Album Rating: 4.0

I'd agree though, it's very bare-bones and mellow prog/metal, not much fluff or wankery here.



Nothing truly original but I'd rather listen to this than another porcupine tree/dt/opeth/haken wankfest.



I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one, considering my patience for prog is not like it used to be.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I'd say the feel is what makes it original.

Album Rating: 3.8 | Sound Off

^^Once all the pieces fall in place (which happened to me just after 6-7 listens), agreed.



Which is strange, because the album is nominally straightforward.

Album Rating: 3.0

I can respect that score because there's an actual explanation attached to it... unlike some of these other guys. What are the forced vocal cleans?

Album Rating: 2.0

You forgot the much-felt lackage of memorable riffs



This is the exact kind of stuff that reminds me why Dev Townsend hasn't put out anything good for bloody years

Album Rating: 3.8 | Sound Off

The trick with this band is to keep listening its new album, even if it's far from appealing at first.



I remember myself folding at first when I listened to Into the Everflow because it wasn't as tech-thrash as Social Grace.



Same happened with Mosquito vs its predecessor (not prog enough), same with Bleeding which, compared to Mosquito, appeared at first as a bare bones translation of the latter.



The above said, it is difficult even for Psychotic Waltz to lift the shadow of their back catalogue with new music; realism dictates for them to make good albums, and The God-Shaped Void is easily delimited within the "great album" category.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

--The album loses a lot of its strength in the second half, especially in the lyricism.--

I hear you, but I definitely find it strange because the second half is my favorite section. I've never really been a lyrics guy. To be honest, there aren't many songs I listen to that I could reliably tell you what they're actually about.



--You forgot the much-felt lackage of memorable riffs--

This isn't supposed to be a riff-driven album. Much like the latest few Townsend albums.



--The trick with this band is to keep listening its new album, even if it's far from appealing at first.--

True. Bleeding clicked for me immediately, but it was also my first Psychotic Waltz release. The rest of them, including this one, takes time.

Album Rating: 3.5

I need to jam this. Love ASG and ITE.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah this isn't as riff-heavy as A Social Grace. That one still slaps though for different reasons, Another Prophet Song is one of my fav metal songs.



I really enjoyed this one as background music tbh, but in a good sense.

Album Rating: 4.0

Weird rec but I always got a very similar feeling to social grace with Holocaust - Hypnosis of Birds. Different sounds but both put me in the same mood for some reason. Would recommend.

Hypnosis of Birds rules. Just jammed it for the first time today actually

As for this, I get why people do like it and I definitely don’t think it’s awful. But as has been said, it doesn’t stack up to their back catalogue for me

Album Rating: 3.0

oh yeah i keep forgetting to jam hypnosis

covenant rules

"I'd agree though, it's very bare-bones and mellow prog/metal, not much fluff or wankery here."

I like that about it a lot. Reminds me Threshold or Nevermore in that sense

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I agree. Those classic, Dream Theater inspired bands don't do it for me like they used to. I'm much more inclined to listen to prog like this or Fates Warning, Nevermore, Kingcrow, Riverside, Porcupine Tree, etc...

Check Threshold, they fit right in with that crowd you mentioned.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I will. That's the band name?

Album Rating: 3.0

If you're checking Threshold I'd recommend "Dead Reckoning". Personally I'm not a huge fan of Threshold since I think their material sounds very samey



"I'm much more inclined to listen to prog like this or Fates Warning, Nevermore, Kingcrow, Riverside, Porcupine Tree, etc..."



Agreeeed. Wanky prog doesn't do it for me now



Willie have you listened to Kingcrow's "Eidos"? That's a more hard rock oriented album compared to their latest, and its tastefully done. Not wanky

This is Dream Theater...

Album Rating: 3.0

To be fair the new DT album isn't that wanky

They toned it down on that one agreed. And it paid off too because overall it's a great album.