Nu-Metal Pros Give It Another Go

When a rock band experiences as much success as post alt-rockers Staind have, the next logical step for any legitimate industry player is to champion newer up and coming artists, who then proceed to ride the wake of their mentor’s success. Aaron Lewis, taking a lesson from his own predecessor/mentor Fred Durst, follows suit with the creation of 413 Records. The label’s first release is Lo-Pro, a nu-metal all-star band comprised of former members of Ultraspank, Snot and Godsmack. Considering the group is comprised of former musicians from nu-metal bands, the expectations of success are largely multiplied, especially in a genre that seems to be fading faster Rosie O’Donnell’s career. Lo-Pro take the successful qualities of their previous bands and streamline them, creating a driving rock force etched with beautiful melodic harmonies. What sets them apart from other rock bands is Pete Murray’s (Ultraspank) emotionally charged, energetically fixated vocals. Musically the band rarely strays too far from the simplistic driving force that typifies most nu-metal bands. Lyrically this album is somewhat simplistic and stagnant as typified in the song “Fuel,” “All my dreams/Leave me with broken wings/At least I’m nothing like you…”, but Murray’s vocals manage to give them more credibility. In the end, Lewis and Lo-Pro remain committed to the nu-metal genre and manage to raise the bar, if only slightly.