When thinking of France’s metal scene, likelihood is that the bands that spring to mind are on the cusp of originality and innovation; the likes of Gojira and Alcest encompassing a wide spectrum and proving to be groundbreaking acts. But like any country, it of course also has plenty cookie cutter bands who have an all too familiar style and sound. Enter veterans Dagoba with their latest (and awkwardly titled) Post Mortem Nihil Est.
PMNE’s sound firmly leans towards (mostly American influenced) metalcore and melodic death metal with all the usual traits included: breakdowns, melodic passages, jumping from clean to growled vocals and attempted massive choruses. There are some hints of an industrial tinge and the odd garnish of Bleeding Through like gothic keys, but nothing enough to elevate this above the rest of the rabble.
That being said, it proves competent, if not spectacular enough to warrant a listen. The clean vocals show definite signs for improvement (often sounding very limp), and there is quite a bit of filler here, but otherwise PMNE has its moments and a few good, pit fodder numbers.
PMNE was never going to help Dagoba knock off the likes of Killswitch and Parkway Drive off their perch at the top of the metalcore mountain but it has enough going for it for fans of these kind of bands to find an interest in. Not that there was a shortage of these bands to begin with.
6/10
Chris Tippell