Local nu metal revivalists To Breathe Again pack a nostalgic punch on their latest release, Moments. 

Complete with larger-than-life production, the four-piece band’s second full-length is filled with catchy staccato drumming, bendy guitar chugs, and ferocious bass tone. With vocals in the forefront, the nine-track album is a monster unleashing its uncompromising style with each pulverizing hard rock riff. 

The style hearkens back to the urgency of early 2000’s nu metal, with elements of Disturbed, Korn, and Adema prevalent throughout the album. The band favors melodies over aggression, and vocalist Austin Wiard brings his own unique twist to the genre by keeping the screaming to a minimum. His voice, along with the voicing of each instrumentalist, never tries to emulate or imitate. While there may be recognizable motifs or, dare I say, clichés of the genre (what music-loving artist doesn’t throw in at least a couple to keep it fun?), the style is not something heard coming out of Fort Wayne in recent memory.

After the soundscape intro “Look Up,” Moments turns the volume up to 11 and keeps it there. 

“A L I V E” sets the tone for the album. “Past Life” and “Evermore” are perfect candidates for local radio play, their earworms sticking around long after each track ends. It is on these tracks that a more traditional hard rock is employed. 

One of the heaviest tracks, “Shadow of Regret,” is sure to start some mosh pits and is destined to be a show-stopper in the band’s live set. Near the end, after thinking they have served up all they could, the album ends on the punk rock-leaning “Perfect” and closes out a solid collection of tunes from a promising band eager to get their music out to the world.

Moments has clearly been curated and crafted with care in a way that only musical perfectionists could create. If you see the name coming to your favorite Fort Wayne music venue, you can bet on two things: The place will be packed, and the show will be top-tier entertainment.