Album Rating: 2.5

great review. this sounds divisive to say the least.

Album Rating: 4.0

The Angel cover was one of the highlights of their live performances last tour, actually.

But you are probably right, the band will die next week...

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, that's why I said,"With one exception, he’s solely responsible for writing all of the music on Pitfalls." I just didn't get into who did what one the one song.



Oh oops I read that wrong, mb



Also, I do think that Einar has been writing most music for the band after Coal anyway, only the lyrics were partly done by Tor, the guitarist. This is apparantly still the case on this record, so I don't think there will be that much tension within the group if they have been making music like this for the last 10 years

Album Rating: 4.5

Yea, TC and Malina were written by Einar pretty much entirely as far as I remember

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

--Also, I do think that Einar has been writing most music for the band after Coal anyway, only the lyrics were partly done by Tor, the guitarist. This is apparantly still the case on this record, so I don't think there will be that much tension within the group if they have been making music like this for the last 10 years--

This is true, but he at least wrote the rest of the band into the songs on the previous releases. They're very much 'under represented' on this.

It’s very weird to me that the band goes along with this.

Album Rating: 4.0

The band likes this kind of stuff. The video wasn't weird were Einar said "He went ahead and decided to book a choir." everyone else says they were just informed of it but they're laughing and having a good time. Theres also a video about some of the band never even hearing some of the older albums.



I dunno why everyone is assuming to know the band's views just so they can push their narrative about Einar going solo.

Well generally speaking if you’re a guitarist or a drummer or a bassist you want to play your instrument.

Album Rating: 3.5

"There was also an interview video where Einar says, "We decided..." and the guitarist corrects him and says, "He decided. We were informed..." or something like that"



Just saw the interview, it's about booking some orchestra or choir or something and einar himself corrected it to "him booking it", then the guitarist laughs and adds "we were informed". Didn't sound like there was any tention there, the fact that it's 95% einar instantly answering all questions without letting the other chime in is much more telling I'd say.

Album Rating: 4.0

But that could also just be because he's the singer and used to being the center of attention

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

https://youtu.be/GgdhiZdT-g0?t=200

Here's the video. This is where he says "I decided," and then says, "We decided," and then looks at the other guys and corrects back to "I decided".



--I dunno why everyone is assuming to know the band's views just so they can push their narrative about Einar going solo.--

Read the review. I'm not assuming to know their views at all. I'm saying that based on the slant of the music, and the song writing/lyric writing credits it sometimes feels like it could be a solo album.

My reference to the interview just shows through that verbal slip, that he really was just kind of going at it alone. As for him sitting in the middle and answering all the questions, he's the vocalist and also the main (almost the only) writer on the album, so of course he's answering the questions.

Also, the music video for "Below" is just Einar until the final 90-seconds or so. These are just things I've noticed which when combined with the music can push the 'could be a solo album' angle.

Whether or not the band gives two shits about any of this has never been discussed by me. Personally, I think the doom-and-gloom "the band will be over" shit is overblown. Both sides need each other, I'd think.

I don't know why, but Distant Bells gives me Radiohead vibes.

It’s mostly a shame because the band is really talented and Einar sounds great in a rock/metal context

Saw them live last year, they're great, tight musicians, but the front man sang constantly. He was way in-your-face all the time, using falsetto too much. The best moment was during Haken's set when he growled some verses lol.

Yeah he’s gotten in the habit of over-singing.

I thought they struck a good balance on TC of showcasing Einar and still sounding like a rock band

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I think people are overblowing things. This definitely isn't Leprous of the previous years, and Einar is definitely belting out the tunes these days, but it's still really good... just experimental and a pretty significant departure. The telling thing will be the next album. Is this the new trend or a one-off to break the monotony?

Album Rating: 3.0

managed to get tickets to see these guys live, so I hope this album slays when I listen to it tomorrow

Album Rating: 3.5

The second single has me worried about this.

I like the idea some people have on this thread that the band is getting upset now about something that was probably written over a year and a half ago and has been finished for a half year+. If the band members were pissed to the point of shit hitting the fan, it would've happened during the writing/recording process.

Album Rating: 3.5

The more I think on it, the more I'm feeling like I wouldn't much care if the band stayed "metal" or not. As long as they maintain their progressive integrity... I can grow to like it. The singles I've heard haven't shown me that, but maybe I'm still subconsciously trying to pigeonhole them into a certain aesthetic. Just something I'll have to give more attention to.