I have yet to tire of listening to “The Fall.” It starts off with a mid-tempo intro then rips open with some full-on thrash. So fuggin’ good. Life affirming. Nomos, from Brooklyn, crank out some dark, noisy, and heavy hardcore. Comparisons have been made to bands like Poison Idea and Citizens Arrest. I sort of hear that, but those are lazy references. These guys are strong enough to stand on their own. If these guys are hip to the Swell Maps (as they cover “Vertical Slum”), then it’s obvious they’re not some typical band. The lyrics are opaque at times, but interesting nonetheless. It’s as though you’re sorting out a code. I like how they can deliver white-knuckled thrash, then switch over to something like “O’Fortuna,” which slows things down temporarily at the start, then it’s back to full-on, straight to the bottom of the deep end and the sound of facial bones crunching. Four records reviewed in this issue have reaffirmed/reignited my faith/love of hardcore. This is one of them.
–M.Avrg (Deranged)