Album Rating: 2.5

The fretwork is pretty lifeless too, especially in comparison to their previous albums

Album Rating: 3.0

I don't like the vocals but I don't understand how that is such a big deal for so many of you.

The fretwork is pretty lifeless too, especially in comparison to their previous albums

Album Rating: 3.5

I do not despise the vocals as much as some, although I can understand why one might dislike them. That being said, I agree with the point made above, the vocals really aren't what make or breaks an Intronaut record.

I mean, this is a post-metal outfit after all, which generally entails an instrumental focus, with vocals being used only sporadically, which is certainly the case on this record. However the riffs, bass-lines and drumwork are all of fantastic. Not to mention, the production is really quite amazing.

P.S. I've always found terms such as 'lifeless' to be rather platitudinous, especially in relation to more technically complex music such as this. Whether a drummer has 'feel' (or whatever) seems like such an arbitrary and needlessly personal thing, that it becomes a pointless criterium, especially if the production is as good as it is on this release.

Album Rating: 2.5

I completely disagree with that. Post-metal and sludge are very atmospheric genres, and if the guitar/drum passages don't create that mesmerizing effect of immersion then I won't care much for it. The level of technicality hardly matters - okay, you can play your instruments, well done, but can you write a truly engaging piece? Cult of Luna and Neurosis are hardly technical but their prowess in producing a hypnotic experience elevates them to the titan status in the subgenre.



The guitarists have always been pretty meh in this band



Again, hard disagree. They may not write the most complex riffs out there, but the flow on their previous outings was never near as phoned in as here.

Album Rating: 3.5

alex is trying to overdo it on drums. really missing that refined Walker whackiness

Album Rating: 3.0

It's astounding how flat the vocals are on here.



They were easily my least fave thing about TDOLT but the vox on here border on awful.

Album Rating: 3.5

yea vox are whatever but I enjoyed the addition of the keys on here, gave the riffs some accents that they needed and I appreciate that

Album Rating: 3.5

agreed the keys were a nice touch for sure



also the cull may be one of their best songs ever. massive tune

Album Rating: 2.5

How was the gig, wolfe?

Album Rating: 3.5

well the bassist torr his ACL like I mentioned but they played his tracks over the PA which I appreciated. Emma was glorious as usual by herself, had me more stoked for Roadburn. and CoL is my band so I was at the front for the whole thing.

Album Rating: 3.5

@Pikazilla I never said Post-metal and Sludge-metal aren't atmospheric, merely that they tend to focus instrumentation rather than vocal performances. Intronaut certainly has it's atmospheric qualities, even on this record. Conversely, the band has always been less inclined to follow the 'whole is greater than the sum of its parts' mentality, than say a Cult of Luna, Neurosis, Isis or Amenra. They place more of an emphasis on individual displays of dexterity. This needn't necessarily entail an absence of immersiveness if you ask me, however.

If you feel that all post-metal must follow the same meta-aesthetic mentality as a Cult of Luna or Neurosis, sacrificing virtuosic extravagancy, in order to maximize engangement, it suprises me you enjoy listening to this band in the first place. Then again, maybe I've misinterpreted your critiques. I agree that the band's past output is superior to this release, however I can still appreciate this record all the same and find the more proggy tendencies to be what makes Intronaut stand out. I much prefer this type of sound to another ill-fated attempt to copy what Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Isis, Amenra and others do (did) better than anyone in the post-metal scene anyway.

Album Rating: 3.5

The cleans were much better produced in the last three albums. I think they tried to give them a "rawer" sound on this one but it sounds off most of the time. I don't think they sound terrible, though, not like Yellow & Green Baroness at least.



What I regret the most is that Joe is completely wasted on here. How can you have one of the best bassists on metal and leave him in the background? He was far more prominent in earlier releases and I can't figure out if it's because of the production itself or he just wrote simpler riffs this time around. Guitars are good as usual, just more front loaded and drums are ok, I guess. Danny is sorely missing here. Might bump this down.

Album Rating: 2.5

emphasis on individual displays of dexterity



Like I said, that's perfectly fine as long as songs don't feel like random assemblages of drum fills and riffs to me

Album Rating: 3.5

"What I regret the most is that Joe is completely wasted on here. How can you have one of the best bassists on metal and leave him in the background?"



[2] they started doin' it on the last record and it's a big bummer. missin' those sick bass grooves hard

Yeah the rhythm section is truly what made this band amazing for prehist and valley. The vocals and guitar work were great too and emphasized their distinct sound nicely but they were never the focal point.

Album Rating: 3.5

guess they stopped smoking weed as much as they did for prehit-this-oricism and valley of smokeanotherone

Album Rating: 2.5

Defo

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah, the bass could have done with some more prominence, although I'm not sure whether it is a production or song-writing matter.

Album Rating: 3.5

could be that it’s what he wanted to play

Then that would be a song-writing matter...