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No December
"In the Essence of Innocence"
-- by Egon on Friday, November 8, 2002

www.nodecember.com
Produced by Jim Foster
Released 2002 1. August Second
2. Forever Waiting
3. Placidity
4. Resistance
5. Trust
6. Memory
7. Faultline
8. Essential Casualty
9. Silence
10. Yesterday's Broken Choice

No December, a Massachusetts based 5 piece, is catching the attention of a lot of fans in the area. Their story is one not often heard in music, as an already established band (Trustfall), they gained a new singer, a 2nd guitarist, a new moniker, changed and tweaked their sound, and surprisingly came out stronger than ever. Produced by Nullset guitarist/vocalist Jim Foster, "In the Essence of Innocence" is the second release from the revamped band (first being the cleverly titled 4-Song EP). Exploding with 10 songs over the 38-minute disc, "In the Essence", delivers a powerful emotional punch you will not be disappointed in.

The Sound:
The emotional tales singer Ryan Potts creates are nothing more than stunning. His vocal tones have exceptional range and are all clearly portrayed throughout the disc. His lyrics create crystal clear images that everyone can relate to. The vocals on "In the Essence" really shine and it is apparent a lot of time was spent perfecting the exact mood and feel for each song. He can easily slip from screams to soft melody in tremendous manner. Very rarely will you see either done with such great skill. The melodies are so infectious you will be humming them for days. I dare anyone to listen to "Forever Waiting" and not have that song stuck in you head. There is absolutely no letdown with the instrument side of the band either. Guitar players, Zachary Weber and Steve Cronin, rip through each song with strong rhythms and aptly placed 'spaced' out effects. They are not your typical lead/rhythm combo as both are in the forefront playing with each other instead of over each other. This is done with great precision. Bassist Andy K. dances through creating strong low end but knows when to hold back to make the song more powerful. Drummer Matt Rafterty holds up on the percussion and fails to disappoint. He shows a lot of strong cymbal work that deepens a lot of the tracks. The band clicks so well together with an unbelievable tightness, it is hard to believe they are not on a major label. While each song is not overly technical musically, it does not become boring. There is enough change and continuity that makes each song flow from start to emotional climax. Put that with fact that the tracks are all completely different and you got one hell of a full length. There is never a one-styled song or track that sounds like another. They are filled with multiple crescendos that are dynamic and don't seem contrived or just placed there. This is what so many other bands strive for and fail miserably. From the deep screams in "Faultline" to the almost trippy guitars on "Silence", every aspect is rock-solid.

The Look:
One word- professional. Solid front graphic with the burning sun logo and No December title. Soft Tri-fold case with lyrics to all the songs on the inside. Only draw back, the disc itself is a little dark considering most of the imagery is light colored.

Overall:
"In the Essence of Innocence" delivers. It's that simple. No December is on a collision course with success. And with this CD, they prove that they deserve to be there.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 9 out of 10