NOXAGT - NOXAGT (LOAD 069)

AT THE TIME OF ITS RELEASE I REJECTED THIS ALBUM WITH NARY A LISTEN. WHY? NILS ERGA IS GONE. HIS KEEL-HAULED VIOLA MIASMA WAS, TO MY YOUTHFUL EARS, THE ESSENCE OF THE NOXAGT SOUND (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE BASS PLAYER'S BAND). HIS REPLACEMENT WITH A BARITONE GUITARIST WAS SACRILEGE. BLASPHEMY.

WHILST THIS MAY BE SOMEWHAT OVER THE TOP I DO MAINTAIN THAT THE PREVIOUS INCARNATION OF NOXAGT WAS BETTER. COMPOSITIONALLY THEY'RE STILL IN THE "RUSTED PROG-HARDCORE" VIBE THAT THEY PERFECTED UTTERLY LAST TIME OUT. IT'S JUST THAT WITH A BARI GUITAR IT ALL SOUNDS A BIT MORE PRO-FORMA. THEY CAN ALL PLAY AND THROW OUT SOME SICK INDIVIDUAL MOMENTS (YOU WOULD BE AN IDIOT TO NOT LIKE SOME OF THIS IMO) BUT I GUESS I AM A PRISONER TO MY OWN NOSTALGIA.

THE PASSAGE OF TIME MAKES FOOLS OF US ALL BUT I AM STILL NOT WRONG IN THINKING THAT COMPARED TO THE IRON POINT THIS IS A REGRESSION.