Review by Saxy S for xNOMADx - On Skylines of Embers (2023)

2023 was a bit of a change when it came to the music that I listened to. Following my exit out of some of the more toxic review circles in 2022, I found that in 2023, I was going to pay more attention to the mainstream and what got popular there as opposed to what some bald man in plaid on the internet thinks, and then have all of those viewers dogplie it to the top (or bottom) of the RateYourMusic charts. As a result, 2023 saw a considerable jump in terms of albums in the Revolution clan. My favourite of the bunch (Dying Wish's Symptoms of Survival) played right into my tastes as it combined mid 2000s metalcore with a slight modern twist.

The key is that Dying Wish are playing to a certain audience that is in on the nostalgia. xNOMADx on the other hand, are making a very different style of melodic metalcore. If you can think of the emo-hardcore/sasscore of recent bands like So Hideous and SeeYouSpaceCowboy and throw in what I can only describe as La Dispute poetic vocal delivery, you'll likely have a good idea as to the kind of metalcore you're getting here. And it actually works really well. Most melo-hardcore bands of the past think that in order to fit into the "melodic" tag requires clean singing, but xNOMADx prove that is not the case. Most, if not all, of the melodic leads on this record are provided by a lead guitar while the harsh vocals are quite moving in their delivery. 

The compositions of these five (well, only four I guess since "12.29 (Ahiarmiut)" is more of an intro) are top notch in terms of quality of performance and production. Bass is thorough and the percussion does not feel trigger happy during the breakdowns. If there is one thing to criticize here, it would have to be the breakdowns themselves. They feel very simplistic and on a couple of instances, I knew that I had heard these exact same rhythm of notes somewhere else before in the past.

Like I said, melodic metalcore takes two forms; the nostalgic style of the mid 2000s, and the modern, progressive style. xNOMADx are comfortably playing into the latter and I think it sounds great. Can't wait to hear what this band has to offer in 2024 and beyond.

Best Songs: On Skylines of Embers, The Punishment, Hand That Hold Me Hold Nothing