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By JEFF MAKI
With their last outing, Confession, Ill Nino seemed to be coming into their own with a unique blend of melodic, Latino-flavored nu-metal. Much of that formula is retained on One Nation Underground, but there is nothing here that sets the band apart from countless other acts in the genre.
Sure, there are Spanish vocals and percussion and even some synthesizers that add texture and atmosphere to tracks. "All I Ask For" is a perfect example of this, an excellent track that could be a single. However, it's when the band leans to their heavier side that they are hard to distinguish from others. "This Is War" and "My Resurrection" are heavy and tolerable for most rock or metal fans, but they play out as more of second-rate Machine Head or Sepultura songs. "Turns to Gray" is a riff-heavy track, probably one of the strongest here, but it sounds like it could be leftover Hatebreed material. The songs are solid at best with nothing standing out or strong enough to justify rating this release more than a 6. The band has some good ideas and you're not going to be disappointed with this record. It's just not something you're going to have on repeat in your CD player.
All know by now that nu-metal is all but dead, but Ill Nino seemed to have made it through the trend. Now they need is to find their niche in the metal scene right now.
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