Modern metal for young audiences - A review of Lost Society's No Absolution

While Finnish quartet Lost Society is an absolutely outstanding live band, its studio records have been far less impressive and No Absolution is certainly another step down the ladder. The record can be described as contemporary thrash and groove metal with melodic death metal vocals. It recalls bands such as Soilwork rather than thrash metal veterans such as Overkill that had once inspired the quartet. Some choruses as witnessed in title track ''No Absolution'' could easily come from an old Bullet for My Valentine record. If a band like In Flames had released such an album, metal fans around the world would compete at criticizing the band at its harshest but since Lost Society isn't as popular, critics and fans have mostly ignored this average album so far.

The groove metal stylistics with melodic death metal vocals and catchy choruses is only interrupted on a few select occasions. The opener ''Nonbeliever'' initially surprises with smooth acoustic guitar harmonies before the track suddenly shifts into predictable patterns that make the entire overture unnecessary.

''Mark Upon the Skin'' features vibrant bass guitar play and even a short solo but the rest of the song mostly consists of emotional screams and trendy sing-along parts. 

Closer ''Into Eternity'' is a collaboration with Apocalyptica and surprises with melancholic cello sounds and enjoyably melodic clean vocals. But once again, the band just can't prevent itself to head into commercial melodic death metal territories as the song progresses. This song exemplifies that this album includes a few great ideas that are buried under the generic song writing.

In the end, Lost Society's No Absolution is recommended to younger audiences and fans of modern metal sounds. Despite a few courageous ideas here and there, this album seems to aim to jump the commercial bandwagon. It wouldn't be surprising if Lost Society were soon opening for tours of bands such as DevilDriver, Disturbed or The NIght Flight Orchestra. This might make sense commercially speaking but the talented musicians here could do so much better if they truly exploited their full potential. Lost Society needs to change its sound for the next record if it wants to remain unique, relevant and credible.

Final rating: 65%