Album Rating: 2.5

At the very least we can say they're in a better phase of their career than in their Shallow Life years. They were shameless trend surfers then - made their logo look like Linkin Park's, and even made a song that almost directly ripped off "Runaway" - they were clearly hoping to make some money at the time. Probably didn't work out all that well

Album Rating: 2.5

Holy shit, you're right about the Korn comparison, it feels so obvious now haha



Guess it never occurred to me because of the Indian/Buddhist schtick they were doing on that album, but the riffage was totally Korn now that you mention it lol

Album Rating: 2.5

I did pick up on the Linkin Park wannabeism on Shallow Life tho! One for two I guess haha

fuck man

The magic is absolutely gone on this version. Most of the songs still hit, but man. Heaven's a Lie XX is the biggest L they've taken since Karmacode. I absolutely do not agree that Self Deception XX is better, but that's my favorite song on the original so...

I guess I'm just settling into "we didn't really need this" territory. A lot of it just seems like change for the sake of change. Christina's vocal melodies were fucking perfect on the original, and some passages were straight ruined here.

Album Rating: 3.0

Karmacode was 100% them trying to appeal to the mainstream but I think most people give it a pass because it was pretty solid. Shallow Life on the other hand?



"Christina's vocal melodies were fucking perfect on the original, and some passages were straight ruined here." [2]

I guess I should have explained a bit what I meant.

I also agree that Comalies looked like the launching point of a band headed for sustained greatness. Karmacode has songs I fucking adore ("within me" chief among them) but they clearly abandoned the direction of the far superior Comalies. Toning down on the goth didn't work out so well, in my opinion, and aiming for the mainstream was much the same.

This doesn't hit for me as much as the original, but I must admit I like the idea of this. I am intrigued by the idea of a band re-imaging their songs years later. I think the way they did so on this version kind of falls flat, in many aspects, but I still like the idea. And some of the ideas are pretty cool. The slowed down "Ghost Woman and the Hunter" is pretty phat. I wish a blend of the two versions existed, where the huge open chorus of the XX version was introduced at the end of the first version when it refrains as for extra impact.

Plus it's cool in the sense that you could open a show with one version of a song, and end it with another. Or leave the fans guessing. I dunno, I enjoy this idea very much. It's just a "remix" so to speak, but a bit more special than that.

Album Rating: 3.0

I have a soft spot for this even though it doesn't quite hit the mark. Tight Rope XX was actually the track that got me into the band and is still a killer jam. The Prophet Said XX might even top the original, it's brilliant how concise and intense this version is. Unspoken, Humane, Heaven and Angel also come close, and most of the other tracks are rather okay.

This version of Entwined is a crime against my ears though. My favourite track of the original album and they just butchered all of its beautiful melodic assets.

I'll never understand why they decided Karmacode was acceptable... oh, what could have been... T_T

I didn't know this was a thing. What was the point of this? Just a cash grab?

Album Rating: 3.0

Maybe, maybe not, who knows. Officially they needed something to engage in during the pandemic. But I’m happy because some of these versions are great and they put some of this Comalies energy into the next LP.

That 3.0 is not inspiring confidence

Album Rating: 3.0

It's fine in small doses but listening in one sitting is exhausting. And the mix is utterly brickwalled. Worth a try nonetheless, they packed a few good ideas in here.