Nick Noro
Vietnamm
(Merdumgiriz Records/NBRD Records)
Brilliant. Hip. Artsy but never straying from the fundamental paths of hardcore punk and metal. It even delves into a grimey range of pop punk, such as on the track “In Love”, which could be an emo track if an emo track were dragged through an Exodus mosh pit. Noro’s Vietnamm is a straight roller coaster off of a mountain of high emotion. There is energy in this album that would take a great deal of time to consume and digest into an appropriate description. The frenzy of rock slushed together with ingenuity and jazz could be a recipe for disaster, but Noro manages to pull it together. Parts of it are very funky, upbeat; however, there’s a great deal of aggression and conflict. Noro reminds me of a younger Dave Mustaine; the creative maestro is a man barely making it out of his youth and into an adulthood that he has salvaged together through his own tour of hard knock enlightenment. Many of his lyrics are spoken instead of sang, but they pack a venomous bite. Krysten Bean compliments Noro’s low baritone drawls with an intriguing and genuine voice. On top of the many things listed, Nick Noro has been able to compile all of this together without losing the everyday touch of rock & roll. Vietnamm is eclectic, but not so extravagant that it loses the much adored templates of rock music.
Although the album could easily go on for an hour without losing steam, Nick has crafted a small gem in this 11 minute EP. Vietnamm is a hybrid of art and street music. It’s blend is a representation of Oakland’s visceral and creative scene, and a mirror on the evolution of musical traditions in a conflicted environment. Vietnamm is contagious, real, and a walk off the beaten path… I just wish this walk were a bit longer.
