I still like it quite a bit, but the more I listen to those two songs in particular, the less I like them.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm looking forward to both of those! I'm still really in love with it, so if I feel like adding another opinion into the mix could help, I might throw together a 4.5 or 5

I'm in the opposite boat...album keeps getting better every time I hear it

Album Rating: 4.9

Yeah I wasn't bored at any point, whole thing is engaging as hell for me. I can see where Brandon is coming from though I guess. m/

I also agree with Brett that some parts feel kind of neutered, but that's not much a negative for me tbh.

Album Rating: 4.0

anything referred to as being neutered sounds quite negative imo

Okay maybe not the right word choice... But... Inoffensive maybe? Like black metal should be scary and have an edge, and I'm totally cool with post-black metal not having that, but it does make the more black metal centric passages feel safe and ineffective to a degree which I think kind of ruins the dichotomy of pitting something like shoegaze or post-rock with black metal.

Album Rating: 4.0

Agree with TheSpirit. Those songs are boring as hell. Also wish the production was as interesting as it was on this beast.

Album Rating: 4.0

black metal is it should have the freedom to be whatever it wants to be. at least that's how I see it. I see your point though, but adding elements of post-rock in bm doesn't necessarily make it ineffective (case, Altar of Plagues - Teethed Glory and Injury). maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but isn't this dichotomy what makes the more aggressive/scary parts more effective to begin with?

"but isn't this dichotomy what makes the more aggressive/scary parts more effective to begin with?"

I think what he's saying is that they no longer sound as scary or aggressive as they could because the production style and reverb and whatnot makes them sound too clean and pretty

Album Rating: 4.9

I mean the production is way cleaner than it is here, but I don't think it detracts from the album. I mean as much as I love this I didn't want a clone of it and he certainly didn't disappoint in that regard.



Also, when comparing to some other "blackgaze" albums I don't think it sounds as pretty, as Scream just said. ;]

I totally agree that black metal should have the freedom to do whatever it likes, and I definitely think there are cases where the shoegaze/post-rock elements don't ruin the black metal edge. I just think in the case of Autumn the production is catering to the shoegaze/post-rock part of sound, so when the black metal parts come in, they don't feel particularly black metal at all. It's no longer the beauty of shoegaze/post-rock against the abrasiveness of black metal, but a smooth ride all the way through, which kind of defeats the purpose imo.

Yes, Simon nailed it. Sorry if I didn't explain it well enough.

Album Rating: 4.5

Why can't you just enjoy it for what it is though? Yea bm typically sounds more evil but maybe that's not what he was going for? Your opinion is yours of course and I respect it, but I sometimes think people get too caught up in a genres technicalities

I would like to enjoy it for what it is, but that's a big reason why i like black metal and why I like most of the blackgaze that I do, so when that dichotomy isn't there, it's kind of ruined for me.

Album Rating: 4.1

I get complaints on the production, some of the more aggressive sections sound pretty muddled if you listen closely. The music itself is fantastic though, and I still prefer it to this overall.

Album Rating: 4.9

It's right up there with this for sure.

It's not necessarily about sounding "evil" but black metal just has a certain energy about it when it's done right. Doesn't matter if it's discordant, melodic, or somewhere in between. This album has the stylistic elements of black metal, but not the feeling. Despite what his intentions were or not, this is clearly a "black metal" album, so it not having that undefinable factor, makes it less enjoyable for me. Take black metal elements outside of the context of black metal and they are boring. That's why it's so hard to do the genre right.

Album Rating: 4.5

Fair enough, i dont necessarily need more of a contrast of the other. I really love the more uplifting parts.

All that being said, the uplifting parts are some of the best in the genre.