Nothing Left
Destroy and Rebuild EP
(Facedown Records)
Metallic hardcore has seen a bit of a resurgence of late, serving as a nice reminder than what we now call metalcore used to be more about riffs and passion than breakdowns and pop vocal hooks. It used to be the opposite of pretty, screaming about the ugliness of the world. The latest reincarnation of the style (with a nod to Botch-ian dissonance) comes from the newest band from the Leitru brothers, Nothing Left. The group rose from the ashes of For Today’s demise, and while the brothers’ choppy style is replicated on this debut EP, Destroy and Rebuild is a whole different beast altogether. No disrespect to their former band, but the best riffs of the brothers’ career are featured on this short but very damn sweet six song collection, and their ability to craft truly incendiary breakdowns was not lost in this sonic translation. So very much of this excellent record might as well be the fire emoji in song form; unsurprisingly, “Burn It Away” is clearly a highlight, with its three-minute runtime serving as basically lighter fluid for the ensuing mosh pits.
The “weakest” tune on Destroy and Rebuild is “No Way Out”, which sounds a little too close to For Today’s latter day style and feels slightly out of place. It’s still a solid tune, but it’s a bit muted by comparison, almost like a necessary salve to the aural punishment that it is surrounded by. Otherwise, Nothing Left prove there is a lot left in the tank for the Leitru brothers, as their new project has the potential to overshadow their past band. It seems like an unlikely task, but Destroy and Rebuild shows that the brothers’ were more than happy to take the cornerstone of their past (top-notch riffs and breakdowns) and build one Hell of a fantastic foundation for the future.
Purchase the album here: iTunes | Physical
