By: Zeyn Hunter

"Nocturne" - - "Welcome to Paradise": Hollows Hill Records (Triple XXX)

Several "Industrial" metal bands or "acts" define the mainstream acceptance of the particular musical genre; "Ministry", "Marilyn Manson", and "Rob Zombie". You know it when you hear it.

With their newest release, "Nocturne" is worming its way closer to being one of those "definitive" bands. What they need is a little radio exposure and they could very well "darken" and excite currently bland stations, to the pleasure of "Industrial" metal-heads everywhere. Their song, "Welcome to Paradise", develops the "Nocturne" sound from their first album, "Twilight" -- carrying the band into new "sonic" territory. Always experimental, always inventive -- as befits a true "Industrial" group -- "Nocturne" keeps an eye on what's really important, namely, well-crafted songs with catchy hooks. And "Nocturne" doesn't fall into the traps other genre bands usually fall into. "Industrial" bands often put too much emphasis on "soundscapes", without looking at the song as a whole, and metal bands often retread themselves into bigger and dumber cliche's. No so with "Nocturne".

"Nocturne" is a four-piece, with vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, and the group uses quite a bit of programming and sampling which are triggered by the guitarist for live shows. You can tell the guitarist writes much of the music because his instrument is usually right in front at their performances, the "axe" grinding the song into new directions -- usually harsh, scathing, and aggressive, yet, never backtracking into metal cartoon. The bass is there -- heard -- but it doesn't stand out in any particular way. The songs don't typically revolve around the base line and it could disappear without notice. For listeners, it may be hard to separate the often complex live and "looped-by-machine" drums. Just as I thought one section was live, it threw me with what sounds very much like a pre-recorded section. The musicians weave the muscial elements through each other in an innovative manner, giving the songs quite a bit of depth and texture, moreso than comparable bands.

While the "crunchy" percussive guitars and detailed beats provide a solid foundation, band member, Lacey's vocals really pop (no pun intended). Showing intense range, Lacy flows from throat-shreading guttural angst to atmospheric ambiance -- with nary a breath in between. Lacy can warble, reminiscent of the scope of various European "Black Metal" vocalists, but without the widely-drawn melodramatics and often cheesy lyrics.

I really enjoyed the "Welcome To Paradise" album. "Nocturne" has a well-developed multi-layered sound of their own -- a hard thing to do these days when everyone sounds like someone else. Lacey makes the claim, "I'm not the one," but I don't believe her. And neither should you. Go buy it.