ALBUM REVIEW: a mind waiting to die – Graphic Nature
Kent metallers GRAPHIC NATURE sound unbelievably pissed off on a mind waiting to die. It’s an untethered 38 minutes of spit-flying anger, based heavily on vocalist Harvey Freeman’s mental health issues. It explores subjects like panic attacks and neurodivergence and applies them to a nu-metal soundtrack, resulting in a wild, white-knuckle ride. The hyperactive energy and unflinching venom are enthralling, but it’s also not quite the finished article. This is a decent start to their careers, but GRAPHIC NATURE still sound like a band finding their furious feet.
The good news is that there are many reasons to be hopeful, even if the despairing lyrics suggest otherwise. Nu-metal tends to be frowned upon by the more extreme genres but make no mistake; a mind waiting to die is heavy. GRAPHIC NATURE cite bands like KORN and DEFTONES as influences, but they’ve obviously enjoyed more than one hardcore album in their time. There are some brutally bass-heavy, down-tuned riffs in here, and most are played as fast as humanly possible. The likes of Bad Blood and Killing Floor are rapid-fire bursts of adrenaline, and Freeman sounds positively deranged as he screams into the mic.
As the lyrics revolve around topics like depression and a mind at war with itself, things get dark too. On the first listen to Twisted Fear, we briefly considered emailing the label for a welfare check. Headstone comes across as a full-blown breakdown turned into a song and builds to a monstrous finale that could make Jamie Jasta wince with approval, while Death Wish is akin to a bulldozer going postal. It’s not the most textured album of all time, but if you’ve had an appallingly bad day and want to destroy your own bedroom in blind fury, this is a very fitting soundtrack.
Curiously, while they might name-check most of the genre’s big guns, GRAPHIC NATURE play a noticeably British take on nu-metal. There’s a techno/electronica edge to them reminiscent of the likes of PITCHSHIFTER and SENSER, and they’d have fit right in on the Milton Keynes Ozzfest in 2001. However, they’re also noticeably their own thing and have managed to avoid sounding like copycats.
As has already been pointed out though, a mind waiting to die isn’t an instant classic. It’s a capable and enjoyable record, but it’s also a bit one-dimensional. Unlike fellow nu-revivalists SEETHING AKIRA, the band only have one setting and it involves being incredibly angry, all the time. This record flashes by quickly, but it’s also hard to remember individual songs and they all blur into one blood-drenched mass.
GRAPHIC NATURE are a likeable (if rather foul-mouthed) bunch and the sheer enthusiasm makes up for the shortcomings. We’d place good money on them being an incredible live act and if they continue to improve at this rate, their next couple of records will be absolute belters. Don’t let the comparatively middle ground score at the bottom of this page put you off lads; keep going, keep smashing venues to bits, and look after yourselves for God’s sake.
Rating: 6/10
a mind waiting to die is set for release on February 17th via Rude Records.
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