REVIEW: Nothing - a short history of decay
- Lou Viner-Flood
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
American shoegaze heavyweights NOTHING return with their sixth studio album, a short history of decay. Formed in 2010, the band are known for their ever evolving line up, but lead vocalist and guitarist DOMENIC "NICKY" PALERMO is a constant presence. With a sound that perfectly blends shoegaze, post‑hardcore, and slowcore, NOTHING are a band that consistently deliver a collision of crushing distortion and fragile melancholy and a short history of decay is testament to that.
Starting off the album with a slow track, never come never morning eases in the listener, with a solo guitar, at first, building into a heavy drum beat and background soundscapes. A repetition of time connected phrases litter the track, ““When I was young, life was easy”, “When I was one, before it split me” and “When I was old, ain’t life terrible”, drawing the listener in further. In stark contrast to the preceding track, cannibal world features heavy guitars and fast electronic breakbeats, going in a direction that you wouldn’t expect from a shoegaze band, until the faded, breathy vocals come in.
Title track a short history of decay, also the longest track on the album, continues the wall of distortion, starting with a backing of electronic drum beats, before PALERMO’s forever recognisable vocals leach in behind them. The repetition of the beat sounds similar to a siren; whether this was intentional is anyone's guess, but it creates a sense of urgency and almost anxiety when listening. Starting with that solo guitar heard in the opening track, the rain don’t care, leans towards a moodier ambience, bringing with it a haunted elegance that seems misplaced on a short history of decay. It slows the pace down, almost to a stop, which comes abruptly to the listener and is somewhat disconcerting. It is an intimate, melancholic track that would perhaps have been better as the closer.
purple strings is the most unexpected track on the album. Following the preceding slowing down on the tempo, this stripped down, acoustic track, with harpist MARY LATTIMORE. PALERMO bears his soul, which cannot be ignored, with the track sounding similar to Creep by RADIOHEAD, and redelivers that almost unsettling feeling felt in the rain don’t care. Overloaded with layers of industrial leaning guitars that screech and drums that are dealt a violent stroke, toothless coal brings the album back to the weighty ethereal soundscapes shoegaze always delivers, and something that NOTHING moved away from in the mid section of the album. The siren-like repetition also returns, along with the dulcet vocals.
ballet of the traitor sees PALERMO sighing a quiet sorrow, with a backing of soft reverbing drums, returning back to the slower pace heard in the middle of the album, in a somewhat tiring manner. More breathy melodies are delivered in nerve scales, accompanied by delicate guitars and more crisp drums. Closing track essential tremors delivers an insight into PALERMO’s entire being; his own tremors, from the genetic neurological condition he has, can be heard throughout the vocals, something that has deliberately been left in the track, with lyrics that are hauntingly intimate. The song ends in a reverb soaked haze of shoegaze familiarity, bringing the album to a close on the sound NOTHING are really about.
NOTHING brings together a unique sound that is reminiscent of MY BLOODY VALENTINE, but with the emotional rawness of post‑hardcore. a short history of decay delivers exactly that. Though the subtle change in sound may not be to the liking of old-school fans, more new listeners will be noticing the band and listening for the first time. If you’re looking for an album that is full of contemplative, introspective lyrics, with a sonically expansive sound, a short history of decay is the album you’re looking for.
Score: 7/10
a short history of decay will be released on 27th February via Run For Cover Records.
Words: Lou Viner-Flood
Photos: Luke Ivanovich
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