Album Rating: 4.0

Probably prefer this to Themata now. Good god Aeons is wonderful.

Album Rating: 2.0

Idk, this album was not a “grower” for me. I tried really hard to like it, but at the end of the day I only ended up disliking it more.

What I think it really boils down to is that they were "trying too hard". The way that they try to throw in as many polyrhythms and as much dissonance as possible, at the expense of any hooks at all, just screams "WE'RE PROVING THE HATERS WRONG SEE WE'RE NOT TOO 'POPPY' TO BE TR00 PROG!", but ultimately leaves an album that is really just a chore to listen to.

It's a shame, I really thought they showed a lot of potential on Sound Awake. Now it seems like Soen have usurped them as the reigning kings of "I Can't Believe It's Not Tool" Prog.

Album Rating: 4.0

They do seem to be falling in love with dissonance and polyrhythms. I think that and the choice of production was more them trying not to make a Sound Awake part 2 then trying to be TROO PROG. The songwriting is still solid here though. While it rarely flies to the heights that Sound Awake did, there are no out and out bad songs (some will say The Refusal, but i don't consider that bad at all). In terms of hooks, it's similar to Sound Awake in that the hooks are really more lures that kind of seep into your brain on repeated listens. The chorus in Eidolon, The 'You're new to me' part in Sky Machine and the heavier middle section in Aeons are examples of some great hooks in the album.



I can't wait for some new material from these guys. Aozora/The Great Escape is awesome and makes me more impatient for a new album/E.P

Album Rating: 3.5

Production ruins this. Honestly think it would have been on par with Themata/Sound Awake if it wasn't mixed to horribly.



'Alpha Omega' is one of their best tracks.

Album Rating: 4.5

Don't get the love for "Alpha Omega". That song is a key reason why I didn't rate this a 5. Only other reason is the pointless interludes like the opener and closer.

Album Rating: 3.5

That new song was fantastic.

Album Rating: 4.0

Alpha Omega is a great song but not on that Sky Machine/Aeons level. It's definitely the worst out of the three longer songs on the album.



And yeah, Aozora/The Great Escape has classic Karnivool written all over it. The chorus is epic. I can't wait for them to release a studio version of it.

Album Rating: 5.0

Imo this is is their best album

Album Rating: 4.0

'5 of us in Perth in a small room writing Riffage. Could be worse!'



From their FB page. Oh god yes.

Album Rating: 4.5

I feel like this is a band that can do whatever they want and I will just endlessly consume it.

Album Rating: 2.0

New song sounds better than most of this album.

Album Rating: 4.0

"I feel like this is a band that can do whatever they want and I will just endlessly consume it."



Yeah same. No other band brings out the fanboy in me like these guys.

Album Rating: 5.0

Underrated af.

Album Rating: 4.0

Someone on their FB page asked when they'd release new material and they replied 'next year '. Which means we should get some new stuff in about 3 years.

Album Rating: 5.0

Production is fantastic compared to sound awake..

Which is overcompressed as hell

Album Rating: 2.5

and this aint? lol

Album Rating: 3.5

I keep seeing people use that phrase "over compressed" and it means absolutely nothing to me.



And I find the production on this to be pretty shitty.

Album Rating: 4.0

Probably the same thing as this whole loudness debate. No dynamics because the soft parts are too loud.

Album Rating: 5.0

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/the-loudness-wars-in-numbers-dire-straits-stevie-wonder-van-halen-more.1145405/

The link above gives a nice summary.

And yes this album is also overcompressed to some extent but i haven't noticed much clipping. Unlike Sound Awake. Another example is the new Soen album. Solid material, shitty mastering

Album Rating: 4.0

Some new songs they've been playing live this tour have made their way to YouTube.



'All it takes' - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp8IPPzb7VA



'Animation' - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=neYCS7U57NU



New songs sound great. kind of like a mix of asymmetry and themata. All it takes is like a heavier, more fucked up Goliath and animation is kind of similar to eidolon.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0tUw_V9vVns - they've changed aozora quite a bit too.