FROM NOTHING

This was my first experience with Benthos, and I was at times pleasantly surprised and mildly bored. It is clear this band has quite a bit of potential, as several songs on From Nothing are very original, but I think the band is still in an early stage of developing their sound.

The first half of this album passed me by without much of note. Songs like "Let Me Plunge" feel incredibly derivative of the progressive metalcore we've all heard a thousand times. "As a Cordyceps" was a little more interesting to me, but still nothing to write home about. I was tempted to give up and move on there, but I figured I would give them one more chance to grab me. The next song, "Fossil", is easily one of the highlights of the album. I think it best showcases what Benthos does really well: strange song structures, irregular breakdowns, and general chaos. I'm a big fan of the off-kilter but still somewhat familiar riffs, and I think Benthos is executing those as well as some of the greats (about half the time).

The second half of the album is leagues more memorable than the first, but that doesn't mean it is without the forgettable moments. I can confidently say that the last three true songs, "Athletic Worms", "Perpetual Drone Monkeys", and "To Everything" are the best three tracks on the whole record. All three paint a very odd picture, and it feels really exciting. It's almost as if an entirely new band wrote the three songs. I would love to see Benthos embrace their chaotic and original side more in the future. I could definitely see them combining their catchy metalcore choruses in a very effective way with the rest of their sound, but I did not hear this done very well on From Nothing.

Overall, I give this album a 6 or 6.5 out of 10.

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