San Antone's Nothing More Hammers Out Something Venomous

Missing a taste of home? Tonight's blog post is for you. Straight from San Antonio heavy metal foursome Nothing More has an ax to grind with corporate America and it comes through sharply on "Mr. MTV". This single lashes out at this nation's gotta have it instant gratification culture. If only we bought that trending trinket we'd at last be the envy of all our friends. TV, regardless of the channel changed to excels at making us think our woefully empty lives will be complete through vigorous consumer activity. Nothing More straddles the line between contained rage and toxic volcano masterfully. The angry sections are really seething. The quiet runs are build-ups gathering momentum to foment the next gathering storm. This band's passionate presence is written in large type all over their faces. For instance lead singer Jonny Hawkins lets his barbaric yawp soar to the rafters. We big boys like to call that conviction, the demonstration of knowing where you stand and maintaining the brash sensibilities required to go to the mat for the cause. Mark Vollelunga goes for the jugular whenever he throws his back into guitar. I sense he's the piece of the foursome that has to be restrained the most after he's built up a full head of steam. Respect also belongs to bassist Daniel Oliver. The ferocious aftertaste "Mr. MTV" has sliding down your throats wouldn't back as much punch without Danny knowing where to twist the knife. If you can get past the unsettling onslaught of images produced by the video you'll become aware of how much raw enthusiasm the track contains. That's dynamism you can't fake in a million years. Nothing More slithered onto the scene in 2003. 2004 brought the debut album "Shelter". Their latest release is self-titled in nature. Why not? Peter Gabriel built momentum with his first few albums by not giving them descriptive handles. Heart staged one of the biggest career boosts in all of music with its self-titled, four top 10 hit producing album. I'm driving at this notion, flawed or not that stipulates a band's really starting to get serious about its place in the music firmament if self-titled is the promotional route it's taking. Nothing More appears poised not to back down from a fight. Those of us, myself included, that get swept up in nostalgia for MTV's gravy days, are bound to grin ear to ear at the recalling of Sting's opening slant on MTV's trademark "I Want My MTV" campaign slogan. Then Nothing More yanks the rug out from under us. Game's on, people. They came to the table with a winner take all attitude. At the chorus they call out America for its dearth of honest to goodness inspiration. Each of us bows down to a corporate master on some level. These masters push drugs and sex before us knowing our thirsts are unquenchable. We've been broken down to the nubs. I'd like to keep fingers crossed that something else thought-provoking is set to emerge from these talented Texans. Nothing More proves its nothing less than a metal force to reckon with.