Saint Agnes : "Bloodsuckers"

 For all practical purposes these kids from the UK are nu-metal band. The punchy shouted vocals of Kitty A Austen are almost rapped, and they groove with the kind of in your face posturing as Rage Against the Machine. There is less of a hip hop influence and Austen can pour the sugar and sing with more of a pop hookiness when it comes to the chorus. The formula they have in play works best on the first tow songs, so when get to the more chanted climax of "I Mean Nothing to You". Which just sounds like left overs from the late 90s that were warmed up in the microwave. 

There is a little but of punk to what they do that can be hear in the raw guitar relegated to the background of  "Outsider". But it's about as punk as No Doubt's first album.  They rein things back on "This is Not the End". They drop things down a sparse keyboard arrangement and Kitty's vocals. It gives you a clearer picture of she can sing when she sets her mind to it. This also provides a need dynamic shift for the album. They are thankfully not a one trick pony. Producer Sean Beavan who has worked with Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, helped them out with the single "Follow You" which does a good job emulating that brand of electronic music.  

"I AM " is high energy, though not that hooky, despite the abundance of enthusiasm that abounds in the song. The moody anthem "At War With Myself"" is darker and more brooding which works better for me than the songs that veer closer to pop punk. The break down/ build up formula works pretty well on this song. "Middle Finger" is pretty typical of where nu metal has headed since it's most recent revival with bands like Holy Wars . Equal parts emotional and spastic. "Body Bag" works off a similar vibe, but wit ha faster more punk recklessness. At just under two minutes there is not much time to really develop dynamics. The last song is an odd note to end things on , it never shifts into the kind of dynamics that play to their strengths as a band despite capturing some cool sounds. I will give this album an 8, it's a solid effort that shows how skilled they are at taking their place in their chosen genre, which is one I can appreciate , but it does not always resonate with my personal tastes, but if you are into the female fronted nu metal bands coming out today they will be your thing.