No Innocent Victim - To Burn Again
Originally forming in 1992, No Innocent Victim released four albums (including a brace on Victory Records) to healthy sales before going their separate ways in 2002. In that time they came to be regarded as forefathers of the Christian hardcore movement, and provided inspiration to a whole host of the bands currently operating in that sub-genre (this new CD is accompanied by glowing testimonials from members of P.O.D. and As I Lay Dying). By now you've probably skipped on to the next review due to that strange prejudice metal-folk have against openly Christian bands (and the rather more justifiable aversion to P.O.D.). I'm no Christian, but by the same token I'm no neo-nazi Satanist and I still enjoy black metal. Anyway, surely metal is all about being true to yourself and going against the grain, and I have more respect for groups with the courage to stand by their Christian beliefs than, for example, practicing Catholic Tom Araya fronting Slayer and singing the rabidly anti-Christian 'Jesus Saves' while smothering himself in pentagrams.
Anyway, No Innocent Victim reformed last year (with a somewhat altered line-up) in response to a perceived lack of integrity in modern hardcore, and this new CD is the fruit of their labours. As I'm not familiar with the band's past output, I can't tell you if '"To Burn Again" is typical of their sound or not, but the hardcore on this release is of the thrashy variety, and (ironically enough) there's a lot of Slayer audible in their music (although we're talking about the Slayer who recorded "Divine Intervention" rather than the band who gave us "Reign In Blood"). Delivering 14 fat-free tracks in just under 30 minutes, No Innocent Victim keep things fairly up-tempo but toss in enough mid-paced breakdowns and chugging parts to prevent the onset of monomania (and doubtless provoke much pit action in the live environment).
The lyrics are delivered in a venomous bark and are mostly 'wrath of God/Jesus died for you/you're going to Hell, sinner' fare, the angry stance of which makes a welcome change from some of the wishy-washy 'love your fellow man' bollocks spouted by certain sections of the Christian metal scene (although No Innocent Victim do occasionally slip - such as on 'Open', with its closing 'He loves you/He loves you/He loves you' refrain). Catchy 'gang' vocals are also employed often and to good effect, without diminishing the impact of the music. The modern thrash metal style production is solid and satisfyingly weighty.
In the end, No Innocent Victim's overt Christianity will be both their main selling point and their biggest drawback, regardless of the quality of their music. It would be shame to judge "To Burn Again" purely on the grounds of their beliefs, as although this isn't by any means the best hardcore album you'll have heard in 2005, it's good stuff which should have all but the most jaded fans of the genre bobbing their heads.