CoC : Nuse - Hung Well : Review

Nuse - _Hung Well_
(Independent, 2003)
by: Adrian Magers (4 out of 10)

This bizarre New Jersey band marks their tenth anniversary with their debut LP after a slew of demo EPs. Although the band's music was generally enjoyable, some of their secondary presentation would probably drive away many potential fans from wanting to actually look deeper into what the band does. This CD features possibly the shittiest-looking cover in the history of music. Now it's true that it's unfair to judge a book (or anything) by its outward appearance, but having such an effortless approach to such things can't help. Anyway, onto the important things. Nuse has opened for Biohazard, Cannibal Corpse, Clutch, Entombed, M.O.D., Mercyful Fate, The Misfits, Napalm Death, Nuclear Assault, Overkill, Pro-Pain, and Type O Negative. This is definitely an impressive resume, and the listener can pick elements of some of those acts (especially Biohazard and Clutch) in the mix of sounds Nuse employs. There's also some Anthrax, a little bit of Slayer, maybe some Faith No More and what I do believe is a Nirvana riff pulsing through track four, a cut entitled "Smoke" (Kurt-worshippers will have to verify that for me). The metalcore/thrash fusion is well done, but a lot of elements of the band are annoying for the sole purpose of being weird or strange. While this tendency makes some acts endearing, it makes Nuse irritating. I'd like to love the band; they have a lot kick-ass material and painfully good riffs. Half the album gets a 'B+', the other half gets a 'D-'.

Contact: http://www.nuse.tv

(article published 27/10/2003)