WALKING RUMOR is set to release their debut album "Symbiosis" through Mighty Music in April of 2020. The Danish Nu-Metal band has hit the ground running since their inception in 2015. The band has released numerous singles off their upcoming album. "Symbiosis" is the culmination of this high intensity, focused driven band. While Nu-Metal had its time in the early 2000s, there has been a major resurgence of the genre in recent years. WALKING RUMOR is one of those bands that has jumped head first into this resurgence. Their catchy melodies blended with Hard Rock and Rap, then infused with Metal elements provides an interesting sound in the new wave of Nu-Metal.

"Do Or Die" kicks off the album with a rap-intensive angst paired with raging vocals. The screams turn to a right melodic chorus layered upon an almost punkish instrumental. This track gives a vibe reminiscent of the early 2000s when Nu-Metal was popular. "Breaking Point" incorporates cleaner guitar work with very little distortion but this is an interesting way to provide a brighter melody than the previous track. The clean instrumentals are paired with heavier vocals providing an interesting balance of heavy and melodic tones. "Expectations" will be the hit single off this album. Its melodies will have a lot to offer to many in the metal community as well as those that are just testing the waters into the genre. That broad approach will have a lot of appeal to fans of many different genres. The hooks in this song grab you with their catchy nature, also having a wide range of appeal. I do really like the clean vocals on this track as they offer a wide range of lows, mids, and highs. For me this is the best track on the album because of the wide range of variety displayed throughout it.

"Leave Nothing Behind" is heavier than the majority of the album and shows that WALKING RUMOR can throw down some heavy riffs in the midst of their brighter vocals and instrumentals. I do enjoy that the further in the album that you get the heavier they get but still hold on to their original sound. They do employ a breakdown section in this track that while not reinventing the wheel it is well done. "Let Them Talk" shows off the band's more ambient side with electronic elements to create a groovy vibe. The clean vocals are soaring against the melancholic tones of the ambient soundscape that they produce. The chorus is again very catchy and well done. The song builds to screaming vocals, adding that punch needed in the middle of the track. "Rest In Defeat" gives us another heavy track that is mixed with bright melodies. This is a common theme through the album and gives the album a good foundation and reference point for their sound. "Feed The Fire" shows off the experimental side of WALKING RUMOR. The Rap Metal part of the band is really emphasized heavily in this track as the instrumentals provide the beat for the Rap vocals to base off. The use of electronics mixed in there adds to that. It gives the vocalist a point to build from.

Overall, "Symbiosis" is a solid Nu-Metal album. No, it doesn't reinvent the genre but it is well done. Nu-Metal became very popular because it blended a large variety of musical stylings and WALKING RUMOR follows that same line. It is no easy task to blend all of those sounds into a well-made, coherent album but this is something that they have done well. They balance all their musical elements well so that none of them is overused. While Nu-Metal may have had its time in the early 2000s, it is clear that the genre has made an impact on newer bands to the point that these acts are starting to pick up that mantle once again. I know there are more than a few that look down upon this genre but it was and will still be an integral part of the metal community. While some may look at Nu-Metal as a chapter that will be forgotten, it is apparent that it is not going away and nor should it. WALKING RUMOR is another testament to this genre as one that will continue to grow, evolve and live on, just like many other sub genres in metal.