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There are three types of bands in every popular musical movement: the inspirations and the trailblazers, the copycats and the chancers and, well, the rest.

In terms of the tech-metal movement, southern England’s No Consequence very definitely fit into the latter category.

Vimana is an enjoyable album, with some genuinely great moments. Unfortunately, especially when compared with what a band like Periphery have served up this year, it’s going to be very tough for them to stand out from a near-saturated market. No Consequence seem content to rely solely on the genre’s usual palm-muted riffing, floaty epic melodic passages and growled-to- whispered vocals, without ever seeking to explore new territories. If that’s your bag, then the Eastern-tinged Is This A Way To Live and album highlight Citizen, all bouncing grooves and high-speed rhythmic time changes, will have you nodding your head in approval. But it’s doubtful you’ll get any more than that. No Consequence probably won’t ever be your favourite band, but they’re a good band nonetheless.

Since blagging his way onto the Hammer team a decade ago, Stephen has written countless features and reviews for the magazine, usually specialising in punk, hardcore and 90s metal, and still holds out the faint hope of one day getting his beloved U2 into the pages of the mag. He also regularly spouts his opinions on the Metal Hammer Podcast.