Album Rating: 3.5

Listening now and it's definitely better than Insulated World so far for me by a good margin. First 4 tracks were really good, 5th one though....that was really bad imo. Still got a ways to go for a final impression. Production definitely is not a strong suit here though for sure.

Album Rating: 4.0

I feel like utsutsu will be underrated hidden gem of this album

Album Rating: 3.5

when utsutsu is one of my favorites on the album but everyone be hating

Album Rating: 3.5

"I don't know if I just have good ears due to being a bass player"



me too, but the production still isn't great lol



utsutsu is okay. it's another one of those tracks where kyo does some weird vocal takes and it doesn't work out well, but the track itself is fine imo.

Album Rating: 3.5

for me its the drums, shinya going nuts. He's honestly one of my favourite drummers, his complex rhythms and fills are super impressive and challenging to do

Album Rating: 3.5

shinya is the undisputed highlight on this album for sure

Album Rating: 3.5

the unboxing for those interested in what it looks like



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56ckcJqE6Q

Album Rating: 3.5

"utsutsu is okay. it's another one of those tracks where kyo does some weird vocal takes and it doesn't work out well, but the track itself is fine imo."



You nailed it for me! Instrumentally it's fine but the direction Kyo takes it for me is...not an appealing one whatsoever. I'm all for experimentation but sometimes it just doesn't work for me and that's one of those instances. Glad they sound better on this album though after IW put me to sleep really. Still wish production was tighter. Re-listened to some Arche and Dum Spiro Spero tracks and the production is a night and day difference.

Album Rating: 3.5

Checked into this last night - was a good time (first three tracks esp) but I mostly agree with the critique in the review, once it comes down from pearlclutching the trinity (that legacy is there - let the band take their step down). Think there are a few more specific criticisms to be made here (Kyo's higher register harshes are obvs not the same and I'm v much in the camp of this one's prod being more overall hindrance than step up from TIW) but those will hopefully make more sense across repeats. Solid album on its own terms.



Kisou slander is an instant neg tho

fellaris

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Dum Spiro Spero is so well-produced. The bass on that album sounds so nice especially

Album Rating: 4.0

DSS sounds good because it was mastered by Alan Douches, the same guy who did the excellent Uroboros Remaster (which is so much better than the original version its not even funny)

Alan Douches did mixing for DSS but I can’t find any credits for him on the Uroboros remaster, think that was just Tue Madsen (who also produced DSS)

Ah never mind I found it lol. But they both had a hand on both albums and it def shows

Album Rating: 4.5

For those two records Tue Madsen handled the mixing and Alan Douches the mastering. While not everything they've done is flawless, they're among the few that can make loud, modern albums that still sound very pleasant, at least to my ears. Jens Bogren would be another example.

Oops I got mixing and mastering backwards :x

I like sputnik's logic on Japanese bands.

Dir en grey: Brilliant, one of the best metal bands in Japanese music scene.

l'arc en ciel: Aren't the dudes who made the opening song for FMA?

Album Rating: 4.0

L' Arc~en~Ciel did have a song that was featured as a theme for FMA, but the song of theirs that was used as the theme for Moribito I enjoy much better. Also lumping L’Arc into the camp of “anime theme song bands” would do their entire back catalog an immense disservice. They’ve also been around for longer than Dir En Grey…

seirei no moribito? really? didnt know

Album Rating: 4.0

Yessir. Love that song.