Islander
Power Under Control

New lineup (everyone out except the singer, Mikey Carvajal) new album (after the debut "Violence & Destruction") for Islander, a fresh American rock band whose sound blends elements of Alternative Rock, Post Hardcore, and Nu Metal.
Discovered by the Sandoval-Welch duo and their organization "The Whosoevers" (which non-profitably helps young people find their way in life), produced by Victory Records and currently composed, besides the aforementioned vocalist, of JR Bareis (guitar and already part of Head's Love And Death project), Arin Ilejay (drums ex-Avenged Sevenfold) and Ezekiel Vazquez (bass).
Their second studio work often references POD and, especially, Deftones (Carvajal's style vaguely resembles that of Chino Moreno).
Among the must-listen tracks on "Power Under Control" are the opening track "Darkness", the subsequent "Bad Guy" (not too refined, but perfectly capable of introducing an album aiming to reach a young audience), and the rap hard rock ballad "Better Day"; however, in my opinion, the best is "Casket," which very well summarizes the style of this American group. Also noteworthy is "Devil Red" (a power ballad leaning more towards Nu tones) and "Beelzebub" (calm and melancholic enough, yet explosive towards the end).
In short, an album that convinces: energetic, interesting, of quality. Also noteworthy is the very good production.
Do these (talented) guys represent the future of Nu Metal, increasingly destined to be "crossed" with more easy-going, or at any rate, more melodic sounds to survive?
The answer is yours!