NODE — Cowards Empire (review)

NODE — Cowards Empire album cover Album · 2016 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Cowards Empire" is the 6th full-length studio album by Italian death metal act Node. The album was released through Punishment 18 Records in April 2016. It´s the successor to "In The End, Everything Is A Gag" from 2010, so the band have had a longer recording break. Node was formed in 1994 by Steve Minelli, but when he left in 1999, the band was left without any original members. Former lead vocalist Gary D'Eramo returned to the fold to keep the fire burning though (now as guitarist) and the band soldiered on. Node originally played a death/grind oriented style, but shifted towards a melodic thrash infuced death metal sound on later releases...

...and that´s also the musical style on "Cowards Empire". It´s technically well played death metal with thrash metal leanings and great melodic sensibility. The vocals are relatively high pitched snarling growls, which at times remind me of Jeff Walker (Carcass). Carcass is actually a pretty good reference (UK act Dām too), although Node aren´t exactly clones, but there are many similarities between contemporary Carcass and the music on "Cowards Empire". The vocals, the melodic death/thrash riffing, the social/political lyrics, and the occasional death´n´roll riff.

"Cowards Empire" is relatively well produced and the musicianship is pretty strong too. The material on the album is also relatively well written, but it´s not an album where the tracks stand out much. Maybe except for the 7:55 minutes long instrumental "The Plot Survives". So Node could still work on their songwriting to make it more catchy and memorable. When that is said a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is still deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Traumatica Metalcore
NO GUERRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Within the Visceria Death Metal
NECKBREAKKER
Buy this album from MMA partners
EP 1 Sludge Metal
CHAOTIC AGGRESSION
Buy this album from MMA partners
Songs of Blood and Mire Black Metal
SPECTRAL WOUND
Buy this album from MMA partners
Everything Hurts And I'm Dying Atmospheric Sludge Metal
NEGATIVE BLISS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Origin Of Infinity - Chronosphere (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
ORIGIN OF INFINITY
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Kingdom of Heaven - “Pleasures of Pain”
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Bosh66· 1 day ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed