Album Rating: 2.0

yuppers

Album Rating: 3.5

yepperoni

average band is as average band does

Album Rating: 3.5

I felt this was a bit underwhelming on the first couple listens but parts of it are starting to get stuck in my head now

A bit more melody wouldn't have hurt though. I understand they're deliberately eschewing melody in favor of a more aggressive sound but no coincidence that their most 'acclaimed' albums are all brimming with melodious splendor.

Album Rating: 5.0

there's plenty of melody in this imo, it's just not as catchy as Deliver Us

"no coincidence that their most 'acclaimed' albums are all brimming with melodious splendor. "

that's because mdm fans tend to prefer melody over aggression

To be honest the execution from the band was better on Deliver Us/Undoing Ruin as well, its not just the stylistic preference. A big part of this album is Ballou's production job which is ferocious as always.

Album Rating: 4.0

Excellent album that pays homage to the sounds of 2000-2007.



The excellent production and guest work are the album's highlights and really point out where the band has been lacking over the past few albums.



There is some repetitiveness and while nothing will make you mosh in your 5x3 cubicle at work like Low, Doomsayer, These Fevered Times or Last Dance Massacre, this is still their best album since Deliver Us.



EDIT: The melodic work on Widowed, None of This Is the Truth and Beneath It Sleeps is some of the best to ever come out of Darkest Hour. Additionally, the solos throughout the album are strong. I felt that I wouldn't being doing the album justice by not mentioning those things.

Album Rating: 3.6

I don't prefer melodic riffs to aggressive stuff on principle, it's just that DH did melodic stuff extremely well but they're are tons of band's that do aggressive metalcore better

Album Rating: 4.0

"...it's just that DH did melodic stuff extremely well but they're are tons of band's that do aggressive metalcore better."



I'll agree with the melodic part of that. When I think of Darkest Hour's best moments they are all melodic riffs. While I don't think that DH's metalcore aspects alone are exceptional I do think that the ability to blend the two aforementioned sounds well is something really special that is not rivaled by many bands. (When DH is at their best)

Album Rating: 4.0

But their are plenty of bands that did melodic stuff much much better then DH ever did as well.

Album Rating: 3.5

I don't think the question is "Are there bands who do this better than DH?" but "Do I enjoy the way DH does it?". It's all highly subjective.

Album Rating: 4.0

I completely agree, my argument was more or less to point that out, so the people saying "tons of band's that do aggressive metalcore better" miss the mark as well.

Album Rating: 4.0

JWT, I wasn't necessarily saying that DH's melodic moments were the best across the genre. I was only saying that, to me, the part that I enjoyed the most out of Darkest Hour was their melodic side. There very would could be bands that did/do it better, I'm not ignorant of that.



That kind of ties into what Lelle said; regardless of where they stand on the metalcore or melodic spectrums individually, when DH blends the two together their strength(s) really show in my opinion. That just happens to be the style of DH that I personally enjoy the most.

Album Rating: 4.0

This album made me realize how bad the last one was.

feel like i should like this more but it just feels like darkest hour trying to be a more aggressive metalcore band. doesn't really feel like them.

"Stand and Receive Your Judgment" and "Full Imperial Collapse" were pretty sick songs that were much less melodic (I know the latter was Townsend's gift to the album)

Album Rating: 4.0

I enjoyed the last one.

Album Rating: 2.0

yeah it is good