NONPOINT ‘Vengeance’ (Bieler Bros.) RATING: 7.5/10

By GREG MAKI

Nonpoint emerged with the nü-metal crowd early this decade, but with the dust long settled on that forgettable scene, here they are, still touring relentlessly and serving up studio album No. 5. Stronger songwriting than their one-time peers and an obvious passion for what they do have carried them on a career spanning 10 years and counting.

Vengeance follows 2005’s To the Pain, which, propelled by the searing single “Bullet with a Name,” became the band’s biggest success to date. During that cycle, they also reached an entirely new audience with the surprise hit “In the Air Tonight,” a Phil Collins cover from the Miami Vice soundtrack (originally appearing on Nonpoint’s 2004 release, Recoil). It’s an audience they apparently have no interest in catering to, as Vengeance rocks hard from start to finish. Though it doesn’t match the aggression of To the Pain, there is only one borderline ballad among its 12 tracks. With the nü-metal angst starting to fade, a strong classic rock influence emerges on a handful of songs, most effectively on “Bring Me Down” and its big, ‘70s-style riff from guitarist Andrew Goldman.

Overall, the changes are slight; the entire album sounds unmistakably like Nonpoint. There is plenty of Elias Soriano’s raspy, melodic voice, Goldman’s swirling riffs, KB’s grooving basslines and Robb Rivera’s rhythmic drumming. The album is full of quality Nonpoint tracks: the fist-pumping concert anthem “Wake Up World”; the up-tempo title track; the first single, “March of War,” which is vaguely reminiscent of Sevendust, one of Nonpoint’s frequent touring partners; and “Hands Off,” which recalls the band’s original breakthrough single, “What a Day,” with its driving rhythm. Nothing breaks new ground, but why is that necessary? Nonpoint didn’t stray from what they do so well when they went through label changes and sagging album sales, and the result was To the Pain, arguably their finest effort. No reason to change the formula now.