The first thing I noticed when I received Nocode’s debut album “Crimson” was the high quality of the product. The great artwork as well as the entire booklet of the cd was designed by Jelle Warenhof (the guitarist), who’s also responsible for the amazing website of the band. This independent release looks very professional. The question remains whether the music of Nocode could make up to the high expectations that were created by the appearance of this debut. The first compliment I have to give these Dutch youngsters (the band members are averaging 19 years of age) is the originality of the sound and the compositions. The way Nocode combines experimental rock with intense vocal melodies without losing accessibility is one of the bands main efforts. Another aspect I particularly like about “Crimson” is the diversity of the material.

The different tracks give you the feeling that you’re listening to a band that has had over ten years of development, something that still amazes me time and time again, especially considering the fact that each song is of the same high level. There are some small points of criticism though. Sometimes I got the impression that emphasis during the mixing of the album was too much on the vocals of Johanneke Kranendonk. I’m the first one to admit that her powerful vocals with a touch of jazz are of great importance to the band but I also noticed that the other band members are pretty gifted as well. Sometimes the vocals are a bit too dominant, but that might just be a personal preference. “Crimson” will surprise a lot of people. With the proper promotion, there’s nothing that can keep Nocode from success.