From Essential Records, the label that is home to award-winning bands like Jars of Clay, Third Day, and the more recent Day of Fire, comes a new alternative/powerpop band out of Texas by the name of Nevertheless. Although their debut LP won't be available until around August of 2006, they are currently offering a 5-song debut EP, From The Inside Looking In, at their shows. This band's EP contains just a handful of songs that showcase alt-rock guitars and emo-type vocals, often drawing comparisons to bands like Further Seems Forever and The Juliana Theory.

This short effort begins with "These Four Walls," which starts off with a vibrating guitar intro that leads into a powerpop number with honest and sometimes emotional lyrics. The track "Driving" sounds rather appropriate as the musical arrangement is purely 'driven' by straight-laced rock melodies and lyrics that mention an individual who is 'driven' to trade his emptiness for God's grace. The acoustic guitar-ridden feel of "False Starts" is about getting off on the wrong foot when going into battle and being left in a state of confusion. The mid-tempo modern rock feel of "Cries From the City" paints a haunting image of a girl in a depressed state of mind, longing to be noticed by Someone who cares about her struggles and pains. The album's final track, "Lover," slows the rhythm of the EP down heavily, yet is anything but a disappointment to the listener's ears.

Due to the fact that Nevertheless tends to sound like many of today's popular emo bands, From The Inside Looking In is still only the beginning for this up and coming band hailing from the deep south. Once they are given ample time to record a full-length album and have it blended together by a top-notch producer, Nevertheless may turn more than a few heads in 2006, and possibly the years to come. These guys may prove once and for all that emo is far from being dead.

- Review date: 11/24/05, written by Paul Portell