Review: “What’s Your Damage?” by No Worth Of Man

“The influence for us was to deliver a collection of material that cohesively brought together the theme of good against the dark forces in this world. The motivation was to create a sonically hard hitting but dynamically varied set of tracks with enough twists and turns to keep the listener engaged throughout.” ~ No Worth Of Man

For the past eight years long time friends Peter Gale (Vocals), Alex Punchard (Guitars and Bass) and Gareth Lucas (Drums and Samples) have taken their shared influences in bands like Dream Theater, Lamb of God, and Dimmu Borgir and turned them into a signature sound that blends groove with aggression in equal measure. Sharing stages with everyone from King 810 to Karma To Burn in that time, EPs “Initium Novum” and “The Middle Farm Experiment” have served them well but their latest chapter feels long overdue…

Setting the scene an introduction piece paints No Worth Of Man as a trio of vampire hunters in Miami as if “What’s Your Damage?” was an old school summer blockbuster movie designed for the big screen and the paw prints of Fredrick Nordstrom (Soilwork, Bring Me the Horizon, Dream Evil) upon it certainly give it that feel. A groove laden monster, “Into the Dirt” rears its ugly head with throat splitting vocals from Peter Gale cutting against a dark swirling atmospheric given an edge by what feels like the winds of plague in sample form drifting into the riffage. The brutal mid-tempo chug continues to push things forward with the crushing “The Hands Resist Him“, a sinister cut that rises from the bowels of hell to play on the mind with a devilish approach and intricate melody. A plentiful supply of head bang-able moments feel like ammo crates in this game, the pounding rhythms making way for a couple of fleeting melodic parts before the final onslaught. Gale’s storytelling abilities shine through the sonic abrasions of “An Unpaintable Soul“, the familiar feeling riffs from Punchard giving this one an instant appeal as it perforates the ear drums and grinds on the brain stem. What it lacks in a face melting solo it makes up for with rhythmic gymnastics, tempo shifts and inventive ideas flowing like blood from the vein. Grand finale “Mondo Decay” goes one step deeper and darker as a bludgeoning punishment beating with an ethereal touch from a sample as it drives the steak into the vampires heart. Breakdown styled parts begin to pile up like corpses, Gale finding another level of depravity in his vocal depth before a skilfully executed pick slide cracks a smile. Forget about rehab, we want more! [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Into the Dirt
3. The Hands Resist Him
4. An Unpaintable Soul
5. Mondo Decay

“What’s Your Damage?” by No Worth Of Man is out 8th March 2024