You can’t keep a good musician down, it seems, and Leigh Oates from the mighty Soldierfield is a good example as he’s moonlighting here with Nindenine, a band originally formed back in 1999 by members of Evile, Rise to addiction and Order of voices. ‘Megaloden’ is a six-track belter that sees re-recorded versions of tracks from the Eps the band released in 2001 and 2004 and takes its cues from the likes of Tool, A perfect Circle and Alice in chains as the band deal out taut riffs, huge slabs of metallic noise and, over it all, there’s Leigh’s note-perfect delivery. It’s a hell of an introduction to the band, if you didn’t catch them in their first incarnation, and one that does not fail to impress over the course of twenty-something minutes.
With ‘garden’, Ninedenine get off to a cracking start, Andrew Stone’s guitars tightly coiled around Aynsley Dickinson’s tribal percussion. Leigh’s delivery is key here, moving from spitting out his lyrics rhythmically to a smoother more melodic style as he mirrors the dynamic of the guitars. It showcases a band who have obviously worked hard to deliver a very tight performance and the result is a track that worms its way into your consciousness with ease. More melodic, but no less heavy, ‘the scars’ is a driving hard rock number with a killer riff, throbbing bass (Joel Graham) and close-knit harmonies that give the song that added depth that we’ve come to expect from Leigh’s material. Hints of Alice in Chains, Alter Bridge and A Perfect Circle abound, but Ninedenine are not mere copyists and the music definitely has its own vibe going on. ‘New device’ sees Andrew alternating between sweeping open chords and crunchy palm-muted riffing whilst Leigh takes things in their most melodic direction yet, the contrast between powerful metallic crunch and gorgeous harmonies proving to be an emotive and exciting combination. There’s real power here and the backing vocals which creep through the mix are just one of the many layers that Ninedenine have woven into their material guaranteeing that you’ll be hearing new things with every new listen for some time to come.
Of all the tracks here, the most overtly Tool-esque is the ‘This way’ which wouldn’t sound out of place on the classic ‘Aenima’ although the chorus takes things in a more Alice in Chains direction as dark harmonies pile up over a crunchy riff. It’s a great track and I can think of few bands who could pull off such a song whilst simultaneously maintaining their own sense of identity. It’s a powerful and dark sound the band have, but never inaccessibly so, and the pristine production (handled by the multi-talented Leigh) sounds a million dollars – crank this beast up and you can’t fail to be impressed. Far heavier is ‘spreading the ashes’, a rage-fuelled track that is delivered with a vigour that sets the adrenalin coursing through the veins. The EP ends with ‘Static’, a bass driven monster set to a syncopated beat that proves to be an EP highlight with its grungy riff and satisfyingly distinctive lead work. It’s a fitting end to an inventive and varied EP that draws from multiple influences and, in doing so, forges its own identity.
I’ve long said that one of the best things about reviewing is not encountering and venerating the familiar, but coming across something new that makes the hair on the back of the neck stand up. Ninedenine do exactly that – the ‘Megaloden’ EP captures pretty much everything I enjoy in heavy music from blistering riffs to melodic vocals, from grittier moments to tightly-wound, progressive metal-inspired passages: this EP has it all and, to top it off, the production is absolutely crushing. If you’re a fan of prog-infused metal with a strong melodic edge, then this EP is absolutely for you. With stunning musicianship and songs that benefit from repeated listens, the revamped Ninedenine are set to make quite an impact – this is a damned impressive EP and one to which I will be listening for some time to come.
