| | Full Review | Ratings (177) |
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| 5.0 classic | battletoads | December 3rd 10 |
I always find it amusing how people with skill levels, ranging from no skill to mediocre skill, insultingly describe music that is FAAAARRRRR beyond their level of understanding and capability/potential, as wankery. I love it even more when people cannot understand something that deviates from 4/4 timing, and then label it mathcore, as an insult, because they are insecure that they failed high school math. These types of arguments provide no insight or relevance to any musical discussion, and they are nothing more than a method, some people use, to make themselves feel better, since they know they are undeniably, musically inferior to the music that they discredit. If the competence and originality of a band is to be mocked because they have a lot of sweep arpeggios, then any tech metal band is doomed, by their peers, from the start. Sure, it is true that there are plenty of bands, who sacrifice composition for constant guitar noodling. Journal is not one of those bands. Unlorja is littered with outstanding compositions. It is a fantastic record from start to finish. As progressive and technical as Unlorja is, people still really like it. The reason is because, in fact, Unlorja is comprised of excellent songs, even with all of the technical wizardry taking place. Furthermore, Journal is deadly accurate live. I am shocked that someone would even dare to imply that these musicians are not skilled. Watch their solo guitar and drum videos on youtube, and see for yourself.
6 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | ThePalestMexican | September 11th 10 |
Call me the biggest loser since every loser in loser existence got in a big loser orgy, but this album rocks my socks. I can honestly say that it's been a long, long time since I've heard a band with THIS much potential. With a few years time, I can possibly see them becoming one of my favorite bands. It's possibly because they just simply do everything right, and they happen to strike the nerd chord deep within me, but few bands can pull off what these fine fellows seem to do effortlessly.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Anville | July 27th 10 |
No music has awoken me like this. A breath of fresh air. Insane and beautiful at the same time. I cant think of many bands offhand that posses this much ferocity and fury. A major album of the year contender.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | megaman777 | December 3rd 10 |
the internet has done great things for music but not without consequence. There are so many bands available at the click of a button that it is otfen really hard to find something that is actually good. That being said, I feel very lucky to have accidentally stumbled across Journal. They are so epic and intense all at the same time. 2010 AOTY for me
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | bloc | June 17th 10 |
I'll admit I was a little hesitant to give this a listen due to the high similarities between Journal and over the top bands like The Crinn. However, I was treated to a collection of songs and one minute interludes on Unlorja that where just fantastic. Forget the spastic image that you may get if you simply just visit the band's myspace; in fact, Journal really knows how to mix chaos and musicality into one listenable concoction. Sure, there is dissonance quite often, but it just seems to fit most of the time, and either way, all is forgiven once beautiful guitar (or vocal) melodies start appearing. My only issue with this album are the vocals, and while they may be great, there are not enough cleans on this album as there should be. The vocalist sounds like a standard metalcore screamer but when he starts singing it's as if the guy from Textures has suddenly taken over.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | elephantREVOLUTION | December 1st 10 |
and you thought protest the hero couldn't write a coherent song...
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Xenophanes EMERITUS | November 30th 10 |
I remeber when the title of "tech metal" meant something. You know, such as great songwriting, or excellent and skilled musicians who know their way around a guitar. Nowadays, this is all too often tagged with a group of young guys wankishly whipping out arpeggios like they're going out of style, and if bands like Journal have their way, they'll be going the way of bell-bottoms and swatches. Unlorja is fine, but it's all so contrived, as aspects of it make a mockery of what better, more talented musicians have done before.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | workinprog | November 22nd 10 |
Just listened to my friends copy all the way through and holy crap, I pooped all over the place. F-ing AMAZING!!! Just when you think it cant get any better, BAM...there it is. Im gonna get my copy right now.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | TooToot | March 27th 18 |
i personally cannot relate to this review one bit lmfao. this is probably the best album of all time. seriously, the
songwriting here is consistently brilliant, hyper-dense, fluid and memorable in a way thats basically unlike
anything I've come across. It's like if Spiral Architect decided to actually make enjoyable music. In terms of raw
technical skill, this band possibly outdoes BTBAM. the he production makes the drum tone a bit dry and buries
the bass, but they interplay well with the other instruments and are as busy and diverse as you'd expect from a
technical metal album. theres also basically zero chugging, which is fantastic news. and the distinct video game
vibe of the melodies is another thing that draws me to this album - the quieter bits feel a lot like something out of
a Final Fantasy OCRemix album. It's impressive how well they managed to nail the whole JRPG concept w/o
being too overt about it, and it really does feel like an adventure through a fantasy world. theres some Bungling
around once in a while with unfitting genre changes that break the ebb and flow of tension, but this massively
impressed me. It's able to stay within a recognizably mathcore framework while doing something really fresh. im
forever indebted to my freind for bringing this record to my attention.
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| 0.0 | shaolinmonk | June 24th 11 |
The only way to listen to it is all the way through with the lyrics in front of you. Holy shit its amazing
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| 5.0 classic | hipnotoad | January 18th 11 |
I'm not really sure why people are so quick to draw comparisons to Protest the Hero. Sure, this album is very technical, but it's actually structured, and isn't just mindless wankery (Protest the Hero). This album is one of my favorite releases of last year.
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| 5.0 classic | TheKraken916 | December 3rd 10 |
Deserving of their own personal genre: Journalcore
Unlorja is an absolute masterpiece in every way.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Yazz_Flute | November 26th 10 |
Whip out Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask and just go to town on those bitches. Album is the fucking tits. TITS.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Oobaloo | February 15th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fujay | April 20th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Feels | March 11th 14 |
| 2.5 average | COSM | November 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | aahop | August 5th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Ecotone | December 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Arked | April 12th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Warpt | April 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Andrew | December 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | d00derz | August 18th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Trey STAFF | August 14th 11 |
| 3.0 good | iZac | June 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Envy3 | March 26th 11 |
| 1.0 awful | qwe3 | March 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Spec | March 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ev0ken | February 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | EMA51 | January 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | TFU82 | January 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Loot | January 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | po0ty | January 12th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Acre | January 11th 11 |
| 2.5 average | alsid | January 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Wael | January 1st 11 |
| 3.0 good | morte | December 30th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | rreddrop | December 29th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Nach0 | December 25th 10 |
| 3.0 good | puma35 | December 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | gosk8n | December 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | December 1st 10 |
| 5.0 classic | jatve | November 27th 10 |
| 3.5 great | X3ni92 | November 24th 10 |
| 1.5 very poor | Lame144 | November 23rd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Erodrim | November 22nd 10 |
| 2.5 average | RedSky | November 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scoot | November 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Dave7 | November 19th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | L0G05 | November 18th 10 |
| 3.0 good | dre517 | November 17th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | iamdave | October 28th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Alit | October 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ArchoN | September 28th 10 |
| 3.0 good | vakuola | September 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oceans | September 19th 10 |
| 3.5 great | BlueW | September 17th 10 |
| 3.5 great | TBliss | September 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | 72haha72 | September 14th 10 |
| 2.5 average | drewkar | September 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Hoopy | August 25th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Zoo | July 28th 10 |
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