A PERFECT CIRCLE — Mer de Noms (review)

A PERFECT CIRCLE — Mer de Noms album cover Album · 2000 · Metal Related Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
ssmarcus
Despite being a more commercially viable distilled form of metal with more than its fair share of cash grabbing excesses, alternative metal, as a scene, definitely had a progressive streak to it. While Tool was indeed creating an explicitly progressive form of alternative metal, even more straight forward sounding groups like The Deftones and A Perfect Circle (APC) had embraced a kind of psychedelic and, at times, art-rock approach that set themselves apart from the pack.

This psychedelic and art-rock approach to alt-metal is captured quite well on APC’s first record, Mer De Noms. Every song on this record has its own unique flavor. Some tracks like “Judith” and “Thinking of You” revolve around a fairly standard riff while tracks like “Rose” and “Thomas” are more comfortable taking their time to explore different soundscapes before drawing to a climax of some kind. Still, the strongest song on this record by far is the opener with its futuristic verse riff and explosive chorus.

Not all the tracks on this record work. But APC’s willingness to take chances deserves to be lauded.
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