None More Black – Icons

None More Black have always been a band that I pull out randomly and replay. They weren’t my go-to band per say, but I listened to them quite frequently.  But they had one song that I played over and over again: This Is Satire’s Under My Feet. Seriously, that’s like one of my all time favourite tunes – it’s just that wicked.

But it’s been four years since we last heard anything from None More Black. In that time, they toured, went on hiatus, created some side projects and then silently got back together to unleash Icons – quite possibly one of the best albums of the year that features yet another song that could take Under My Feet’s spot as my go-to None More Black song.

First, you have to realize that Icons comes blasting out of the starting gate with Mr. Artistic. Right from the start it knocks you off your feet. Jason Shevchuk’s vocals are perfect and the odd backing vocals just add a flare to the song that makes it unmistakable. The musicianship is tight; a spastic melodic hardcore tune seeped deeply in Philadelphia gruff punk rock. The guitars flourish while new drummer Richard Minino spices things up in the rhythm section.

It doesn’t stop there. The blistering fast Stillsternlange&Norris is slightly poppier but still carries a punch while I’m Warning You With Peace and Love is a balls-to-the-walls hardcore song with a call and repeat chorus that is unmatched this year. The whole album comes through as a consistent, cohesive package with not one filler or skippable track but countless repeatable ones. A near perfect no frills punk record.

The second thing you have to realize is that’s your reaction after the first listen and Icons is a grower that simply gets better with repeated listens.

Oh yes, it blasts through from the get go but the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you as you start to recognize the little subtleties that go by unnoticed on first listen.  The vocal harmonies climb into your memory banks. Shevchuk’s lyrical play becomes clearer and even more impressive as you slowly deconstruct all the metaphors that are specific enough to be interpreted but vague enough to be placed against your own life with ease. You get a nostalgic and realistic look back at high school and how it affects us in the present in When Mickey Died, Iron Mouth Act is a touring song while Stillsternlang&Norrisdecries people’s obsessions with social networks that is, in turn, followed nicely by Cupcake Wednesday which, I interpret, as the destruction of our scene through the internet. As it plays through, Minimo’s drumming becomes more distinct and impressive and the heavy crunch of the guitar melts away for some shining solos that float softly in the background (see Sinatra After Dark).  Suffice to say, Icons is a melodic punk album that flies by and hits every right note while constantly grows stronger with each passing listen.

I have to step by and also touch on the song that could take the place of Under My Feet as my go-to None More Black song; it comes in the form of The Backpedal. It’s a slower song for sure; but one that showcases everything that None More Black has to offer. Shevchuk’s vocals are powerful, clean yet gruff and sincere as he sings a song of lost chances. I don’t know what it is, but the lyrics “Finger on the trigger / I’ve steadied my sights / could be the easiest shot of my life / but I’m not going to do anything about it/ and you know, it makes me sick” resonates perfectly with me at this point in my life and no one could have summed it up better. I know I’ll be playing this song, if not the whole album, for years to come.

Yeah; it’s just a good CD.