Something Like Sound

Nine Inch Nails was formed in 1988. Ilan Rubin, the current drummer for Nine Inch Nails, was born in 1988. While many people aged 20 are typically focused on passing their final exams this time of year, Rubin focuses on his life as a rock star. As if it wasn’t enough that he is the drummer for a Grammy-winning rock band that predates his own birth and the former drummer for another famous band, Lostprophets, he now has his own side project, The New Regime, consisting of just himself. Fitting the stream of the rest of his music career, his first solo album Coup is incredible.

Although known for his talent on the drums, Rubin proves time after time that he is more than a drummer; he is a musician. Stating this point, the album starts powerfully with a dark piano solo as rich in sound as it is simple. As all of the instruments that he recorded separately come together in melody, his voice comes out above it all. Like every other part of the album, every part of the harmonized, Queen-like vocals are Rubin too. Having had no experience vocally before recording Coup, Rubin did an excellent job, although he sounds more like the singer from a post-hardcore band than a rock star.

The rest of the album proceeds without too many surprises. Although the sound is fairly homogeneous, every song is still recognizable from each other. The melodies are quite clear and stay with you. Rubin has great skill on the instruments he plays. Both “The Collapse” and “Time Erase” have excellently placed piano parts bordering classical in style. Unlike most rock bands, the guitars aren’t always the centerpiece. Most of the time, they are mixed in with the rest of the instruments to form a more solid sound with no particular part standing out. There are exceptions, of course, including “Tap Dancing in a Mine Field,” which heavily relies on a catchy guitar riff.

Coup varies a fair amount within a general rock genre. Although no particular song stands out as something incredibly new and ground-breaking, the album as a whole stands its ground, well-differentiated from a majority of the mainstream, post-grunge rock bands out there. Many people are tempted to end a review by saying “It’s pretty good considering it’s only one guy.” However, that is an understatement. This is a good album regardless of the number of band members. The fact that it is one guy doing it all makes the album even more of a feat. The New Regime is highly recommended for fans of Queen, Incubus, and Nine Inch Nails.

Check out a live video of “The Collapse” right here!

For more on The New Regime, check out www.thenewregimemusic.com