There is a funny and frustratingly perennial discourse as to whether or not "rock" is dead. Granted, it's not as easy for rock bands to reach the level of success that once appeared plausibly attainable by even mediocre talents, due to a variety of factors, including media consolidation, changes in distribution, advances in technology, and plain old shifts in public taste, but the fact remains that the as much talent exists today to craft and perform fun and engaging four-on-the-floor bangers as there has been. Case in point: the band Nervus, whose 2022 album The Evil One is on par with the outpoint of any alternative rock band from the golden days of the '80s through the '90s. While their named influences run the gambit from rappers like Joey Bada$$ to crust kings Crass, in execution, their performance embodies an infectiously catchy merger of strummy folk punk and consciously melodious and mature indie rock in the vein of XTC or Manic Street Preachers- sort of like a version of the Hold Steady that really understands and mirrors the endlessly enduring popular appeal of a band like Pulp. Their album, The Evil One, might be named for the pejoratives projected on the group for their specific queer identities and orientations, but the truth is that if you believe in rock 'n roll, Nervus is your consummate ally, champion, and confidant.
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