Raw may be the name of the game when it comes to traditional and prototypical grindcore but that's not to say well polished bands can't make just as good of an album. Albeit, France's Nesseria aren't your typical grindcore band.
Hailing out of Orléans, Centre, Nesseria are a more melodic and moody approach to the grindcore blueprint. Something of a crossover of Converge (I know, not a grindcore band) and Nasum with splashes of black metal mixed in. Often mechanical in sound (ala Nasum), the band has crafted four split EPs and one full length since their 2004 inception. After ten years of strife and sonic brutality, the band has unleashed Fractures. An adequately named album for what they've accomplished.
The first words after listening to Fractures over and over and over are sonic ambiance. For a band that has so much crushing energy they're also one that is perfectly content with letting things linger and falling into more progressive territory. Songs aren't a jittery, buggy, psychotic show of riffage and blasts. Nesseria focus more on crafting moods rather than a mood. And it's with the influence of black metal that the band really showcases this ability. Pieces like “Cent Mille Fois Par Jour” draw out a much heavier black metal vibe. And yet others like “Fractures” pull pure noise on the listener.
Nesseria still have their crushing moments though. Tuning into tracks like “Le Malheur Des Autres” or “L'Incendie” get jagged and rough immediately. At no point does the band leave its grindcore roots behind. The twisting riffage and ADD mentality that grindcore has become known for is still in full swing. Guitarists Ben and Jérôme (last names unknown) craft some twisted soundscapes. Riffs are plenty jittery throughout while drummer Greg fires off like the pistons of a car (see: “Civitas”).
Fractures can quickly become a schizophrenic experience. Nesseria's infinity to switch up songs and go from grinding goodness to black metal eeriness will undoubtedly snap some necks. Though it never feels out of place. What can get odd is that the band tends to linger in places. Songs like “Leurs Histoires” shoot for a droning effect that keeps going. It can make you go back to your music player and wonder when the song is going to move on. But then there's other times when the band push a blast right in the middle of a melodic section and it just leaves you smiling (see: “Ceux Qui Restent”). Again, it can be schizophrenic.
Fractures is Nesseria's best work to date, make no mistake. Grindcore purists might be turned off by how well produced it is. The album has raw qualities and fist fulls of rage behind it but its clear that Nesseria aren't going to contain themselves. Between Julien's Jacob Bannon-esque scream/shout and the experimental nature of the band, they do well enough for themselves as is. As a crossover band, they're good at melding genres into something of their own. Fans of Converge, Nasum and (probably) Deafheaven should take note. Nesseria's madness is something to note. I say their best album is yet to come, but Fractures is a damn good piece as is.
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