Knoxville bred metal band Hourglass US was formed in 2016 by vocalist Josh Oakes and guitarist Nathan Whited. The band describes themselves as having been influenced by heavy hitters like KoRn and Linkin Park. Though Hourglass US is still working on gaining traction, the founding members are no stranger to the metal scene. They were both previously in the band I, Divine, that played with renowned bands like Knocked Loose and Butcher Babies. Completing this unique metal outfit alongside Oakes and Whited is Nathanial Love on guitar, Alex Jaynes on bass, and David Scoonover on drums.

The alternative metal band dropped their new single “No Mercy” just before the new year, so let’s break it down. The song starts off with a hip-hop-styled verse that feels similar to modern-day bands like From Ashes to New and Falling in Reverse but with a grungy, nostalgic twist that’s reminiscent of Limp Bizkit. The band wastes no time hitting you with some heavier vocals and riffs that fade together seamlessly with the opening verse. Oakes has a unique style of vocals that run the gambit before minute one of this song. Even when his vocals become more boisterous the singer manages to keep them polished, allowing you to comprehend the lyrics and even sing along. This style of clean screaming is rarely pulled off so flawlessly by metal vocalists. As the chorus hits the band reigns it in and lets Oakes’s clean vocals shine. The instrumentals throughout the whole song are refined and you can tell this is a band full of proficient rockers. Overall the east Tennessee band gave us a catchy nu-metal track that is enjoyable for metal and non-metal fans alike and one you find yourself mindlessly singing along to.

“No Mercy”, as well as “Hollow Home”, are available to stream on Spotify.