Album Rating: 3.0

Almost done my 3rd listen and I think less of this than I did the first two times. Here are my main issues and I'm hoping someone can chime in and tell me if they're hearing the same things or if I'm just wrong (which is entirely possible):



1) Dustin's vocals sound muddy/murky, and it is often difficult to understand what he's singing.

2) The mixing in general is bad; rarely are instruments given a chance to shine - everything just gets swept under the rug when the guitars crash in during practically every single chorus.

3) To the point above, every song follows the alt-rock template of quiet verses and maybe some nice bass followed by a guitar explosion to make each chorus seem more affecting than it genuinely is.

4) Practically none of the choruses are catchy (Scavengers, Buried in the Sun are clear exceptions) and the songs themselves aren't interesting enough to overcome that.

5) The whole thing is very sleepy and unenthusiastic like someone trying to wake up from a more boring version of the Water EP but they just can't. This causes the few moments of intensity to feel forced.



I really want to like this and can't figure out if I'm missing the point or if this one just isn't for me. I even liked Palms, but this has been an unmitigated disappointment so far.

Album Rating: 3.0

Tbh I only listened once and didnt care for it, so I can't say I agree with 1 and 2, but I definitely agree with 3-5.

Album Rating: 3.0

I'm no music engineer by any stretch of the imagination, but my closest guess is the guitars would've benefitted from a wider mix to make the bass stand out a lil more.

Album Rating: 3.0

I just know that I like the production on this infinitely better than Palms, which sounded like everything was wrapped in damp toilet paper.

“ Buried in the Sun and Still Life are the best here for me, so far”

Buried in the Sun is one of the worst songs I’ve heard this year and drags my rating down to what it is now

Album Rating: 3.0

In that case, I better stay away from Palms lol. Srsly, this sounds undeniably dry especially in the chorus sections which are supposed to smack you in the face.



There's clearly a pool of bands which these guys draw their influence from and, so far, this comes across to me as a way of saying "man, you like these bands, right? Man, they are so good and therefore you need to check out our own stuff."

Album Rating: 3.5

Buried In The Sun is musically, one of the most engaging things on here for me, but the middle-school level lyrics definitely do it in

Album Rating: 3.5

Northern Lights is a damn good Reign of Kindo song.



Would be interested in hearing the album without any vocals, because I'm starting to realise that Dustin may be the one holding the band back.

on the first couple passes this is where i'm at

color of the sky
northern lights
summer set fire to the rain
scavengers
dandelion wine
the dreamer
still life
robot soft exorcism
buried in the sun
unitive

buried in the sun would have been quite a bit higher were it not for the insipid lyrics

Man this is both the best thing and the worst thing they've put out in a very long time, and it's kind of wild how wide that pendulum swings.

Album Rating: 4.0

Dustin: Buried in the Sun lyrics



Me: But you wrote Beggars! 🤬



Sputnik: You mean he wrote Vheissu. 👞💫🍩

Album Rating: 4.1

") Dustin's vocals sound muddy/murky, and it is often difficult to understand what he's singing.



2) The mixing in general is bad; rarely are instruments given a chance to shine - everything just gets swept under the rug when the guitars crash in during practically every single chorus."



I really don't hear these 2 at all, in fact I think it's their best mix/master since Beggars. the bass in particular sounds fucking divine and I like how Dustin sounds a little rawer than the past 2 overtly glossy and polished album mixes. ie some of this actually sounds like the 4 of them playing music in a room and it rules



"3) To the point above, every song follows the alt-rock template of quiet verses and maybe some nice bass followed by a guitar explosion to make each chorus seem more affecting than it genuinely is."



can't really understand this one either especially with how rigorous they've been with the Octane core radio rock formula on the past 2. this album's pretty diverse; you've got slow-burn songs with a blues influence that build to massive climaxes in Still Life and Dandelion Wine; you've got unexpected uses of time sigs and layering in Robot and Northern Lights; the opener and closer are some art rock shit that don't sound much like anything they've ever done. The only songs I can think of that *do* fit the mould you describe are Summer Set Fire (I allow this one because it provides those Classic Thrice vibes especially the bone-chilling ending) and Buried/Dreamer (these suck but no more than say a middle-tier song on Palms sucks)



"4) Practically none of the choruses are catchy (Scavengers, Buried in the Sun are clear exceptions) and the songs themselves aren't interesting enough to overcome that.



5) The whole thing is very sleepy and unenthusiastic like someone trying to wake up from a more boring version of the Water EP but they just can't. This causes the few moments of intensity to feel forced."



these are purely subjective so I can't really try and counterargue with them, I'll just say I disagree. the choruses on Summer Set Fire and Robot in particular have been in my head for days. that being said it's definitely clear that they sidelined making Big Catchy Singles here in favour of something slightly weirder and more of An Album in the ambitious sense. personal preference naturally but I'm fucking thrilled with that choice

Album Rating: 4.0

Okay does Still Life give anyone else Oceansize vibes? Especially the bassline and the clean guitars early in the song.

Album Rating: 3.0

i feel it tbh, could be something from their first two

but the atmosphere has that hot greasy skin in a cold room feel that can't not evoke deftones above all else

Album Rating: 4.0

Damn Sowing, I easily prefer Dustin's vocals and the production/mix here to the situation on Palms. I was getting worried about Dustin's vocal direction on Palms - his gravelly schtick was verging into cheesy and grating. He really pulled it back round on this one. Also, I'm a drums guy and they sounded so flat and lifeless on Palms. That bass kick... ugh.

The mixing is actually pretty great on this one

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah mixing sounded good to me it's just the base songwriting that felt lacking / like better melodies more diverse structures and better lyrics and i would have loved this album to bits i think

Album Rating: 3.0

@Leland The verse in Still Life actually reminds me of Heart-Shaped Box a lil bit. I also get hints of Soundgarden from the way he phrases his vocal melodies.

Album Rating: 3.0

Maybe mixing is the wrong descriptor then. Everything sounds hazy and difficult to decipher though, whereas on Palms and TBEITBN I could pick out every word. I'd be more okay with this if the music was a melodic/entrancing sort of dreamy, but it's just murky and boring. I can't quite wrap my head around the idea that this sounds rawer/crisper than their last two records.

Album Rating: 4.5

A lot of the reviews don't like Still Life and The Dreamer, whereas they're two of my favourites from the album already. But I think I like every single song on this, even if I could do without some of the lyrics on Buried in the Sun.