It’s pretty simple really- if you look me/my site up, ask politely  and personally for a review, send a CD and follow up equally as politely, chances are I will give your album a few listens and publish my worthless opinion on it, good or bad. And the Brothers Guzman, did just that for their band No Trust. And Unfound is one of those truly independent releases i love championing on this site.

Now don’t get me wrong, Ben (guitar/vocals) and Zach Guzman (drums) are not going to be on the cover of Decibel any time soon (though it they grow a set of tits, they might make the cover of Revolver), but their DIY ethic and attitude has resulted in a solid metal album. Don’t let the moniker or artwork trow you off, this inst hardcore punk. There are no gang chants. This is a Thrash/sludge metal hybrid that is full of grooves and crawling riffs, and while it never really settles into anything awe inspiring, I’m not disliking it.

It comes across a little like Crowbar meets Machine Head and I’m reminded a little of the 2012 release by Brits Hummune, a steady, groove filled Deftones tinged release that knew what it was. And the Guzman brothers know what they are. Both can handle their instruments and they belt out some fairly powerful and evocative riffs here and there. They just need a real bottom end or a full time bass player. A beefier bottom of end could have given these tracks much more oomph. The vocals are more of a mid register sludge rasp, neither too extreme or too clean, and everything is decently produced. They are not quite ‘there’ yet, but they are certainly close.

The slightly overlong 48 minutes is full of steady, patient rumbles that have a slight sludge veneer, and couple of tracks caught my attention like the steady lope of “In Ruins”, the moody instrumental “Nameless”, and closer “Of Sound Mind” with its impressive closing groove show these guys have some potential. Even if the album could have been about 10-15 minutes shorter and and had a little more heft, it’s worth it for the name your price at the old band camp as well as a nicely packaged, professional CD.  Keep up the good work guys.

[Visit the band's website]

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