Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)
Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

Nural

The Weight of the World
2005
Hopeless

Nural - The Weight of the World (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Anchors
See others by this writer


[staff]

Nural (link)

Only registered users
can post comments


Print this Review Send this Review to a Friend
Hopeless Records (Logo)

Published on November 11th 2005

I was duped again.

The cover art on Nural's The Weight of the World screams metal; be that the epic or the cheesy variety, it could go either way. But no, this release has nothing whatsoever to do with either Buried Inside or Avenged Sevenfold, though the band's musical chops don't propel them that far above the latter. No, this is in effect the newest pop-rock singing to the fittingly named Hopeless Records.

Had this been a Jeff Ott or Dillinger Four album, I may have been excited at this point, but I'm afraid Hopeless has not impressed with this album either.

How many times have you heard "it's not bad, but it's not good either?" Well, that cliché phrase definitely applies here. Singer Kyle Castellani impresses mightily with his voice, displaying a range and strength beyond his years. His lyrical content is decidedly of Christian affiliation ("Lord what have I done? My reach obtaining only that which could end me") but not overbearingly so. Song titles like "Forgive Me" and "The Root of All Evil" surely hint at that lyrical direction, but when you get right down to it, it's refreshing to see the band not shoving their beliefs down anyone's throat. I just wish they'd do something drastic though, something to make even one line or one chord etch itself in your memory past the initial listen. Nural plays around with some varying tempos and rhythms, but it's simply not enough. Songs like "Not Guilty" though, keep the album from being completely mundane.

This is where those solid rhythms come into play. Castellani carries the song's weight until about halfway through, when guitarists Charley Hoy and Ryan Davis really let loose with some great riffing that had previously been absent to the record. A welcome change, but all too infrequent of an occurrence. Their strikingly fluid chord progressions need to be the foundation here, and not an afterthought. The rest of the songs show them in a competent but seemingly reserved light, one that surely does not benefit the sound or diversity the album could have.

There are plenty of tender moments here to be found as well, for those who enjoy the more low-key side of things. “Forgive Me” adds some piano and strings to the mix while Castellani’s gorgeous vocals take the helm. The essentially forgettable “How Do You Sleep at Night” closes the album in a less than stellar fashion, as some of that great guitar work returns, but in a role that’s far less noticeable against the other layers of the song.

For me, the general theme of the album is “missed opportunity.” A missed opportunity here and there won’t sink an album, but when they’re as prevalent as with The Weight of the World, it’s unfortunately hard not to take notice. Some better songwriting could do good things for this talented five-piece, but until then, there’s not a lot to see.



People who liked this also liked:
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork TreeDead Hearts - Bitter VersesTwelve Tribes - Midwest PandemicSpitalfield - Better Than Knowing Where You AreSet Your Goals - Mutiny!Sinking Ships - DisconnectingConverge - No HeroesPlus 44 - When Your Heart Stops BeatingPropagandhi - Potemkin City LimitsThe Briefs - Steal Yer Heart



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-08 09:10:05
    My Score:

    Good album. Nice soloing. Fits my the niche that's been empty since there really hasn't been any good radio rock releases since Trapts last album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 12:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    well, seemingly unlike anyone else here, i really enjoyed this album, and i really like Nural. but i can see what you mean, they have changed. but i don't hate them for it, this album still kicks some.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 1, 2005 at 9:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yeah I'm with most of you on this one. Nural was the shit a couple years back. The Weight of the World definitely has its moments, but I miss songs like "Live and Learn".

    To make a quick correction on a previous comment their bassist left the band and ended up playing with Normal Like You.. who is badass.

    But yeah, Nural, if you're reading this...

    Fuck all of this new stuff you're experimenting with, and stick with the sound that generated a huge following in SoCal.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 12:43 AM (EST)

    Yeah, I used to dig these guys back in '01 or so when they played superfast Rufio-esque songs like "Overreact" ... like the last guy said, what happened???

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 14, 2005 at 2:45 PM (EST)

    I use to play shows with these guys all the time in their and my hometown of la canada, ca. they use to not have any christian affiliation and played straight up fast pop-punk. they were actually really good. then one day they kicked out their guitarist and started writing ballad-esque songs and changed their lyrics drastically. the only thing good about this band now is the singer. what happened to these guys? damn

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 6:48 PM (EST)

    This band played a gig in my town last night......ho hum so yeah i had a good night in listening to Jawbreaker.

    Posted by RondoMondo on 2005-11-11 13:33:46
    My Score:

    Boring band, horrid label.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-11 13:24:28

    doesnt

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-11 13:23:54
    My Score:

    atlas' job dont seem so tough when you make the world that small

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    - i could do that

    Posted by kirbypuckett on 2005-11-11 10:05:13

    Ain't no party like a Daggermouth party, 'cuz a Daggermouth party don't stoooooooop.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 9:12 AM (EST)

    hopeless used to be such a wicked label. almost 10 years ago.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 2:33 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    boring

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 1:52 AM (EST)

    bands like trapt and hoobastank are awesome........

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-11-11 01:49:01

    soooo bad

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-11 01:46:24

    YOU'RE SAYING THAT LIKE IT'S A BAD THING?!?!?

    just kidding!

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-11-11 01:45:15

    This album sounds like TrustCompany.