AM Conspiracy

Album Review

Jason "Gong" Jones' tenure in Drowning Pool may have been fleeting (he lasted for only a single album, 2004's Desensitized, before exiting), but he certainly hasn't remained idle, as he formed his next project, AM Conspiracy, shortly thereafter. But as it turns out, it took the group an extended period to assemble a full-length debut effort, which finally saw the light of day in 2010 as a self-titled release. And it sounds just like you would think a new album by an alumni of Drowning Pool would — nu metal all the way, baby! The only thing is that there's nothing "new" about nu metal anymore, as all the rage, screaming, rubbery riffing, and drum thrashing had been done to death by the time AM Conspiracy appeared on the scene. Still, it doesn't prevent Jones and company from traveling upon this woefully beaten sonic path. And like the singers from other similarly styled bands, Jones has several "voices" he enjoys utilizing — sometimes all in the same song — such as "Myself," which contains screaming and melodic singing (just like all proud nu metal vocalists), as well as a few Layne Staley-esque "ahhh's". The music for the most part is aggro-metal, but there are a few instances where AM Conspiracy take some obvious aims at a radio crossover hit, such as "Pictures," in which all the rage stays momentarily pent-up. Not a whole heck of a lot of originality here, but if you just can't get enough nu metal, AM Conspiracy is a nu band for you to scream along to.