Album Rating: 4.0

Indeed, although I feel as if this album is worth one's time regardless. There are some truly soul-chrushing and emotionally intense moments found on this record which are often worth the wait, even if the waiting time could have been abbreviated.

Album Rating: 2.5

not feelin this one tbh. i'm listenin to derivae rn and liking it a lot more so idk what it is with this record that's not doin' it for me.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

This has excellent replay value. It’s dense but extremely rewarding. The way the clean sections and ambient passages wrap themselves around the music make this one of the more original takes on this style. La casa del diavolo is the best piece of music they’ve ever composed and one of the best heavy tracks in recent years, in my view.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Even as an avid post-metal fan and general listener of 10+ minute songs, this is a beast to get through."

This is 100% me right now. This album felt 2 hours long to me and I have no idea how much I've enjoyed it. There were parts where I dozed out completely and parts where I was pretty interested but now that I'm done with it I don't really recall anything that I just heard. Might come back to it but idk yet.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Yeah put me on Team Overrated.

Album Rating: 4.0

Come now, patience is a virtue. Then again, I just went through the entire Swans discography so maybe I'm projecting. But in all seriousness, this record is amazing, it's just not an easy listen.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Fair enough, I just don't think I need my soul crushed right now.

Album Rating: 4.0

God there's just something about this album that combines everything I love about music.

Album Rating: 3.0

Sounds and feels like a stereotypical album genre 'connoiseurs' will place upon The Pedestal to proclaim their superior understanding of what determines quality and sophistication, which is exactly how the first paragraph reads as well.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

IN A TRAAAAAAAANCEEE

Album Rating: 3.0

I love this so far, every direction they take on this record has me enthralled.

Album Rating: 3.9

@zuzek my dude, went to pains to show how much this came from a place of estrangement with both the genre and The Pedestal; this picnic is v much a bring your own metric

Casa del Diavolo is still tearing it up

This just isn't for me, I suppose...

Yeah the first paragraph in this review made me think this wasn't going to be as boring as it ended up being. Maybe it will grow on me with a few more spins but it definitely feels long.

Album Rating: 4.0

@zuzek Your comment bemuses me. What pedestal, which connoisseurs? This album isn't just for the critics, it should appeal to anyone into pretty great songwriting, compositional dynamism and impressive levels of extremity both emotionally and on the instrumental front. It's great metal music which just so happens to be relatively underground and 'progressive', which doesn't make it merely a connoisseur's game.

@Johnny, just some recs I will offer you to hopefully prove my point that metal wasn't all bad in recent years: the last few Thy Catafalque records (Geometria, Meta), inlcuding the one topping the charts right now, Naiv. There are a few (technical) death-metal outifts that might appeal to you, check out: Rivers of Nihil with Where Owls Know My Name and Horrendous with Idol. If you want something more akin to Nero themselves, one of their big inspirations would be Gorguts, their latest, Colored Sands, one could certainly consider a masterpiece. Finally, perhaps check out the debut release, Asheran, from a band called Dvne. Those are the first few releases that came to my mind, skimming through your ratings (you have great taste btw) as far as they pertain to metal music, although I'm having a hard time pin-pointing your tastes to an exact degree. I hope you'll find something that appeals to you, although I will admit melodic sensibilities might require you to dig a little deeper in the world of metal, especially given that several bands/subgenres tend to place more emphasis on groove and rhythm, compositional dynamics, textures, atmosphere et cetera.

Album Rating: 3.9

Thanks, my dude! Adding these to my checklist and am hyped to see how they pan out ;]

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

zuzek be baiting honestly. If that's not the case it's more than a little sad.

Album Rating: 4.0

@Johnny No problem. I hope you find something appealing, if not, you can also ask Nocte for some recs, especially as far as anything doomy or blackened is concerned; he knows his shit.

@Nocte the bait was too strong. I couldn't resist.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

> I hope you'll find something that appeals to you, although I will admit melodic sensibilities might require you to dig a little deeper in the world of metal, especially given that several bands/subgenres tend to place more emphasis on groove and rhythm, compositional dynamics, textures, atmosphere et cetera.



Gotta admit that was pretty hot.

Album Rating: 4.0

Gotta thank my English teacher for that I suppose...