Album Rating: 3.5

You sound really bitter

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

To say the vocals here are goofy compared to Nothing, am I not analyzing shoegaze properly or something? What in the actual hell...

Album Rating: 3.5

So funny how butthurt people get over this band lol.

This sounds nothing like Shelter, unless it's a seriously reductive comparison that amounts to saying all shoegaze albums sound the same.

Great recs in the review though for sure, any more hidden shoegaze gems are appreciated.

Album Rating: 2.0

yeah my point was they sound exactly the same, fucking brilliant

i think the comparison was more towards the fact both bands gradually removed the black metal influences that gave them something of an identity and ended up with albums (although i do enjoy that alcest one) in which they're forced to rely on one aspect of their sound (shoegaze) and are having to find some way to compensate for that loss to varying degrees of success

saying that i thought the single was cool so will check this eventually

re. earlier discourse, I'd say Slowdive v much *are* known for their vocals, partially because Rachel Goswell has a gorgeous voice, partially because their layering is impeccable, but mainly because they (and MBV tbh) have an understated approach to writing that centers around good vocal melodies and layers upwards from there.
Deafheaven don't really do that at all - every song is here is super duper oriented around obvious Huge Moments that have more in common with post-rock songwriting than shoegaze. Along with everyone else in the band, Clarke's role is forced towards making those moments larger-than-life, which immediately rubs against his somewhat limited scope as a vocalist. You can feel him straining for them in a way you never would from the og vocalists (whose style is understated even when the music "peaks", which in turn happens more organically or spontaneously than on Deafheaven tracks). Half the time he resorts to screams (GMC esp) I think there's a clear sense that he's compensating for his clean tone because the music is Demanding something more epic, and that to me is a sign that the band are tackling the genre from the wrong standpoint
I don't have rly have a massive issue with his voice, and I agree that Shellstar's whisper crescendo is an innovative way to get around the above. I'd also say In Blur's vocal arrangement is more on the trad shoegaze side of things and does quite well by it. However, I think it's much more representative of his performance in terms of how it's incorporated or what's demanded of it than making snappy whataboutisms over other singers' tone and range specifically. Go back to the likes of J's Heaven or She Found Now; it's not that Clarke doesn't gave the technical ability to make something that mesmerising, but I could never see it happening bc everything about this band's writing is trying too hard
And that is why metalbois don't gaze well and shouldn't post bait comments about classic bands' mumble champions /thread

"To say the vocals here are goofy compared to Nothing, am I not analyzing shoegaze properly or something?"
tl;dr, last comment is more or less applicable to Nothing from what I've heard, so kinda yes

"i think the comparison was more towards the fact both bands gradually removed the black metal influences that gave them something of an identity and ended up with albums (although i do enjoy that alcest one) in which they're forced to rely on one aspect of their sound (shoegaze) and are having to find some way to compensate for that loss to varying degrees of success"

That makes sense, for sure I agree.

Also six you don't have to be so cut about my reply, you literally dropped the name of an album without any thoughts and I interpreted the comparison in a straightforward manner. Not sure why you're so busted up about it. Honestly I don't know why I'm even bothering to justify you with a response.

Album Rating: 3.5

a band took shoegaze and inexplicably mixed it with metal and then finally grew up and dropped it and you dorks are acting like it’s a bad thing

that's probably the one thing no-one [i've paid any attention to] has said in this thread tbh

Album Rating: 3.0

Thank God Johnny's here, I wasn't qualified for that argument.

Album Rating: 3.5

so it’s still metal?

in the same way that musk ox reeks of metal without outright playing it yeah kinda. but fantano's "third wave post-rock human centipede" is also a based and accurate take so idk, take your pick

Album Rating: 3.5

the worst thing about metal has always been the playing of it

what

"a band took shoegaze and inexplicably mixed it with metal and then finally grew up and dropped it and you dorks are acting like it’s a bad thing"

It's less that they grew up and more that they didn't really care for it in the first place which was plainly obvious for ages. Black metal musicians dropping metal entirely is a pretty common routine. Ulver, Alcest, this band, you name it.

"the worst thing about metal has always been the playing of it"

fuken wat

Album Rating: 3.5

bands that can evoke the atmosphere of metal without doing that one specific stupid thing every metal band insists on doing makes them way more original and listenable

"the atmosphere of metal"

lol

what