Reviews list for Nothing More - The Stories We Tell Ourselves (2017)

Nothing More has been... *ahem* NOTHING MORE than an alt-rock/metal band that's never been afraid to test their limits. They're yet another band in my brother's collection, with a few anthemic feelers that he likes. The band has continued to evolve their sound since first hitting the major label business with their self-titled 4th album. And they've gotten so more stories to tell...

The Stories We Tell Ourselves maintains this Texan band's alt-rock/metal identity that reaches a more mature level. Jonny Hawkins has his usual impressive vocal range while Mark Vollelunga pulls out some sick guitar grooves.

"(Ambition; Destruction)" is the intro that intensely build things up to the opening song... "Do You Really Want It?" stomps through as a mid-paced anthem of lyrical power. The line "So I can shake these American demons" sounds almost fitting for what's going on in America politically, such as the election that will very soon conclude as of this review. The song is stacked on top by the interlude "(Convict; Divide)" with a spoken sample by Alan Watts. "Let 'em Burn" is a heavy punisher. "Ripping Me Apart" rips through metal darkness. "Don't Stop" sounds a little too much like Maroon 5/Green Day gone nu metal. "Funny Little Creatures" starts off with a lo-fi ambient verse that almost made me think this was going to lead to Polaris-ish ambient metalcore, but instead all we get is a more metallic take on Fall Out Boy's brand of pop punk.

"(React; Respond)" is another Alan Watts-led interlude, this one much longer than the first two interludes. Back into action is the blazing "The Great Divorce" that shall give longtime fans something to sink their ears into. The chorus of "Still in Love" explodes with emotion, shortly after the lyrics reach a heartful note, "We were gonna grow old together, but now we're just growing old." Then we have another interlude, "(Alone; Together)", this one without an Alan Watts sample. We then jump into "Go to War" that grows in anthemic heaviness. "Just Say When" is a beautiful soft ballad to mend a romantic fallout.

The interlude "Accept / Disconnect" is a lovely drift into beauty, melancholy, and eventually, more heaviness after another Alan Watts sample. "Who We Are" has a similar vibe to Celldweller, but more uplifting and less electronic. "Tunnels" has some of the most creative lyrics here. "(End; Begin)" is one last Alan Watts-led interlude before the end... "Fadein/Fadeout" is the 6-minute closing epic to touch the hearts of all music listeners.

I wouldn't say The Stories We Tell Ourselves is the best album I've ever heard, but it has the best of Nothing More. Any fan of alt-rock/metal should go get it. And if we want more from this band, all we gotta do is ask....

Favorites: "Do You Really Want It?", "Let 'em Burn", "Ripping Me Apart", "The Great Divorce", "Go to War", "Just Say When", "Who We Are", "Tunnels", "Fadein/Fadeout"