You’ve got to respect the UK’s Twin Method for plying a genre that has become the laughing stock of metal over the last 8 years, but with Nu metal’s larger faces (Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Korn, Mudvayne, POD) being less relevant than Anna Nicole Smith, I’ll give some credit to Twin Method for at least doing the style with some appeal and conviction.Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this is a good record, but for down-tuned, radio friendly, shout/sing, teen directed, synth laced Nu Metal-it has its moments and if forced to gnaw off one of my own testicles or listen to a Nu-metal album, I’d happily throw in The Volume of Self.

Now I’ve gone and thrown what little credibility I had away, and only 3 sixteen year old kids are still reading this I’ll further embarrass myself. First, the ultra crunchy guitar tone on The Volume of Self is really fucking stout. When they do their expected kick in for tracks like “Flawless,” “Defeated,” “Stare Through Me” and “Reality Check,” involuntary head bobbing might occur. Of course, the vocals of Jason Carter Potticary and Yan Lamberti clone Chad Gray’s (Mudvayne) mix of angry shouts and clean croons, but there’s nothing too stomach churning or sappy. Then there’s plenty of Fear Factory-ish electronic, programmed beeps and whirrs amid the riffs (“… And Yet Inside I’m Screaming,” “Twelve,” “Lost Signal,” “Fake,” “Live Smile and Obey”) that make the 12 interchangeable songs pretty much blend together into one album of 5 year old sounding, angsty teen age anthems.

Though about 5 years too late, Twin Method is an acceptable entry for the genre though the genre doesn’t seem to carry as much weight as it once did. However, if you are a closet Nu Metal fan, and don’t care for cookie cutter delivery of a dead genre, Twin Method may actually entertain you. Surprisingly, for a short period (when no one else was around), they did entertain me, despite my gag reflex.

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