Review by O.M.O.M.

How well do you get along with your ex? Hell, I have a few that I wouldn’t want in the same zip code as me, let alone in a recording studio. Dallas, TX. based Nocturne have just released their 3rd full length effort, Guide To Extinction hot on the heels of the breakup of an 8.5 year relationship between vocalist Lacey Conner and guitarist/programmer Chris Telkes. The question is, does Nocturne follow a Fleetwood Mac-ian route of inspiration and creativity or devolve into a “he said, she said” mishmash of finger pointing?

If you are unfamiliar with Nocturne, lets quickly get up to speed. An industrial/Goth band with some metal thrown in for good measure, Nocturne is basically a two-person group (Chris and Lacey) with outsider personnel brought in to fill out bass and drums. Previous releases have leaned more towards a Nine Inch Nails/industrial vibe but Guide To Extinction finds the band balancing metal along side the industrial beats of their earlier work. It was Neil Sedaka who said “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” and boy do the lyrics on this release prove that.

“I don’t care about you,” vocalist Lacey Conner intones as she seductively sneers the Chris Telkes penned lyrics of “Shallow.” Bonus points to Lacey as she emotes words brought forth from their demise as a couple. The disc swings from metal to a more Goth-industrial slant depending on which member composed the lyrics and music. Chris’ songs have the more metal vibe; what guy doesn’t want to rock after a breakup? The tunes penned by Lacey still rely on industrial guitar riffs but are complemented with a Goth approach laced with synths and programming. “I Lie” features Lacey’s take on relationships gone awry.

The songs jump back and forth from the synth-laden “Alibi” to the snarling Telkes-penned “Passion.” On paper it may seem a tad helter skelter but in actuality, the songs complement each other quite well and keep the album from falling into a rut of repetitiveness. The introspective “Nothing” even slows down the pace a bit, featuring a near radio-friendly beat and chorus. It doesn’t last long as “Dirty Sanchez” kicks in with a head-banging riff (how can you not like a song titled “Dirty Sanchez?” I say).

Not all the songs lament love gone wrong, “Class War” and “Dead Man” feature some pointed lyrics that question our current state of government; proving not everyone in Texas is a fan of the current inhabitants of the White House. Nocturne even digs up the Renegade Soundwave classic, “Cocaine Sex”. Chris Telkes closes out the album handling vocal duties on the industrial, drum-laden vibe of “They’ll Never Find Your Body”

Heading into a studio after ending a long-term relationship could have been a train wreck of epic proportions but Nocturne have emerged from the wreckage with a solid record that is full of attitude, anger and passion. Hell, everyone has been dumped at one time or another; do yourself a favor, pick up Guide To Extinction, crank the hell out of it and go break something.

Rating: 81/100