NoxTros

BETTER THAN THIS - NoxTros: Song Review

Vevna Forrow

NoxTros is a multi-dimensional artist based in the U.S., and while there are no full music videos out quite yet tied to the DISORDERLY GLORY album, which came out last March, he has some other trailer-style clip videos on his YouTube channel and tons of reels tied to his music releases. Nox also does a lot of really amazing short films, top-notch photography work, and both modern and traditional video effects work is showcased on his Instagram account. He additionally takes the time to help other artists with their creative direction and projects, presently in the southwestern states over at Beacon Creation. I will update this review if possible with any video releases tied to the album in the future.

My fave songs on the album, consisting of 8 songs, are “BETTER THAN THIS,” “CHANGE,” and “ONLY ONE.” I also like “DON’T GO CALLIN’.” I believe “CHANGE” had been released as a single in the past, back in May of 2021. Nox’s music often touches base on the rather relatable and hard truths of life or challenges that we must deal with head-on, such as love and loss, as indicated in the Navigating Grief EP. There’s an acoustic version of these songs being released on May 5th. Just sharing one video from his channel as an example of his incredible acoustic work below (this one again is not from the album discussed here):

Many of the songs within DISORDERLY GLORY are about an inner ongoing battle of heavy reflective thoughts pertaining to having one love, life, friendships, and a journey facing light and dark moments in time. “ONLY ONE” and “TEASE” are on the lighter love spectrum in the album. “BETTER THAN THIS” reiterates that people do leave us either suddenly or over the course of our lives, and we wish for better days ahead. Some people absolutely do have lifelong friends, but not everyone grows old with friends, nor has a close friend in person or an abundance of family members, especially in darker moments besides them. Some people do take on challenging circumstances alone or by themselves, which can be a tremendous weight.

On the contrary, the song could also make you think about just how fast the years go by and the friends we shall lose along the way, “people coming and going,” simply due to the existence of time and aging, or as a result of unforeseen events that shocked our world. Sometimes people depart from our lives without giving us a reason nor say goodbye. Either way, we never really forget people who crossed our paths or those we came into contact with, and some we absolutely do carry in our hearts and minds forever.

When someone sings about having a messed-up day, and maybe you yourself are having a tumbleweed year, it can be comforting to know you are in the same boat or to listen to a song about one trying to get out of a ditch, and you are not alone in that sense. Everyone’s lives are essentially comprised of a jumbled web of ups and downs, and “BETTER THAN THIS” indicates yearning for more sunny side up days, and the instrumental beats besides the lyrics hold a bit of underlying hope where one is in pursuit of a vision despite chaos, lost connections, and things perhaps going sideways frequently.

I like the cyclical repeat of “it’s gotta get better than this,” and in the Spotify canvas or those 8-second reel pop-ups, we see NoxTros running forward in the desert. My one comment would be I would’ve loved it to have slightly longer breaks between lyrics and beats, so that the beats have a little bit more breathing room between the singing, or rather hear more moments of solo rhythmic beats.

Again, if you have encountered losing a loved one in your family, or have had friends who were like family members disappear, or even had to deal with relationships full of multiple labyrinth-like twists and turns, then you may certainly connect wth Nox’s music.

By the way, my all-time favorite songs by NoxTros are probably “Nowhere,” “At Your Will (Deconstructed),” “Far,” “Paranoid,” and “Manhattan.” Be sure to check those out as well. Loss is no doubt stressful and confusing for anyone, and it’s great to see artists like NoxTros bring to life creative projects filled with raw emotion and energy by drawing on moments from their own lives and personal experiences. His style is distinct, and I love seeing the film work NoxTros puts together on the road.

Memorable Lyrics:

"Where did all my quote on quote friends go?

  I looked up and they were gone in the mud"

RATING: 4.3 OUT OF 5

Remember to add “BETTER THAN THIS” to your playlist(s) and take a look at NoxTros' music out on these channels or your preferred streaming platform, find them @noxtros on Instagram and elsewhere.