 | Tracklist:
1. Elegiac
2. Complex Terms
3. Digital Veil
4. Faust
5. Antebellum
6. Holographic Sight
7. Horizon To Zenith
8. Patterns
| Ranking: #146 for 2011 | |
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On 121 Lists
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| Summary: neo-classical metalcore may seem like a ridiculous premise, but the result is an enjoyable, interesting album when its flaws are ignored. |
11 of 11 thought this review was well written
Digital Veil involves a completely original take on metalcore. Strongly influenced by classical music, the album is filled with mindboggling technical riffs, riffs that noodle around for a legitimate reason. While the album bears some resemblance to Rhapsody of Fire’s From Chaos To Eternity, The Human Abstract’s guitarist, A.J. Minette, made sure that the album would not sound like power metal. The result is a superbly written metalcore album that stands out due to its neo-classical bent.
Because the album is so classically influenced, it doesn’t feel as brutal as it actually is. The nonstop onslaught of riffs feel like the accompaniment (replacing a symphony) to an exciting scene at a play, where the audience holds their breath in tense anticipation for the climax, and when it comes the audience stand up and applause. Perhaps played live these energetic tracks could cause easily anxious teenagers to start a mosh pit, but when experienced through headphones, it feels incorrect to headbang to it. The album exudes a different kind of energy than that (although it’s certainly violent), for it is too well structured and calculated for the listener to ignore. It is the thinking man’s metalcore, if there ever was such a thing, and it begs for more contemplation than spine ripping. The only problem with this (and perhaps a major problem) is that neo-classical metalcore is a rather silly idea, a completely inappropriate genre collision. The album may be quite good, but one can't help laughing a bit at its ridiculousness.
The album is most compelling when guitars are given freedom to fly through scales, playing unorthodox, classical melodies. However, when the band show off their progressive side (a key part of the album’s musical style), it dramatically drags down the energy of songs and subsequently feels out of place. This is where the band’s classical musical influence gets the best of them, for it’s still supposed to be a metalcore album; tossing in supposedly epic singing sections (with rather poor singing) just doesn’t feel right, and sounds like a band trying too hard. The progressive metal elements in here do not belong, and some metalheads may consider the album to be boring as a result.
Digital Veil will ultimately divide listeners. The neoclassical and progressive style will seem fresh and exciting to some, while for others, it may seem boring and undesirably prominent. However, it’s nonetheless a unique, inspired metalcore album with excellent songwriting and enjoyably vicious technicality. In other words, despite its many, and obvious flaws, it’s a slam dunk, and although one could endlessly critique the dunk in question, it’s still a fucking slam dunk.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
R.I.P. The Human Abstract
| | | Album Rating: 4
Good review pizza, glad to see that you like this. I just got back into this yesterday, I watched like every video they had on youtube then found out an hour later that they broke up that day  bummer. If you like converge you should check out my when forever comes crashing review, everyone hates it but I think that album is awesome
Digging: Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind Digging: Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Good review, and appropriate timing.
I love this album, it's got something unique about it that I can't quite place my finger on. I'm not going to pretend I know much about classical music, but it definitely has the "classical" sound to it, at least in a metalcore form.
Digging: Deadguy - Fixation on a Coworker Digging: Deadguy - Fixation on a Coworker | | | Album Rating: 1.5
lol
Digging: Bjork - Vespertine | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Great review Pizza, Pos'd.
Digging: Elliott Smith - Either/Or | | | Album Rating: 4
Awww... why'd you change your rating pizza. This should be a 4 imo at least, I appreciate this alot more than I used to.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Heh, because I accidentally clicked 4 instead of 3.5 when I submitted this.
Thanks guys.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I love this album, honestly, and AJ Minette is talent personified.
Digging: Trioscapes - Separate Realities Digging: Trioscapes - Separate Realities | | | Album Rating: 4
agreed ^
| | | Album Rating: 3
Band was cool live.
When I first heard this album, I thought it was pretty disappointing. Then I heard it again and it was pretty good. Now it's getting boring.
Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight | | | Album Rating: 4
When I first heard this album, I thought it was pretty disappointing. Then I heard it again and it was pretty good. Now it's getting boring.
The bloc formula haha.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I seem to have liked this more than most
Digging: Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll Digging: Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll | | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
bloc gave a higher place a 5 though so
Digging: Hard Jams Inc. - Mars Volta False Prog Digging: Hard Jams Inc. - Mars Volta False Prog | | |
Very good work, Pizza. This is surprisingly one of your longer reviews :P
Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors
| | | Album Rating: 4
haha thanks, I'm as surprised as you are! I just couldn't stop writing.
| | | Album Rating: 4
The lone ghost neg on a review that I spent over three hours on, making sure that it was absolutely perfect. Oh well.
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those bastards
Digging: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pamyu Pamyu Revolution Digging: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pamyu Pamyu Revolution
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yea, pizza ghost negs are bitch.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off
"but the result is an enjoyable, interesting album when its flaws are ignored"
my thoughts exactly :p
i shouldn't have to ignore flaws to enjoy an album, especially when it's by a band that has a ton of potential
Digging: Plebeian Grandstand - How Hate is Hard to Define Digging: Plebeian Grandstand - How Hate is Hard to Define | | |
"it’s still a fucking slam dunk."
Well finished man...I'm going to have to get to this soon.
pos'd
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