### Nex: A clockwork heart

#### 24/09/08 || theProphet

Fellow staffer Abyss was apparently so appalled by the quality of Nex that he even saw it fit to send me a PM where he expressed his sympathies for me since I had signed up to review their newest effort, “A Clockwork Heart”, which the band kindly, or maliciously sent to us here at GD. Phew, how’s that for a long sentence? Anyways, my expectations for this were about as high as a “St. Anger”-era James Hetfield.

The album starts out with a mellow piano intro that sounds exactly like the background music in “The Sims”, and a I let a smirk pass over my face as I start thinking up ways to utterly trash this sorry piece of shit music.

But then the first real song starts, and suddenly I’m all like “Well, it’s not like me and Abyss always agree with each other, but is this really the right album?” because the first couple of riffs here are really fucking sweet, with good, aggressive vocals. Then there’s a passage where the vocalist breaks out in some absolutely turgid clean vocals and once again it looks like this album might turn out to absolutely fellate. However, the groovy riffs does not wait to return and I’m nodding my head and tapping my foot, smirk turned into grin. This song is kinda like one of the gayer Dillinger Escape Plan songs, which are gay, but still good. Make no mistake though, there’s nothing brutal about this whatsoever, I guess Killswitch Engage would serve as a adequate comparison, but then again I don’t know ‘cause I don’t listen to them.

The second song starts and suddenly it’s all very clear to me. Like I said, “The Tell-tale Orange” sometimes reminds me of the gayer moments of DEP. However, instead of descending into a pandemonium of jazz-blasting, Nex switches gears to full-on ultra homo. Seriously, once the vocalist(s) break out into their clean singing holocaust, and the music follows suit, my shit is ruined instantly.

I guess that’s it, really. Nex, only borders on being metal most of the time, I’d say it’s harder than Greenday but softer than Linkin’ Park. But with more screaming and occasional growls. I don’t know if this album sounds anything like the one reviewed by my esteemed colleague. This album definitely has its moment, such as the first song and some other times when Nex decides to at least try to display some fucking balls in their songwriting. Ultimately, this is shit though.

3 clean vocal atrocities out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Rising Records
- Website: Nex MySpace
- Band
- Ed Dickinson: vocals, synth
- Chris Kiernan: guitars, vocals
- The Professional: bass, vocals, piano
- Mike Garlick: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. In Pieces
- 02. The Revenge
- 03. The Lucky Ones
- 04. Tinkerbell
- 05. Witch Hunting
- 06. Phantoms
- 07. Dansylvania
- 08. Good Evening
- 09. Ashes & Embers (More Pieces)
- 10. Before The Storm
- 11. Behind The Stars
- 12. We All Went Out To Sea
- 13. At Peace