October 2018 resumé
Score guide: 10/9 - 5; 8 - 4.5; 7 - 4; 6 - 3.5/3; 5 - 2.5; 4 - 2; 3 - 1.5; 2/1 - 1 |
| 1 |  | Exit North
Book of Romance and Dust
BNM
shoutout to tomanic and DoofDoof
Bought the thing. Fuck it. This is 8/10, I can feel it.
no way around it. worth every penny.
will get back to yous with a definitive answer later
reported back: it's spectacular |
| 2 |  | Marbled Eye
Leisure
Born in the age of (post-)punk similarity and lack of innovation, Marbled Eye are doing their best to at least be confident enough in their music to make it upbeat and likeable. Kudos on that. 6/10
Laughing Sound, Leisure, Isle, Curtain, Idle Hour, Vanity |
| 3 |  | Future Usses
The Existential Haunting
shoutout to Sniff
This is what happens when you choose to listen to an album based on its cover. I mean, it's decently played, but it just falls into all the usual post-rock pits. 5/10 |
| 4 |  | Haester
All Anchors No Sails
shoutout to Sniff
I cannot deny the bombastic atmosphere and the goodness of the hard-hitting parts, but this album overstays its welcome really, really quickly. The songs sound more or less alike and the production/instrumentation combo just left me feeling a little too tired. 6/10
So That We Could Live, I've Seen This Blood, Graves |
| 5 |  | Titus Andronicus
Home Alone on Halloween
In all seriousness, no joke, completely honest and with one hand on my heart and the other on the Bible, swearing on my mother's grave, there are decent and pleasant moments here. Then there are the remaining 95% of the EP. The Monitor may have been a decent album, but it was the worst thing to happen to punk since Nirvana, because nobody really recovered. 16 minutes of repetitive boredom, ya daft cunt? 2/10 |
| 6 |  | Against The Current
Past Lives
Oh for the love of all that is remotely associated with music or even somewhat loosely mistaken for music, stop this horrid garbage. 2/10 |
| 7 |  | Black Peaks
All That Divides
BNM
I knew this band was trouble when I heard their previous album, Statues. I knew I liked it a lot, but I was still missing something. But most of all I was stunned that a prog-post hardcore outfit can surprise me still. Well, the madmen did it again. This thing is explosive, catchy and so body-moving your bones will hurt by the end of it all. You just want to give in to the power of the moshpit. 8/10
Can't Sleep, The Midnight Sun, Home, Slow Seas, Fate |
| 8 |  | VOLA
Applause of a Distant Crowd
More on the same note as Black Peaks, but this time with a strong pop tone to it. I never knew you could be this "technically" post-hardcore, but pop and glitzy at the same time. I'm just not sure if that's a surprise I enjoy. 6/10 |
| 9 |  | Tokyo Police Club
TPC
Well, TPC is certainly a middle-of-the-road album from a middle-of-the-road band with middle-of-the-road songs and middle-of-the-road arrangement. It's kind of odd to hear each song being actually somewhat decent, but the repeat itself to death. It's not like I've expected a star-like performance, but everything is just oh so samey with its slightly lo-fi production, nasally vocals and simplistic melodies. It's as numbed-down as it gets. 5/10 |
| 10 |  | Psygon
House on the Hill
shoutout to Sniff
Pleasant and rainy, albeit short. 6 and a half minutes of just fine instrumentation. Nothing else, nothing less. 6/10 |
| 11 |  | Behemoth
I Loved You at Your Darkest
reviewed it |
| 12 |  | St. Vincent
MassEducation
reviewed it |
| 13 |  | Fred Thomas
Aftering
shoutout to Sniff
I really like Fred Thomas, but I had no idea this was coming out. Anyhoodles, Fred's ever-present need for always changing and sounding different album-to-album and song-to-song may have been this album's downfall. It's a mess, even though a charming one, the songs are simple, but Fred keeps trying to go from a regular folk-punk, regular radio rock, lo-fi and something more experimental and in the longrun the album suffers. 6/10
Alcohol Poisoning, Good TImes Are Gone Again, Mother Daughter Pharmapix
P.S.: the 9 minute song was unnecessary |
| 14 |  | Cursive
Vitriola
Cursive is back and with a puncher/sleazer of a record. I get it that the raw, destructive power they displayed on their early 2000s releases is long gone and that style is not likely anything they are interested in pursuing. This is also fine, but every now and then it does fall into too much of a whiny melodrama (looking at you "Pick Up the Pieces" and "Life Savings") too often observed among other such bands and I just don't like someone with a potential much higher than that fall into that very pit. 6/10
Free to Be or Not to Be You and Me, Under the Rainbow, Everending, Noble Soldier/Dystopian Lament |
| 15 |  | Fucked Up
Dose Your Dreams
Somewhat forgettable and oddly bloated project. I am not entirely sure what to think of it, but I know that I won't land on anything extraordinarily positive. It just feels like grounded Titus Andronicus, which in turn means a coked-up, overblown ego-fest of any other glitsy pop-rock band pretending to be punk, playing it with synthesisers. 6/10 |
| 16 |  | High on Fire
Electric Messiah
There is a time and place for meticulously crafted, cleverly written and ingenuity-spouting metal records. That time and place isn't now, cause this new High on Fire album is about the most bone-clad tribal skull crusher of an orgasmic metal there is. Focken'el. 7/10
Steps of the Ziggurat/House of Enlil, Electric Messiah, The Pallid Mask, The Witch and the Christ |
| 17 |  | Windhand
Eternal Return
In spite of the dose of that usual doom sludge bore, this also has a lot of profound and pretty moments. The one-dimensional heaviness doesn't hurt either. 6/10 |
| 18 |  | Bitumen
Discipline Reaction
Not at all your usual, generic gothy darkwave post-punk, because this album is a slightly unhinged, dense synth-focused lo-fi mess, but in a good way, even if just ever so slightly overstays its welcome. 6/10
Twice Shy, Pound of Flesh, Hate to Say/A Nice Ride, Cardinalidae |
| 19 |  | The Necromancers
Of Blood and Wine
One of those rare stoner doom bands that aren't just indulging a tedium. But on here they are just a little off. Still kick ass, but a little off, mostly when it gets a little flat (and it does). 7/10 |
| 20 |  | Allelic
The Smoke of Atavistic Fires
The hype led me to believe this album to be a one-of-a-kind, even if the hype was from Sowing. Alas, this album is a mess of noisily producted metal and folk calshes, coming together into a kind of sloppy wave of humbug. Not without its moments of grandiosity and beauty, it unfortunately just feels awkward at times. 5/10 |
| 21 |  | Outer Heaven
Realms Of Eternal Decay
shoutout to suppatime for the rec
jesus mother of all shits of hell's bells a knee's bees a fucklord of shitty blast this is relentless. can't wait to never listen to this again. 6/10 |
| 22 |  | Beyond Creation
Algorythm
A solid dump of tech death craziness. Is there a point of going into depths of describing this album? It's fun as heck and it's tech death. That's all you need to know. 7/10
Surface's Echoes, Algorythm, Binomial Structures, The Afterlife |
| 23 |  | Castle
Deal Thy Fate
A high quality old-school doom effort that has the flare and the gothic darkness to it. Very tasty. 7/10
Can't Escape the Evil, Skull in the Woods, Hexenring, Deal Thy Fate, Firewind |
| 24 |  | Cloud Nothings
Last Building Burning
Oh what a fucking blast of a record. What a fucking return to form. I did enjoy their more mellow side too, but this album is a much fucking needed return. 7/10
On An Edge, In Shame, Offer An End, The Echo of the World, Another Way of Life |
| 25 |  | Disturbed
Evolution
Damn you, morbid curiosity. Yes, I listened to this, because you never know, but the utter lack of a shred of a quality's demented sister's left tit was just a maddening middle finger to even their previous work. 1/10 |
| 26 |  | You Me At Six
VI
There is that surprise I was talking about, Disturbed. Don't get me wrong, this is still a shite album, but on an extensive scale of whoreshit that exists, this is as high above the bottom as all the cancerour balls in the world stacked upon each other. 5/10 |
| 27 |  | Vanhelgd
Deimos Sanktuarium
More of that exhausting doomy death annihilation, except this time, even though the band does try to give it some more depth and overwhelming melodic presence, it often gets drowned underneath all the heaviness and production. 7/10
A Plea for Divine Necromancy, Profaned is the Blood of the Covenant, Har finns ingen nad |
| 28 |  | Serocs
The Phobos / Deimos Suite
Unfortunately not as memorable as one would wish. It certainly stands out as one of the year's most insane metal albums, but if you take it apart song-by-song, none will stick out. It is just a mass of relentless brutality and violence, but not much else. 6/10 |
| 29 |  | Det Eviga Leendet
Lenience
Indeed a decent enough cosmic black metal product, but it is dragged way too low with its garbage production. I guess it's a nod to the good olden days of the genre, when this would have been considered the cleanest sound ever, but the standards have changed. 6/10 |
| 30 |  | Megaton Leviathan
Mage
This is weird. It sounds like something epic, but you have just been beaten over the head repeatedly, so all sound comes off disjointed and weird to you. I guess that's the appeal and I guess that's the atmosphere, but it's just not for me. 6/10 |
| 31 |  | Author and Punisher
Beastland
One of the most creative musicians of our time is back with one of the most mind-bending and dystopian records of the year. Holy fuck of all fucks! 7/10 |
| 32 |  | Cat Power
Wanderer
A pleasing atmosphere and generally sweet softness is not enough, folks. There needs to be something to the song-writing beyond just 'sounds okay when on the background'. 6/10 |
| 33 |  | Coheed and Cambria
The Unheavenly Creatures
I would be lying, if I said that I still remember anything from this band. I heard them a long time ago and I don't particularly feel like revisiting. But were they always this cheesy and laughably bloated? 5/10 |
| 34 |  | Echo and The Bunnymen
The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon
What was it that prompted this band to rework an assembly of their (deeply arguably) greatest hits into these off-putting glitzy pop (even more pop than usual) tunes, I do not know. A pointless compilation, but at least they still sound great in concert. 3/10 |
| 35 |  | Ghostface Killah
The Lost Tapes
BNM
Oh what a damn tape! What a wonderful tape! 8/10
Buckingham Palace, Majestic Accolades, Seigon Velour, Done It Again, Watch 'Em Holla |
| 36 |  | Ice Nine Kills
The Silver Scream
Wait a second, this isn't Nine Inch Nails...
...And I get it, this is the fun kind of emo metalcore. 7/10 |
| 37 |  | Twenty One Pilots
Trench
I am still lost on what is the appeal with these guys. 5/10 |
| 38 |  | Atmosphere
Mi Vida Local
Thankfully, Atmosphere are back to making them beating knockers, instead of the odd sterilised shite they did on like a triplet of their albums. 7/10
Jerome, Stopwatch, Anymore, Earring, Specificity, Graffiti |
| 39 |  | The Howling Void/Nyss
Ravens of the Burning God
BNM
To say that the two sides are incompatible is to say nothing. The Howling Void presents a melodic, ambient-ish epic journey, while Nyss is a disgusting, dirty brutish bowl of filth (also a little epic, though). Still, by themselves, the songs are a fucking revelation. And I can't say that I didn't enjoy it at all. I loved every bit. 8/10 |
| 40 |  | OddZoo
Future Flesh
Such a mess. I can see someone enjoying it, but the wall of unintelligible noise just drove me off. 6/10 |
| 41 |  | Whispering Sons
Image
Enter this year's 'Lack of Imagination and Trying' award nominees. 5/10 |
| 42 |  | Gorod
Aethra
BNM
More dvastating, technical death metal, please and thank you. 8/10 |
| 43 |  | Richard Ashcroft
Natural Rebel
Rebel, as in within the frames of what is allowed and approved. 5/10 |
| 44 |  | Outre
Hollow Earth
A fucking atrocity is what this is. 7/10 |
| 45 |  | Peter Bjorn and John
Darker Days
After a handful of albums of trying to go a little more bombastic and a little more cliché, PBandJ are back to their more quiet and calm pop tunes and they're better off for it. 6/10
Every Other Night, Living a Dream, Wrapped Around the Axle, Sillicon Valley Blues, |
| 46 |  | Devouring Star
The Arteries of Heresy
The utter chaos that is this record is both a reason to rejoice and a reason to frown. It both is immersively dense and exhausting. Not sure if that's a good thing. 6/10 |
| 47 |  | Antarctigo Vespucci
Love in the Time of E-Mail
A bold and fun journey through the simple and the by-the-numbers. Unfortunately, this isn't the adventurous emo ride the track "Freakin' U Out" promised, but still admirable and enjoyable. 6/10
Breathless on DVD, The Price Is Right Theme Song, Freakin' U Out, All These Nights, Do It Over, Another Good Thing, Lifelike |
| 48 |  | Homeboy Sandman and Edan
Humble Pi
An odd fusion of being both aggressive and surprisingly mellow. 6/10 |
| 49 |  | Super Unison
Stella
How sad that the album ended up sounding so samey. I had some high hopes for it. 6/10
Parts Unknown, Comfort |
| 50 |  | Mick Jenkins
Pieces Of A Man
Mick Jenkins continues to be just good enough for me to appreciate his music, but not good enough for me to look forward to his next project. 6/10
P.S.: They sampled Badbadnotgood and then featured them? Good for ya.
Stress Fracture, Gwendolynn's Apprehension, Padded Locks, U Turn, Understood |
| 51 |  | Daughters
You Won't Get What You Want
I really can't tell what am I supposed to listen for here. I mean, it's weird in an intriguing way, but between the off-putting vocals and forgettable song-writing I only really remember the vicious vibe. 6/10 |
| 52 |  | Haken
Vector
Newfound kings of overblown prog, hello again. Can't say that I missed you since The Mountain. But here you are. Guess I'll see ya next time. Bye then. 6/10 |
| 53 |  | Julia Holter
Aviary
The angelic darling Julia continues to deliver us to heaven, one song at a time. 7/10
Whether, Chaitius, Another Dream, I Shall Love 2, Colligere, In Gardens' Muteness |
| 54 |  | Royal Tusk
Tusk II
...it's...okay... 6/10 |
| 55 |  | Street Sects
The Kicking Mule
Somehow, after End Position, nothing Street Sects have released has actually wowed me in any significant way. And sure, this is still that mind-bending craziness like before, but somehow just a little underdeveloped. Street Sects have reached their new wave point. 6/10 |
| 56 |  | Unknown Mortal Orchestra
IC-01 Hanoi
Also, UMO have reached their "Iglooghost does something like this, so can we" phase. 5/10 |
| 57 |  | Direct Hit!
Crown Of Nothing
A band that forgot the early 00s are long gone are here to convince us that early 00s are not long gone. Whatever that means. 6/10 |
| 58 |  | Thom Yorke
Suspiria
I don't know what did I expect from listening to a soundtrack prior to seeing a film. Some songs are indeed eerie and haunting, but that's about that. 6/10 |
| 59 |  | Nicole Dollanganger
Heart Shaped Bed
oh no, you creepy lady. 5/10 |
| 60 |  | Cryptopsy
The Book of Suffering - Tome II
I suppose I am surpised that they are still actually decent. Then again, it's not like this is any sort of revelation. It's a decent slap of death metal, if you are looking for some, but there are better this motha already. But again, if you want new Cryptopsy or just some decent death metal, them this'll do just fine. 6/10 |
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