Nora
Save Yourself

Originating from New Jersey, Nora is a metalcore band. Active since 1996, they debuted for Ferret Records (owned by the group's singer, Carl Severson) before moving to the Trustkill label, also specialized in the hardcore/metal scene. Despite being active for about 15 years, the group does not have an extensive discography: apart from a couple of EPs and a split CD with Dillinger Escape Plan, their noteworthy albums include "Loser's Intuition" (2001), "Dreamers and Deadmen" (2003), and the album under review "Save Yourself," released in 2007, which is perhaps the album that marks their definitive maturity from a stylistic and compositional standpoint.

Musically speaking, the American quintet offers a balanced mix of hardcore and metal that is rather intense and neurotic, comparable to bands like early Mastodon or Converge, but less schizoid and intricate, resulting instead in a more stripped-down and direct sound. 10 tracks imbued with urban discomfort and anguish, featuring rather sustained and tight rhythms, but not shying away from slower sections akin to certain unhealthy sludge, as in the case of the title track and "The Moment, The Sound, The Fury", the longest song on the CD. The listener, in any case, will be assaulted by sharp and cutting sonic splinters like "Scum", "Broken", and "Famous Last Words", where the screamed vocals emerge in all their power. It is also evident how Nora doesn't shy away from dissonant and distinctly noise guitar work that crops up in almost all the compositions of "Save Yourself", so much so that in the opening track "Somebody Call Somebody", the references to the typical "wall of sound" of Unsane are clearly audible.

Some flaws certainly aren't lacking, which tend to undermine the quality of the work: a certain underlying repetitiveness can be perceived throughout the listening experience (common to the majority of releases in this genre), both in the rhythmic-guitar structures of the tracks and in Carl Severson's monolithic vocals, which never stray from their fierce and abrasive screaming. Furthermore, the production, although clear, is not the best and doesn't do full justice to all the instruments. These are limitations that, however, do not particularly affect the overall value of the album, which is easy to listen to again even after some time and boasts a vigor that very few bands in the genre can boast.

In conclusion, a good album, certainly not groundbreaking, but genuine and truly furious, the ideal outlet for negative and/or tense moments. 36 minutes of pure violence that will delight all enthusiasts of the genre.

Recommended album.