Album Rating: 4.0

So I got my player fixed and finally gave this a listen. Is good. Waaay too lush though, some restraint in the production department would've benefited the songs quite a bit.

Album Rating: 4.5

It's been such a long time, so glad to be getting back into this gem. The vocals and atmosphere are too fucking good.

Album Rating: 4.0

Jesus, this really came out in October 2014...?

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

everyone was super hyped about this for 2 months and then forgot about it. myself included. but i just went back and listened again and it's gr8 still so idk why

Album Rating: 4.0

kinda weird reading a 4-star review as a 3 tbh

Album Rating: 4.5

this feels like it came out yesterday

@snake - I don't think it reads like a 4-star review. guess it's kinda arbitrary - I could make it 3.5 or whatever. it grew off me pretty heavily tho; tbh Hogan's review should be flagged at some point

Album Rating: 4.5

Anyone heard the new album yet? I listened to the first half of it and was like, "what the hell happened to their energy and explosive choruses?" It's pretty laid-back indie music this time around. I need to give it more listens. It sounds really nice, 100%. But not sure if the hooks and big choruses are there.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

New album is way less explosive. I'm feeling a 3.5 on it right now, but that could Change for better or worse

Album Rating: 4.5

If that's the case, then they still better play many songs from Bloom and Breathe when I see them live. I need to feel the power in those choruses.

Album Rating: 4.5

New album definitely has a lot more interesting elements than this. Very unique chord progressions; little electronic sounds that pop in and out that are really beautiful; more varied structures and songwriting approaches. I like it. It's definitely more sweet and beautiful than this album but, as I said before, much less grandiose and catchy. It does the exact opposite of get your blood pumping. If their last album was the "Thrice" album, the new one is the "The Antlers" album. If that makes any sense. Or should I say "Vheissu" vs. "Water". I'm only mentioning Thrice because this album saw a fair few comparisons to Thrice in this thread; not just because they're the hot topic at the moment.

Album Rating: 4.5

God damn some of the chord changes in the new album that are borrowed from outside of the key of the song theyre in, just hit me so hard. The song Fade is just stunning and like nothing they've managed before in terms of chord progression. They've definitely been pushing their boundaries harmonically in this new album.



You don't usually get this from bands. Sometimes bands can change their volume or tempo or aggression etc. between albums. I feel like very few bands reinvent themselves in terms of the kinds of progressions they write. It's really hard to break out of a habit in that sense when making music. Most bands have a favourite key or favourite chord change they frequently come back to throughout their career, and that becomes part of their signature sound, but with the new album it feels like Gates have made an effort to reinvent their approach to music theory.



Left Behind as well! These chords popping up everywhere that I'm not expecting and they fit wonderfully. I'm constantly surprised by these songs. Not that they weren't good at using harmony before but I always kind of thought of them as a band that explored and focused on melody and dynamics above everything. It's almost as if they outsourced the harmony on this new album or something. It's a reinvention. Not as much compelling melody or dynamics anymore, which will put off a lot of people and did put me off at first. Such a change of focus. God damn. They really put a lot of work into making this new album sound completely fresh. And in under 2 years as well. Not expected. Definitely a big step in a new direction from Bloom and Breathe. Not as exciting or "fun" but definitely more mature and intelligent.

Album Rating: 4.5

Huh, sounds very promising. It's not that I don't like the soft parts, it's quite the opposite. I just want to hear Not My Blood, Low, and Again At The Beginning + Everything That Always Will Be live.

Album Rating: 4.5

I would defo prefer to hear Bloom and Breathe live over the new album so hopefully you get what you want there.

Album Rating: 3.5

oh cool is their new album out? will listen. havent listened to this in awhile but I remember being really impressed

Album Rating: 4.1

http://www.fuse.tv/2016/05/stream-gates-parallel-lives-album-exclusive-premiere



I haven't been able to listen yet but they posted the stream.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

so the new album doesn't sound 100% like movmou?

Album Rating: 4.5

i should clarify actually that most of what i was talking about with regards to new and experimental progressions is pretty much exclusively in the second half. quite astonishingly theres a drastic shift towards more progressive songwriting and experiments with key changes and borrowed chords. its like the first half is Gates as you know but with the bombast and catchy melodies largely replaced with atmosphere and quiet elegance. then the second half is where it becomes a lot more interesting from a music theory standpoint. quite a drastic evolution in songwriting around the midpoint in the album. so ill say if any of you are listening and feel its a bit of a drag in the first half, keep going and give it a chance. theres a lot of beauty and intrigue in this album. i challenge anyone to predict the direction that Left Behind takes throughout the course of the song. it shifts so many times in so many ways.

Album Rating: 3.5

you should write a review man. sounds like you know what youre talking about

yeah i'd love to see a review from you about it Minty, and you've absolutely convinced me to give it another listen, on my initial listen it just sounded like a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' kinda thing but i listened to it at like 1am doped up on sleeping meds so maybe i should pay it more attention lol