lacking that certain something to break through the sheen. With its rough patches buffed to a shine, it’s a little tame.
There are uplifting moments, such as Permanent Sunlight, where you can’t mistake Geoff Rickly’s voice, and 10,000 summers, the sort of anthemic singalong that Lostprophets made their name on. But those wanting more of the same will be left just that, wanting.
No one could accuse the band’s members of operating within their comfort zones and it’s fair to say that No Devotion couldn’t be further removed from Lostprophets and Thursday if they tried. They’ve carved their own niche, employing influences from dance and experimental flourishes where angsty melodies once reigned.
But the moments where they perfect the balance are few and far between. No sooner do they get back on track with I Want To Be Your God than they stray again on Night Drive, which at six minutes long and dotted with background noise that sounds like a bin dropping down a flight of stairs, is a tad self indulgent.
Stay is a dancier version of something that could have appeared on My Chemical Romance’s ‘The Black Parade’, while Addition, one of the more stripped back tracks on the album, is among its few redeeming cuts due to greater focus on Rickly’s vocals.
No Devotion have come together to create something that pushes at the boundaries of what we expect from them. It doesn’t always work, but it is refreshing to see them not trying to cash in on an expired meal ticket.
No Devotion Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri October 02 2015 - LONDON Cargo
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