Okay, honest question – what does “core” mean? Really? Whether we admit it or not, the fact is that most music that’s called “Hardcore” these days is more an aesthetic than a style of music – an aesthetic that’s applied to Metal. The lyrics and themes are more personal or political (meaning that they’re less likely to be about wizards); the music is often chuggier and more abrasive; the vocals shoutier; it may put more prominence on breakdowns or other song-writing elements – but the primary musical references are rooted firmly in Metal.

On From Nothing (shelsmusic) Attan are very much part of the Hardcore As Shouty Metal movement, the core of their sound based in a thrashy, aggressive raw Metal with touches of Sludge and Doom. The first three tracks put the emphasis on speed and savagery, and though there’s nothing terribly original on display it’s a pleasingly vicious attack with some sharp riffing and convincingly fierce vocals. The last two songs shake things up a bit, though, slowing the pace and introducing more atmospheric elements reminiscent of both Mastodon and Neurosis.

The gradual progression from vicious to more atmospheric is a nice touch in itself, but suffers from the fact that Attan are at their best when they keep it savage – when the pace slacks off and the more self-consciously “epic” elements come in it’s terribly sincere but perhaps not quite so convincing. The vocals are also more effective when they stick to the screams and yells of the first three tracks – the cleaner, Doomier tones of the slower material sounding a little raw and awkward by comparison.

From Nothing is a perfectly competent introduction to a band who’ve got a pretty solid idea of what they want to achieve and are almost there. Whether or not it’s “Hardcore” in any real sense is probably a personal judgement by this stage, but if you like your Metal rooted in real-world anger, it’s worth keeping at least an eye on them in the future.

6.0/10

RICHIE HR