ssmarcus In the mid-aughts, Trivium, a metalcore/melo-death band that quickly rose to prominence during the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, at some point began to catch flack for sounding "too much like Metallica." While the group's music was obviously inspired by Metallica, it was vocalist Matt Heafy's clean singing voice's uncanny resemblance to James Hetfield's voice that seems to have invited these comparisons. Why these comparisons invited disdain is anyone's guess. Artists wearing their influences on their sleeves is, in an of itself, not sufficient reason to ridicule them.

This brings us to Orbit Culture, and their latest record Nija, a record that all but spells out its influences on the album sleeve. Metallica, Gojira, and At the Gates sounds are all front and center. And if we're being honest, in somewhat serendipitous fashion, vocalist Niklas Karlsson, kind of sounds a lot like Matt Heafy from Trivium. But by competently and reverently tying these influences together, influences that no modern metal band can really claim to have escaped, Orbit Culture has crafted a near definitive "snapshot" of the state of modern heavy metal. Nija IS the state of heavy metal in 2021 and the state is doing fine... but perhaps a little short on inspiration.

As infectious as some of the riffs can be, the album falls short in those big moments that are supposed to carry a bit more emotional heft. I suppose this is where it would indeed be fair to criticize an artist for being overly dependent on their influences. An authentic emotional response from the audience requires some more authenticity on the part of the artist.

On Nija, Orbit Culture establish themselves as promising young act. Will their next record catapult them to greatness? If they hone in on their unique voice within the framework of their influences, then the answer is a resounding yes!