Under No One - Bullhorns & Politics

Under No One

Bullhorns & Politics
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

In 2013 Al Kelly (bass), Robin Lewis (guitar), Jason Schwab (guitar), Rich Gomez (drums) and Eric Inman (vocals ) came together to form Under No One. The band released Bullhorns & Politics, which is an intense onslaught of metal and hard rock that isn’t for the faint of heart.

One thing that needs to be mentioned about Bullhorns & Politics is the aesthetic quality of the recording. This is a great sounding recording any way you look at it. All the instruments are clearly heard in the mix but the drum sound is fantastic. Snare rolls sound like AK47s and the bass drum has the kind and punch that you can viscerally feel.

Bullhorns & Politics is a metal album in every sense of the word but you can also hear influences from bands like Alice in Chains and Faith No More. Those familiar with the aforementioned bands could hear what I’m talking about in the very first song “Bullhorns & Politics.”

“Bullhorns & Politics” comes out of the gate with no warning. Gomez is a like a human metronome as guitars provide waves of pulsating white noise. Inman sings, “Look at us as host and parasite / Pave every inch, for the dollar sign / Nothing is sacred / Everything has a price / Setup shop industrialize.” 

The first instance where I heard a bit of Faith No More influence came before the minute mark where the vocal harmonies are introduced. As the song progresses the band packs a lot of mayhem and changes into the three-plus minutes of the song.

Like the opening song, “Gutterball” comes kicking right out of the gate. The double bass drum action is very effective at points while Inman’s vocals are fierce and aggressive. It's arguable but “Override” was the personal highlight of the album. This song isn't only hardcore but contains some memorable vocal melodies. “Override, Override / My way to say good-bye / Sit and stare one eyed glare / Iron horse make it painless” are lyrics that will stay with you after the song is done. They close with “Undone” which solidifies their sound. 

It’s obvious that Under No One knows what type of sound they are going for. The band has a consistent sound and they delivery the goods each time. Recommended. 

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