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Review Summary: A face in the industrial metal genre and while using features noticeable from the genres pioneers Fear Factory and others, including some features they themselves have brought to the table, Mnemic create a diverse however at times dull listen. Highly percussive and entrenched in solid beat listeners find themselves following Mnemic’s new album titled ‘Passenger’ foot tapping and mindlessly head banging in time with the music. There are levels of ‘uniqueness’ showed throughout some very industrial influences and at times the band borders on a few other genres including the likes of death metal and hardcore. Utilizing yelled/screamed and strained vocal linings similar to the hardcore genre and also adding contrast with a melodic clean vocal pattern that creates a higher level of interest within tracks. This shows that Mnemic is not fully absorbed into the metal genres shadows, but shows that they are willing to explore new ground, with differing techniques to try to maintain a tasteful listening level whether it would be achieved fully or not.
The instrumentation of the album while at a first glance is not so different from other metal groups is arranged in a manner to create a sound that is both unique and at times interesting. While this may not be everybody’s favourite style of music Mnemic display technicality at a level to grab the listeners’ attention. Technical features of the instrumentation include the rhythm section making use of many polyrhythms and almost unusual bass pedal work tying in with a roughly non-existence bass line before being layered under a complementing guitar rhythm section. There are also other interesting techniques peppered through the album, including noticeably the chant lines in track “Pigf*ck” creating a diverse sound and further maintains the listeners attention.
Mnemic’s overall effort can be roughly described as the combination of genres and other extreme acts. This is reinforced by the use of differing media/medium levels or sounds including synthesised sounds, effects, and strong influences from the likes of Messugah. However what let this studio effort down is its own levels of originality and the repetition of the ideas they have already used frequently throughout the entire of the album. Using the same formula on most (if not all) tracks of Passenger This then creates a highly blending sound and all tracks begin to sound the same, so much so that after repeated listens, most will not know where one track ends and the other begins, if they are not paying attention. While the technicality shown is merit able it needs to be balanced with some level of catchiness to maintain the listeners’ attention. This can be noticed with one feature of the metalcore genre using screamed verse lines with clean sung chorus lines. On each track this comes a little repetitious.
Following revolutionary bands to create a sound does have its ups and downs on one hand, the band is using features that are interesting and technical, but on the other these features become tiring on the listener if not balanced correctly. Passenger leaves a lot to be desired from listeners that were expecting more and got too much. But a change in line-up leaves a sound that looks good on paper but fails to live up to expectations.
Pros:
• Combination of melodic/clean vocals does add some diversity to the album
• Musicianship of Passenger is of a high quality, particularly in the timing of the drum kit.
• Hardcore vocals do not ‘go over the top’ and create a dull listen.
Cons:
• Becomes a dull listen when listened to repeatedly.
• Their originality, while combining influences sometimes becomes a clash of sounds.
• Lack of diversity from track to track over the course of the album.
| other reviews of this album |
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Industrialcore [in - DUHS - tree - uhl - kor]. noun: The result of insustrial metal band Mnemic bein...
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Album Rating: 2.5
almost 2.5'd this. Thoughts welcome.
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I like the review, well worded and your ideas are presented clearly. This is bottom of the bucket industrialized metal.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thanks wiz, the music is good, kinda to a point, but the ideas are super recycled. The music is diverse, but the album however is not.
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I used to listen to about a dozen of these bands back in the day. One thing about the review, I don't think the pro's and con's are necessary since you've clearly explained yourself throughout the review. I find pro's and con's just attract retards who just skip over the review due to laziness.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Yeah, i have been trying this out recently due to a justified conversation with Irving. Maybe the issue is finding the right review to add the pros/cons section.
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Howdy, dude! Thanks for the compliment in my shoutbox. Greatly appreciated. I don't really consider my reviews anything special; there's a lot for me to improve on, but I'm glad at least someone's getting something out of them. I'm trying to post more often, so we'll see how it goes.
Nice review on your part. There are a few parts that seem a bit awkward, but they're easily fixed with punctuation. I suffer from the same problem; I tend not to proofread my work-after spending an hour writing a review I generally just want to post it and not look at it again.
"Highly percussive and entrenched in solid beat listeners find themselves following Mnemic’s new album titled ‘Passenger’ foot tapping and mindlessly head banging in time with the music."
This sentence is an example of what I was talking about before. If you punctuate it likeso...
"Highly percussive, and entrenched in solid beat, listeners find themselves following Mnemic’s new album titled ‘Passenger’; foot tapping and mindlessly head banging in time with the music."
...the sentence becomes a bit easier to follow. The general rule is, when reading it over in your head, where you pause for a little (generally one count of rhythm), add a comma, for two counts, add a full stop, and for a one-and-a-half count, or when slightly changing or reiterating ideas, add a semicolon. But, don't follow my punctuating style to the letter. If there's something you disagree with in the way I've arranged it, take it out. Remember, the greatest thing that any writer can do is develop YOUR OWN writing style, and part of doing that comes from following your intuition.
Another point-there's nothing wrong with repetition, but using another phrase instead of "this shows" (which you use quite a bit, sometimes in the same sentence) will add a little more variety to your writing. Try something like "This is evident in..." or "Displayed by...", or even just go to a synonyms site/synonyms function in word. Remember, if the tools are at your disposal, they're well worth using.
You've explained your ideas fairly well, so kudos for that. As Wiz has said, the pros and cons thing is debatable. You had the right idea when you said it's about finding the right review with the right balance for a pros and cons thing, and that's more of a "by feel" kind of thing, instead of having an objective criteria. You'll begin to feel it soon.
Anyway, good review! I look forward to reading more from you in the future, and sorry for the overlong comment. I've always meant to give these guys a listen, but they're never really on top of my list. This review kind of makes me glad I didn't waste my time, so thanks!
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Well as for Mnemic, most wouldn't mind you pushing this down your 'list'. The repetition of 'this shows' and 'listener' comes from an extensive level of music aural training.
And for the long comments, i don't mind at all. Read away if you feel the need to, especially considering this is my 23rd review in a little over two months.
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Ahh, that explains it then. Like I said, there's nothing inherently wrong with the repetition. It's always just easier for a reader, especially a casual one, whether the text be a review, a memo, or a novel, if you mix it up a little every now and then.
23rd Review in two months? Holy shit dude. I've been here nearly a year (so I'm still fairly new) and I've got like...6 up. I'm not really all that motivated, unfortunately, especially considering the amount of music I listen to versus the amount of reviews I write. But the fact that you love writing reviews enough to post 23 in two months is a good sign. Just keep that love for it intact, and that's the best thing you can do for yourself.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
There not all high quality though, i'm kinda surprised by the approval i have on my profile page. Thanks for the look over. Metal seems to keep me motivated whether it be generic/mainstream or not. Although i will admit that the site pisses the girlfriend off majorly. I'll try to mix the terms up for you and others, making it slightly easier.
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Like I said before dude, don't do this for anyone but yourself. I can give you all the advice I want, but in the end, if you're feeling something different to what I suggest, it's better for you to just stay that course. But yeah.
Look overs are no problem. I'm really sorry, I should have done it more in-depth, but its hard to focus right now. I'll check through it again tomorrow morning and see if I find anything else for ya. Might take a peek at some of your other reviews, if that's alright with you/you want me to.
And remember, don't go forsaking time with your lady just for a site. They come first, as they so often like to remind us. Memorize that, and you'll past the exams with flying colours!
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Exams? lol. No man i balance things out. And why would i have a problem with you reading over my other works? I think if i didn't want them read i wouldn't have put them up in the first place. If you look at my other reviews i might suggest looking at the newer before looking at the earlier reviews, might be more your speed of music too.
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productive this week, are we? :]
first off, I think the summary is a bit too chunky. I'd narrow your point down a bit there
Highly percussive and entrenched in solid beat listeners find themselves following Mnemic’s new album titled ‘Passenger’ foot tapping and mindlessly head banging in time with the music.
this entire sentence reads wierd, just scrap it and start over
this one seems pretty iffy. gernerally your punctuation could use some work, especially with commas.
there's also a lot of awkward sentences that read like either your usage is incorrect or you're coming up with things to say on the spot. I'd probably start over tbh, though your point does get across it just doesn't come across as fluently as it should. clean this up and I'll pos but this just reads pretty sloppy
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thanks Suds, always appreciate the feed back, and 23 reviews in a bit over two months, two in the last week, not really. Kinda wish my pc didn't shit itself when i click on 'edit my reviews'. Makes it a bit harder to fix things up i guess. Thats two people that have problems with that section, i'll give it some working over.
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Album was terrible
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lol this band sucks weiners
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
They really don't offer anything unique.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
'Album was terrible'
that's pretty much the thought thats going on here.
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Heard some stuff from this band a while back, made me wanna commit suicide.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
yeah that sounds about right, planning on changing my rating. This band thus deserves it. What did you think of my writing?
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
yeah that sounds about right, planning on changing my rating. This band thus deserves it. What did you think of my writing?
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