ALBUM REVIEW: American Nightmare – American Nightmare

There was a collective joy when AMERICAN NIGHTMARE announced their return to the studio after a pretty lengthy hiatus from writing material. Their a-typical hardcore sound returns but with a broader sense of what their musical label can actually entail, making for not only a rambunctious return, but also a pretty varied one.

The World Is Blue and Flowers Under Siege provide a sufficiently blistering introduction to the self-titled effort. The former boasts far more structure that allows it to sink more into memory than the latter, but it’s the scathing guitar licks of the following American Death coupled with the vocals hooks that lace the song that make this a formidable track and one that stand proudly as one of the best on the album. The band are ruthless when they want to be, but the ever-present rumblings of the bass guitar give the band enough groove to get your feet moving, even with the frequent tempo changes.

Where American Nightmare really shines is when it begins to spread it wings to influence from more than just the punk roots that they favour. War boasts guitar leads that cut through the thick sound and show the band to have more dimensions than previously eluded to, which is even more evident in the near emo like tinges of the appropriately named Gloom Forever. It’s clear that the band worship bands like CONVERGE and GLASSJAW as much as they emulate more modern acts like TOUCHE AMORE. AMERICAN NIGHTMARE are almost chameleon in their ability to change skin throughout the record, ranging from the utter rage of Dream through to the more vulnerable and emotional Colder Than Death, and it’s frank view of the difficulties that lie in living with depression.

What AMERICAN NIGHTMARE have done with their self-titled return is simply write a blistering 20-minute love letter to all things hardcore, that is sadly gone before it really settles. Whilst it remains a strong record, the many calling cards and influences that lay within the record simply takes away from the band sharpening and homing in one fewer elements to really allow for a precise assault upon return. Still, American Nightmare is a varied and enjoyable listen, with the musical and lyrical journeys taken never not being worthwhile, but it will take a few listens for the best parts of the record to really sink in.

Rating: 7/10

American Nightmare is out now via Rise Records. 

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