By Darren Young
Playing in a band is a lot like being in a long-term relationship. As dedication begins to fades, the relationship flounders. Then there is the matter of breakups. Bitter words are exchanged, disappointment and anger ensue, and the individuals move on. After some healing, usually the members are ready to date other people in hopes that new love will replace old heartbreak. The story of None More Black is as epic as any romance.
None More Black formed a couple of years after Jason Shevchuk left Kid Dynamite, a band that spawned two albums in as many years and garnered accolades for both. Paul Delaney, the bassist of None More Black, had also parted ways with his former band, Kill Your Idols. After releasing their first full length, 2003’s File Under Black, the band went through some member changes. Now three years later, None More Black has come out of hiding to release This Is Satire, a record that both Shevchuk and Delaney have called the best record they’ve ever played on.
“Right now we’re at a pretty comfortable spot,” says Delaney of the new lineup. “I’ve never been 120 per-cent confident in anything we’ve done before, but with this album I really feel we have outdone ourselves. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to top this one.”
Though Delaney is proud of what None More Black has accomplished with This Is Satire, he admits the album could have gone in a completely different direction, not only because of changes with the band members, but also because of the backlog of songs that Shevchuk has written expressly for None More Black.
“We already have so much other music that we didn’t even feel it was necessary for this album,” Delaney confesses. “I know what we have on the back burner, and I think we have a lot of room for new ideas. We’re not going to make a crazy electronic album or anything, but I think we can hold our own and keep it fresh and new.”
In essence, if you were a fan of the old None More Black, then This Is Satire is not any harder to swallow than their previous material. The band is more focused on subtle changes than drastic leaps, and Delaney thinks it’s the small differences that make This Is Satire more aurally satisfying than File Under Black.
“It’s definitely more musical,” explains Delaney. “This is the first time I’ve actually played bass lines. I’ve been playing hardcore my entire life, so I’m just used to following [the guitar]. I was worried about the simplicity of the bass lines, but it turned out being effective, as simple as they are.”
With This Is Satire, None More Black has matured, progressed, and rediscovered the exuberance of a fresh relationship. Like two teenagers coming freshly into a new relationship, all they have to do is concentrate on making music rather than making love.
None More Black will rock your soul at the Underground, Mon. June 6. Visit www.nmbmusic.net to purchase NMB merchandise, check tourdates, look at cellphone pictures and watch music videos. Now go find that special someone and make special music.