OK, let’s talk about Kublai Khan, but without getting hung up on their Metalcore classification. Their third full-length, “Nomad,” dropped in late September 2017, delivering a brutal sound that’s like the savage lovechild of Fear Factory and Biohazard, with generous helping of Korn.

They have heaviness and rage in spades, but they also show a dollop of measured restraint uncommon to the sub-genre, and that little bit makes all of the difference. Where their peers are often young men screaming raw-throated, vocalist Matt Honeycutt bellows with ferocity, but to a degree where it’s more engaging than off-putting. Don’t get me wrong - - he’s bringing it hard; I’m sure he needs a cup of tea after the show - - but he sounds like a beacon of power, not a 6th-grader throwing a tantrum.
The album opens with a pretty killer instrumentalish in “Antpile,” which leads to the best and most memorable, “True Fear,” in track 2.
This album has about as much subtlety as a meat tenderizer, but it also hits just as hard. There’s not much diversity throughout, so don’t expect any surprises, but the coarse riffage maintains intensity to the end. Kublai Khan is more of a young man’s sound, but old-time Metalheads can appreciate it too.