Album Rating: 2.5

If I may ask why don't you like it? is tech core not your cup of tea? or, is it more like a lot of shred/techy albums which are ultimately failures because too much shred makes shred sound boring?

Xeno how come you hate the album so much?

too much shit going on here

I wrote a review for it. My manifesto for why I dislike it.


Basically, it makes the genre look bad. There are talented "tech" bands out there who manage to make coherent (my biggest issue) songs and interesting albums. This is completely unrestrained, and in a terrible way. There's unbelievable wankery everywhere, and the entire package is completely aimless. Sometime this summer I'll give it another shot, because oddly enough I get really into metalcore/hardcore in the summers, so we'll see.


Glad you explained it and my apologies I forgot you wrote a review on it.

moved it down .5
because FUCK AFFINITY

Album Rating: 2.5

review disagrees with my opinion



neg

Album Rating: 4.5

"Basically, it makes the genre look bad. There are talented "tech" bands out there who manage to make coherent (my biggest issue) songs and interesting albums."



Name them for credibility purposes. Something tells me that Journal is not actually part of the same genre as the "tech" bands you enjoy, and that you've attempted to bunch them all together as a single genre. Also, when you say "coherent", I think what you are really saying is "familiar scales, timing, and song structuring." What makes this album very interesting is Journal's ability to deviate from traditional musical formulas but still have good songs.



Wankary is a term that I very frequently hear coming from people who can't play an instrument at the level of the music they are belittling.

I agree with Xenophones because honestly even though I love this album I won't deny their is tons of guitar wankery going on.

Album Rating: 4.5

Ok. But I seriously doubt that Journal's goal is to show everyone "look how fast I can play" just to show off. If that was the case the songs wouldn't sound good. They would only be for show and then you probably wouldn't love this album. So if any random guitarist is doing some serious shredding, is it automatically "wankery" regardless of the musical content? If so then fine.



But back to my original point: Give me a list of "talented "tech" bands out there who manage to make coherent songs and interesting albums." (and are supposedly not guilty of wankery)

But back to my original point: Give me a list of "talented "tech" bands out there who manage to make coherent songs and interesting albums." (and are supposedly not guilty of wankery)

I'm not even going to bother because it'd be a long list.

Blooddrunk lol

Album Rating: 2.5

probably dropping this rating, this didn't impress whatsoever six months later

Album Rating: 4.5

"I'm not even going to bother because it'd be a long list."



LOL ok... It must be quite a list.

Album Rating: 4.0

My friend and I are talking about this album right now. I love Affinity (though I never listen to it after the album, only on its own) if only for the sort of trance it puts you in. Album is great, too.



The guitar / bass harmony in the middle / beginning of Festooned With Snakes is so sick.