EP REVIEW: Profiler – Profiler

Despite many predictions to the contrary, nu-metal hasn’t made a serious comeback yet. Sure, there are bands who have adopted elements of it into their sound, but the scope of the genre nowadays is nothing like it was during its heyday. Nu-metal in 2022 is limited to a niche audience and the occasional nostalgia tour at best; the days of album launch parties being held at the Playboy mansion are long gone.

With that in mind, say hello to PROFILER; three lads from Bristol who grew up on Hybrid Theory. This is their debut EP and it’s a bouncy and enjoyable throwback to the era that respectable trouser sizes forgot. And like all modern nu-metal bands, there’s an unspoken but deeply unfair expectation that they’ll be the ones to bring the genre back into the mainstream. Good luck boys, no pressure!

Unfortunately, this means it’s difficult to appreciate their music on its own merits and accept that anything less than an epochal triumph is a disaster. PROFILER’s debut isn’t exemplary, but it isn’t bad either. In fact it’s quite good, they’ve got talent and enthusiasm in abundance and probably have a couple of entertaining albums in their future. These four introductory songs are decent enough to act as a springboard for their career, so providing you don’t go in expecting the saviours of an entire genre you’ll have a good time.

Mercifully, they stay clear of rapping, but otherwise, PROFILER hit all the tick-boxes. There are down-tuned guitars and turntable scratches, not to mention a lot of anguished vocals and a lyrical focus on mental health issues. They’re a hyperactive bunch too; listen to Miserable and the energy is infectious. They sound like they’re bouncing off the walls for almost the entire song and if their gigs don’t end with someone diving into the drum kit, we’ll ditch all the music reviews and write exclusively about carp fishing for a year (Editor’s Note: no, we won’t).

While it may provide a nostalgic blast for anyone that remembers the EMINEM versus LIMP BIZKIT feud, PROFILER’s lyrics about social anxiety and overcoming addictions are refreshing. They’ve clearly taken inspiration from the likes of Somewhere I Belong and Numb, so even at their heaviest, they don’t come across as knuckle-headed jocks. These four songs are enthusiastic and enjoyable, but they’re also dealing with trauma.

It’s well-produced, catchy and fun, but despite flashes of greatness, it’d be a stretch to call them the future of nu-metal. PROFILER are a likeable bunch and while it would be delightful to say that glory awaits them, it’s a long way from being a certainty. This EP is an entertaining quarter of an hour, but it’s decent rather than ground-breaking. They’re still in their formative years, they’re better than average and for now, that’s enough. They’d better sell out Brixton and wind up on to the soundtrack to the next Transformers movie by the time the album comes out though or we’re sticking all our studded belts on eBay (Editor’s Note: no we’re not).

Rating: 7/10

Profiler is set for release on June 24th via SharpTone Records.

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