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User
Reviews 25
Approval 97%
Soundoffs 10
News Articles 1
Band Edits + Tags 7
Album Edits 2
Album Ratings 656
Objectivity 63%
Last Active 08-03-18 1:18 am
Joined 07-11-16
Review Comments 3,444
| | rec your fav album bros | | 1 |  | Massive Attack
Mezzanine
shamelessly stealing Mk's and Hawks’ ideas cus it’s dope and I need new music for my birthday month!
as the rule goes, one for every day in May. any genre just so long as I haven’t heard it before (please check out my ratings page to verify). GO GO GO! | | 2 |  | Two Lone Swordsmen
Swimming Not Skimming
MAY 1 - jrlikestodance
Starting off with some ambient techno, this one’s a definite throwback to the sounds of the 90s, bringing to mind early Autechre and The Orb. I’ll admit, my tastes for this side of ambient electronica have soured a bit; the sound is dated and the production value is not up to par with what I personally enjoy, particularly the more hectic drum-heavy tunes. But I can appreciate the vibe and mood of the slower ambient cuts like “Azzolini…”. It’s a fine record to chill out to, and there’s some nice house tunes to play in the background, I just don’t see myself returning to it too often.
3.0/5 | | 3 |  | Master P
Ghetto D
MAY 2 - Drifter
Another throwback to the 90s heyday, this time we’re checking out the founder of No Limit Records. I’ll be honest, I’ve heard Master P in the past, and wouldn’t call myself a fan. His flow and lyricism never really impressed me, and his notorious “UUUHHH” ad-lib is one of the most egregious I’ve heard. Unfortunately, this album didn’t do much to change my opinion. I felt bored about halfway through, even though I generally like this kind of G-funk tinged Southern rap, but there was a lack of memorable hooks and melodies as well. Nevertheless, not every rap album needs to reinvent the wheel, and for the most part, the production is decent but a little flat, like a Doggystyle-lite. There’s a few memorable tunes here that I can see myself returning to, such as “We Riders” and “After Dollars, No Cents”.
2.7/5 | | 4 |  | The Damned
The Black Album
MAY 3 - widowslaugh123
Taking it way back to the 80s with some nice punk with gothic and psychedelic touches. I don’t know why I haven’t given The Damned much attention, as I do enjoy post-punk from this era quite a bit and this kinda scratches the same itch. Good energy, catchy melodies, and solid performances here while demonstrating a nice bit of versatility with regards to mood and instrumentation. I like the short, punky cuts here, but the album really piques my interest towards the end when the group’s ambitious songwriting really becomes apparent - the last three songs here are definitely my favorite.
3.6/5 | | 5 |  | Phyllomedusa
Fijian Fantasies
MAY 4 - brickhed
This is tricky, because grind and gorenoise is the kind of sound that I’ve given a chance before, and I always want to keep an open mind when it comes to music, but I truly can’t understand how people can enjoy this. I enjoy noise rock quite a bit myself, but this is just the wrong kind of excessive. I don’t want to be insulting because people do seem to enjoy this, but personally, this is my least favorite production I’ve heard in a long time. Even at a low volume, this was making my head hurt. The burp-singing over the indiscernible music really made me want to skip the entire thing quite soon. “Yasawa Archipelago” had a decent melody and tempo buried under the horrid mix, and the opening skit was genuinely the only thing that I kinda liked, but everything else here genuinely irritated me. I guess I can give it points for the interesting theme of being stranded on an island, and the exotic interludes sprinkled in. Sorry, don’t think I’ll hear this again.
1.5/5 | | 6 |  | Smoke City
Flying Away
MAY 5 - mkmusic1995
Some atmospheric trip-hop that’s cut from the cloth of lounge/chill-out music. This seems to ride the wave of the 90’s trip-hop boom a la Sneaker Pimps. It’s nice, inoffensive stuff, and is probably something I’d have in the background while… hanging with my lady friends, so thanks for that! The singer complements the music nicely with her sensual approach, though her off-the-cuff delivery can be a bit corny at times. Not the most groundbreaking or interesting stuff, but I appreciate the ground covered here, exploring Brazilian music under the disguise of trip-hop. It’s a good vibe, particularly the second half.
3.1/5 | | 7 |  | Sage Francis
Personal Journals
MAY 6 - Slothcore Sam
Hmm.. not sure how to feel about this one. Haven’t heard of this guy before but he’s clearly respected in the underground, and I can see why, he’s got lyricism and a machine-gun flow. This just comes down to personal taste, but I’m not really a fan of that breathless, run-on flow displayed here by Sage, and his delivery kinda reminds me of Lloyd and Peter from Epic Rap Battles of History, so make of that what you will. The beats are solid but not anything that really captured me, but perhaps I need more time with this. Hip-hop is perhaps the hardest genre to review quickly, there’s just too much to take in. The songwriting here isn’t exactly memorable, though there’s definitely a few choice cuts here. It’s a bit boring, but perhaps repeated listens will rectify that. Cool stuff, just not the kind of hip-hop I prefer.
3.0/5 | | 8 |  | Caligula's Horse
In Contact
MAY 7 - Zac124
Some nice prog metal here that manages to balance technical prowess with good songwriting and an ear for melody. I love Jim Grey’s voice, he imbues the music with a beauty that contrasts nicely with the heavy and hectic instrumentals. My biggest complaint with modern prog is the saccharine sheen of overproduction and cacophonous mastering, but this doesn’t suffer much from it - this has great clarity and good dynamic range. The album also seems to follow a compelling narrative (shoutout to JDubb’s review and cool interpretation). Very nice stuff here, though the replay value is yet to be ascertained. I really dig tracks 3 and 5 in particular. The album’s generic proggisms are sparse but apparent; nonetheless, it’s nice to hear passion and virtuosity at this level.
3.5/5 | | 9 |  | David Bowie
Outside
MAY 8 - gabba
I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest Bowie fanatic though I’ve definitely tried to be. I respect his ideas, ingenuity, and influence, but they’ve never really translated into enjoyable music for me personally. Did Outside sway my opinion? Well, there’s actually some great stuff here that I did enjoy and may revisit. The record screams “90s zeitgeist” with its flavors of art rock, trip-hop and industrial, bringing to mind Radiohead, Massive Attack and NIN. This automatically makes me a fan; so the obvious problem here is the duration. There’s a lot of fat to be trimmed (some unpleasant segues here, and some experiments kinda lose me) that takes away from the moments that are truly enjoyable. However, I’d like to give it the benefit of the doubt; the production, songwriting, and wealth of dark and avant-garde ideas present here definitely captured my interest, and I would like to hear more of this side of Bowie.
3.5/5 | | 10 |  | Poets of the Fall
Jealous Gods
MAY 9 - arthropod
Man, this is another tough one… there’s nothing WRONG with this record, it just feels like I’m hearing a very overproduced Top 40 Alt Rock chart like 97.1 The Eagle or something. I do like the singer’s voice and the first few songs I enjoyed - good performances, melodies, and songwriting. Maybe I’d enjoy this a decade ago, but it feels like slightly boring alternative rock repackaged to be extra shiny and polished. Towards the middle I just wanted to hear something else. There’s an aura of glam-rock cheesiness and most songs seem to be power-ballads. I will say, the singer’s voice is very good and unique, and is definitely the star of the show. Daze is a very cool tune. Also cool that these guys are associated with Alan Wake, I remember my cousin couldn’t get enough of that game like 15 years ago.
3.1/5 | | 11 |  | Cradle of Filth
Dusk... and Her Embrace
MAY 10 - Hawks
Ah, black metal, ye slippery minx. I like the music here, the performers are clearly talented and know how to craft a good song. But man, most of my attention was captured by the vocals, which were just not my cup of tea. Combining the hideous bat shrieks with the zombified Peter Steele-lite vocals was certainly an interesting combination… did it work for me? I wouldn’t say so. I did like the respite provided by the female voice, and I feel bad for rating this one, because it clearly has a devoted audience, which I just happen to not be a part of. I thought I was hearing a Looney Tunes sketch play over these well-produced metal instrumentals and it kinda broke my heart while simultaneously making me chuckle. It turned the entire experience into a tonally awkward comedy. If you’re gonna sing about doom and death, don’t enlist Taz and Professor Snape! A bit tragic, because again, the music here is impressive, though the aesthetic is quite kitschy.
2.7/5 | | 12 |  | Meshuggah
Destroy Erase Improve
MAY 11 - NexCeleris
Now we’re talking! This is an album that was actually on my bucket list; I really love Nothing and Obzen’s cool too. This one might be the best though. When it comes to rhythmic technicality + heavy brutality, these guys are untouchable. What a rhythm section, man! Their grooves seriously put me in a transcendental state, and the dissonant harmonies here ranging from beautiful to terrifying definitely help. The production is also virtually flawless, there’s remarkable clarity and harmony between each instrument without forsaking the seismic heaviness, and the guitar tones and Jens’ monstrous roars are also unsurprisingly excellent. If someone called this jazz metal, I wouldn’t disagree, the execution here is incredible. If you’ve played in a band, you can just tell this is greatness. Definitely gonna expedite that scheduled deep dive. Fantastic record across the board.
4.2/5 | | 13 |  | Deeds of Flesh
Reduced to Ashes
MAY 12 - Jurtz
This is a pleasant surprise on the list since they feature the “grind” tag in their description, so I didn’t think I’d dig it at all really. I’m not a huge death metal fan aside from, well, the masters, Death. But the riffs here are definitely good, great texture and melodies. The production on the drums is a mixed bag, but I kinda warmed up to it - the snare brought to mind some crazed villager banging on pots and pans, it was interesting though did get a bit irritating. Now the guttural vocals, which are a style I’m still getting used to, actually worked alright for me here. I do wish there was more bass and low-end presence. I’m of the opinion that slower metal genres like doom or stoner are “heavier”, and I prefer them more, but the brutality and production here was a nice different flavor. It did get a bit homogenous rather quickly, but it’s much more listenable than I expected it to be.
3.3/5 | | 14 |  | This Will Destroy You
This Will Destroy You
MAY 13 - budgie
Ah post-rock, another tricky minx. All about that crescendo, baby; the buildup and subsequent payoff. When it’s done well, it can be the very best kind of music. But when it isn’t, which usually is the case to my ears, it can be navel-gazey self-indulgent tosh. However, these fellow Texans did alright on this record. This music definitely takes me to great places in my mind - like the rocky beaches of Pakistan. Does it get boring? Of course, but that’s a given with almost any post-rock record for me. Tracks 2 and 3 were my favorites; I wish they explored the ambient-drone territory of the former a bit more. The production definitely feels like a relic of the atrocious “loudness wars” era - the over-compressed drums in particular sound very ugly, like broken glass, so that’s a minus. However, the demonstration of guitar-pedal trickery, combined with some genuinely pretty melodies makes for a decent enough record.
3.3/5 | | 15 |  | Kauan
Sorni Nai
MAY 14 - Chippe
I’m kinda disappointed in myself because I don’t think I’ve ever checked out a Russian artist. Well, this record was a great first exposure. Kauan are advertised as atmospheric doom metal, but there’s actually some inspiring and beautiful stuff contained here, despite the harrowing backstory of this concept album. I love the aesthetic here, from its album cover conjuring images of the Russian landscape, to the images described in the lyrics. The compositions and arrangements here are dope, and the way heavy guitars coexist with sweeping strings and gorgeous keys is done very well. I dig the approach here with the male and female vocals switching between singing and growling. The production gives the record a massively spacious and wintry quality, which is very fitting. I think my favorite section was At into Khot. I will say, I have to be in a specific mood to enjoy this, and it meanders just a bit, but it’s a fascinating and mysterious record executed well.
3.7/5 | | 16 |  | The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
MAY 15 - Tundra
This might be the one that gets me crucified. Of course I’ve heard this record, but the reason I’ve refrained from rating such a lauded record is the same reason I haven’t rated The Beatles’ output; I just don’t get it. It’s always felt like a collection of show-tunes or a Disney film soundtrack, which isn’t a bad thing, but I don’t understand how that warrants the superlative praise this gets. All that aside, I do still enjoy it; the harmonies and melodies here are very sweet, and the charm and uplifting spirit of the record is undeniable. Yes, the production is indeed great for its time, but I honestly prefer their other records to this one, particularly the excellent Sunflower. I do appreciate the vibe and songwriting, but I also feel a little bored towards the end. Still, these guys could harmonize! Call me basic, but the most famous ones here are my favorites; “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows” are truly terrific songs.
3.5/5 | | 17 |  | Last Days of Humanity
Putrefaction in Progress
MAY 16 - cylinder
Just read my review for no. 5. This is my least favorite genre of music. This one is even worse, it truly annoys me because it seems to take pride in being awful, as evidenced by the titles. Yeah, yeah, that’s the point and all, but intention ≠ quality. Maybe the production is a tad better, but that’s an extremely low bar for this godforsaken genre. They’re even shitting in the songs! How can I be kind to this? They should play this in Guantanamo Bay confinement rooms.
1.3/5 | | 18 |  | Cows
Daddy Has A Tail!
MAY 17 - mryrtmrnfoxxxy
What the fuck is this? And why do I enjoy it? Noisy punk with extremely irreverent surrealist humor; this feels like a hilarious bad trip. From the first track’s declaration of “Yo girl, I love it when you make my asshole bleed”, I thought it’d be a juvenile and irritating record. But man, sonically, this is kinda faultless. I adore the production here, it’s a perfectly noisy orgy of distortion and fuzz, and the energetic performances fit the loony lyrics, but are executed so well. This really feels like the punkiest punk I’ve heard in a minute - these guys don’t give a fuck about creating something meaningful/artsy, but they rock the fuck out and create fun tunes, and that in itself, to me, is the essence of punk. It kinda brings to mind classic 90’s Cartoon Network, like the Gangrene Gang covering In Utero in Ed, Edd, n Eddy’s cul-de-sac. The aesthetic doesn’t always land, but there’s excellent songwriting - I think I saved every song to my library.
3.9/5 | | 19 |  | Cunninlynguists
Oneirology
MAY 18 - Rowhaus
This record is, on paper, very impressive. Solid production, good cast of features, interesting concept. But again, kinda boring, man. The lyricism here just isn’t on par with the production, which disappointed me because I’ve heard a lot about these guys. It just felt very amateurish to me in delivery, generic to the point of corny. Some of the lines in Enemies with Benefits? Sex cougar? Fuck-goggles? Sad, because that beat was my favorite. Several songs like Stars Shine Brightest are lyrically platitude-filled montage-fillers with cool beats. A lot of the hooks could’ve been improved. While the production was solid, it had that extra squeaky-clean feel that screams FL Studio, which is not the kind of hip-hop I prefer - this record lacks edge, but insists it has it. I can see myself enjoying this in the future, it’s still decent, especially the first third. This could’ve been one of my favorites, but the execution’s just clunky for me.
3.2/5 | | 20 |  | Acid Bath
When the Kite String Pops
MAY 19 - Scoot
Another tricky one that I’ve actually heard most of. On paper, I should love this, the production and compositions here are pretty great. But the overall aesthetic and lyricism here just screams ostentatious middle-school shock rock. The juvenile obscenities make it hard for me to take this seriously, but the intensely dark themes explored here are also nothing to take lightly, so the tone of this record is very weird. It just makes me feel uneasy, and not the “oh I actually kinda like how disturbing this is” kind of uneasy, so I personally don’t think I’ll return to it much. It just seems in poor taste. Criticisms aside, there are some great performances here and some songs I may return to. I dig the melding of their grungy and sludgy sounds, and the singer isn’t half-bad either. I think I’d have dug this more about a decade ago. As a whole though, it’s not something I would call myself a big fan of.
3.0/5 | | 21 |  | Gridlock
Formless
MAY 20 - mystagogus
Similar to the previous ambient record I did, this one is kind of a mixed bag for me. I think I would have dug it a lot a decade ago. I made the mistake of hearing this when trying to go to sleep, thinking it’d be a nice, calm record… nope. My ears got raped by the distorted and spastic percussive production here, and even when I was in the right headspace to hear this, I couldn’t get past that. The mix just wasn’t for me, the harsh beats didn’t coalesce with the synths and pads for me, and the songwriting wasn’t interesting enough to pull me in. It just felt like standard 90s IDM to me. I did like the post-industrial elements to an extent, but I was mostly bored listening to this.
2.9/5 | | 22 |  | Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas
Mariner
MAY 21 - DType
Heard a lot about this album, and I’m a bit torn. The songwriting is great here, each track is like a lumbering colossus with great riffs and progressions. The mix kinda hurt my ears, and would benefit from some clarity and stereo separation, and way less compression. The collaboration between the two vocalists is definitely interesting and serves the music well, but they’re not perfect; Julie’s screams are a bit rough, and she just sounds a bit too much like a pop star at points. The male vocalist(s?) was slightly better; I wasn’t a huge fan of his shouted delivery, his cleans in the penultimate track were more interesting to me. The bookends are my favorite tracks here. I don’t know what it is, but this album doesn’t emotionally resonate with me as much as I’d like it to, which might be because of the production, though I do like the electronic and ambient touches here. Still a good listen.
3.4/5 | | 23 |  | Morphine
Cure for Pain
MAY 22 - Butkuiss
Is alternative jazz a thing? I’m an idiot, I remember checking these guys out years ago in high school and digging them, but for whatever reason I never heard a full album after hearing Buena. This is just 37 minutes of pure cool that SCREAMS 90s. The production here is just immaculate; as much as I love the expressive sax playing here, I gotta show love to the bass - what an incredible tone! The drumming is also fantastic, I love the brushed strokes and hits, very technical yet very fitting playing. Mark Sandman’s voice and bass-playing is excellent, and he brings to mind a contemporary Sinatra. Funnily enough, this really reminded me of the astoundingly good soundtrack of the beloved Hey Arnold! It’s like being in a dirty urban dive bar, yet it’s just so easy on the ears. It does get a bit same-y, and I would have liked some more variety. A bit of a one-trick pony, but the trick warrants repeated listens. RIP, Mr. Sandman.
3.7/5 | | 24 |  | Tommy Wright III
Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust
MAY 23 - Hawks (2)
This might be the most interesting entry here. Lo-fi hip-hop done right, with the right kinda edge and mystique. It feels like hip-hop’s SAW 85-92. I feel like I cooked up these beats on my 8-track and SP-1200, free-styling in my rundown Dodge minivan in the backseat with my friends before doing a hit. Takes me back to the times I could’ve been arrested with my hoodlum friends - legendary. The flowetry presented like voicemails fits these eerie and badass beats really well. The ghostly production truly is a double-edged sword, and that’s what makes the record so interesting. Sure, this could sound better in higher fidelity as it sounds paper-thin at times, but the sound oddly fills out in the whip! This has the inimitable grit and conviction that’s truly missed in today’s rap. Even if it’s flawed it captures the essence of hip-hop in many ways, and I revisit it a lot. Someone review this (I’d be glad to be the first)!
4.3/5 | | 25 |  | Bisbaye
Gestalt
MAY 24 - brickhed (2)
Damn, this one has almost no digital presence - I tried Spotify, YouTube, and even the nerdiest of all music sites, RYM, and this only had 9 ratings! Which is a shame, because this is my kind of metal. Erratic polyrhythms, spiraling crunchy guitar lines, and an awesome rhythm section keeping everything locked in. This brought to mind King Crimson, Intronaut, and Porcupine Tree, so I have a big soft spot for it. The jazzy melodies and ghost notes here really caught my ear. The production here is also very adequate, great tones, mixing, and use of stereo separation, though I do wish there was just a bit more low-end oomph and grit - the suite had a snarling, monstrous bass tone and a doom-y section, and was hence my favorite part of the album. There were times when it got a bit overwhelming and a bit too math-y, but for the most part, this is awesome stuff. Music like this makes me wanna take up drumming again. Deserves way more exposure.
3.9/5 | | 26 |  | Gojira
The Way of All Flesh
MAY 25 - NexCeleris (2)
I don’t know what it is about Gojira, they make great music, but I never really crave their music. They’re like grumpy ecologists doing preachy metal, reminding me that the planet is dying and it’s my fault, and it kinda bums me out. Kidding aside, it is a bit hard for their music to emotionally resonate with me. But a lot of what’s here is impressive. The production, the performances, the musicianship; it reminds me of why I was so wowed when I saw them live with Deftones years ago. There’s moments when I do get a bit bored, because I think the songwriting is a tad homogenous, so I appreciate songs that switch it up like “A Sight to Behold” and “The Art of Dying”. Some songs do drag a tad bit, and the record would definitely benefit from trimming; 75 minutes is a bit tedious. I wish it was just a bit more ear-wormy.
3.4/5 | | 27 |  | Requin chagrin
Semaphore
MAY 26 - budgie (2)
Glittery saccharine French dream-pop. Agh, this just screams vacuous Instagram-story energy to me. It’s not bad, but it really fails to elicit any emotion out of me other than mild irritation. If I was a ditzy high-school girl, this might be the kind of music I worship. All those haterisms aside, there’s nothing really wrong with this. It’s pretty stuff and the production’s ok. It’s just not my thing. Dream pop has always screamed style over substance to me, the novelty of the aesthetic kinda wears off if the songwriting isn’t strong enough, and that’s what happens here. I got bored and irritated relatively quickly. Might be something I play when I’m with a girl or something my sister might enjoy, so I get the appeal, but it’s just not for me.
2.7/5 | | 28 |  | The Midnight
Monsters
MAY 27 - NudeTayne
Another style over substance affair, this has some nice production but it feels like just another 80s-pop revival effort with nothing really interesting to say. Again, the songwriting here is just not strong or memorable, and a lot of the lyrics and the overall execution is just cheesy to me, especially with the lyrics and vocal delivery. It brings to mind Ed Sheeran doing a throwback record. This kind of music has a lot of potential, but this just feels so neutered and sterile to me. Now I can’t front, I REALLY like one song here, “America Online”, some perfectly fine synth-pop with a Kavinsky-esque vocal filter. “Night Skies” is similar, and also solid. The rest sounds like disposable influencer montage music from the last decade to me.
2.7/5 | | 29 |  | Three 6 Mafia
Mystic Stylez
MAY 28 - bach
Yes, yes, of course I’ve heard this before. But I was young and it legitimately terrified me and I just didn’t hear the whole thing. Now that I’ve grown a pair and revisited it, yes, I can see why it’s the king of horrorcore. Every rapper here brings their A-game with their inventive cadences, flows, and rhymes, and the production team of DJ Paul and Juicy J does a FANTASTIC job. I’ve heard lots of scary records spanning various genres, but this stands out. The way these guys manage to create this horrifying, atmospheric music and still manage to make it memorable and catchy enough to bump in the whip? No wonder this is one of the most influential rap albums of all time, modern trap probably wouldn’t exist without it. Sure, it can get a bit one-note and a couple of songs are duds, but the highs here are HIGH, and for the most part, this is a landmark of 90s music, and one of the spookiest records I’ve heard.
4.2/5 | | 30 |  | Alpha Wann
Une Main Lave l'Autre
MAY 29 - dedex
This one is in a bit of an unfortunate position, the French language is not one of my favorites phonetically - it works well in the pop context, but hearing someone rap in it just feels awkward, like they’re threateningly spitting at me. I obviously can’t get what he’s saying, and not that that’s a knock on the record’s quality, it just obviously fails to elicit any emotion out of me. The beats are pretty cool, but usually not interesting enough to offset the aforementioned complaints. It feels well put together, so I wanna give it the benefit of the doubt. I can see the appeal for sure, but it’s just not for me.
2.7/5 | | 31 |  | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
MAY 30 - JohnnyoftheWell
Finally gave this a long overdue listen, I think I skimmed it a long time ago. This is metal with lots of different flavors, genres, and styles. The arrangements, progressions, performances, moods, musicality; it’s an impressively eclectic mix done well. Horns, Rhodes keys, and strings alongside cavernously heavy guitars? Nice. This thing has a haunting yet comforting atmosphere, like spelunking in dark, hot springs. This is what I think Grace by Jeff Buckley would be, were it a prog-metal experiment. The melodies and textures here are colorful and compelling, and elicit a great deal of emotions. Now, it can definitely get a little too highfalutin and drag quite a bit. I’m also not entirely sold on the vocals. But still, it’s a truly unique and varied experience, which we need more of in metal.
3.7/5 | | 32 |  | Atheist
Unquestionable Presence
MAY 31 - TheArtofTheGanja
This was recommended me to lots - I can see why. This is like a combination of Rush + Death showing the music world how it’s done. Every musician here is essentially a master of his craft, not only is there insane technical proficiency displayed here, but each song is passionate and memorable. Some of these lyrics are so very thought-provoking and really interesting, and they were delivered excellently by the growl of Kelly Schaefer. The jazzy rhythms and melodies were fantastic and threw my mind for a loop but managed to keep me head-banging, which is a huge plus in my book. The production for 1991 is great - very heavy yet clear, and the way the bass is EQ’d so prominently here makes me happy. The whole record is terrific, features unimpeachable guitarwork, incredible basswork, and inventively relentless drumming.
Must-hear for metal.
4.3/5 | |
Flashmobba
04.28.25 | will start updating as soon as I can with a short review and rating, rec your favorites homigos! | jrlikestodance
04.28.25 | Two Lone Swordsmen - Skimming Not Swimming (: | Drifter
04.28.25 | Master P - Ghetto D | widowslaugh123
04.28.25 | The damned-black album | brickhed
04.28.25 | man there are too many of these
Phyllomedusa - Fijian Fantasies | widowslaugh123
04.28.25 | I like them! It’s a good way to learn about others tastes | brickhed
04.28.25 | true enough, just a lot to keep track is a better way to put it | mkmusic1995
04.28.25 | Hell yeah bro!
Smoke City - Flying Away | Flashmobba
04.28.25 | it is indeed the best list idea I’ve come across on this site lol
also please try to rec albums with more ratings, I’m glad to do these but a bit more well-known ones would be nice too | brickhed
04.28.25 | we need attention from the underdogs, the database demands it | jrlikestodance
04.28.25 | Agreed brickhed, its why im always reccing genres like Electronic/dance, hip hop and R&B | Drifter
04.28.25 | my album went multi platinum it's just not popular on this site. huge in the culture tho | SlothcoreSam
04.28.25 | Sage Francis - Personnel Journals | brickhed
04.28.25 | yeah it seems to be a hood classic based on my research | Zac124
04.28.25 | Caligula's Horse - In Contact | gabba
04.28.25 | You don’t have Bowie’s Outside rated. Have you heard that one? If not, here’s your chance : ] | arthropod
04.28.25 | Poets Of The Fall - Jealous Gods
Alt rock. Listen, rate it high and don't look at the number of ratings. | Hawks
04.28.25 | Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace | NexCeleris
04.28.25 | Well-known, huh? How about
Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve | Jurtz
04.28.25 | Deeds of Flesh - Reduced to Ashes | budgie
04.28.25 | this will destroy you - this will destroy y ou | Chippe
04.28.25 | Kauan-Sorni Nai, band needs more love | arthropod
04.28.25 | Meshuggah, Meshuggah everywhere... | Tundra
04.28.25 | The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds | cylinder
04.28.25 | Last Days of Humanity - Putrefaction in Progress
| mryrtmrnfoxxxy
04.28.25 | hbd check cows - daddy has a tail | Rowhaus
04.28.25 | Cunninlynguists - Oneirology | SuzyC
04.29.25 | Pretty much impossible for me to choose My Favorite one album. There are more than several bands with more than one great album. Some of my favorite bands: Rush, Voivod, Killing Joke, Cocteau Twins, Kauan, Galneryus, Violet Cold, Crow Black Sky, Camel, The fin., Extol, Tyr, Gamma Ray...I could easily list another thirteen bands. | Flashmobba
04.29.25 | just one Suzy, think of your absolute favorite that you think I’ll like the most, I like a handful of the bands you’ve listed!
again, happy to do the less rated ones, but I won’t pull any punches in my reviews :) | Scoot
04.29.25 | acid bath - when the kite string pops | mystagogus
04.29.25 | Gridlock - Formless | brickhed
04.29.25 | very based rec cylinder | DType
04.29.25 | Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - Mariner | Flashmobba
05.02.25 | updated! gonna try and spend as much time with each record so the review will probably be posted midnight the next day, keep the recs coming¡ | budgie
05.02.25 | budgie | Flashmobba
05.04.25 | keep em coming guys!! | Flashmobba
05.04.25 | sorry brickhed, I tried
if anyone else has any grind in this list you may switch it out for something else
give me your 5s people, not decent albums that you think deserve more ratings | jrlikestodance
05.04.25 | Shame 2 wasn't much of a hit. It's one of my all time fav techno/electro albums | Flashmobba
05.04.25 | it was nice! been hearing it more and it’s a good vibe for sleep
these ratings are obviously tentative so I may change these around once they grow on me | widowslaugh123
05.04.25 | Glad you liked the black album. Definitely check the damned other stuff they got a lot of good records | Hawks
05.04.25 | You're gonna hate mine I can already tell damn lol. | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | @widows great rec man, been hearing it today and it’s such an easy listen
@hawks ahah vocals and production are definitely a make or break, feel free to change the suggestion though! | Hawks
05.05.25 | Nope I wanna see your thoughts. Production rules but vocals are a tossup lol. | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | spoiler alert bud, it’s leaning closer to break lol | Drifter
05.05.25 | hahaha totally understandable. it was a long shot but that album is absolutely fantastic to me. definitely an acquired taste as with the rest of No Limit’s stuff. | Hawks
05.05.25 | Damn son. | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | drift you’re one of the hip-hop connoisseurs of the site, ima check out the rest of your 5s since we share quite a few | brickhed
05.05.25 | its okay you didn't like the over the top gorenoise album
sucks that vocals and production is what you mostly care about, wish i knew that before i rec'ed you the album that cares little about those two | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | if you have another recommendation I’ll be happy to include it, still quite a few spots open here | Butkuiss
05.05.25 | One of many favourites, but check Morphine - Cure for Pain | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | ooh remember hearing a bit of that back in high school, excited to revisit it | Hawks
05.05.25 | Tommy Wright III - Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust
If we're allowed to double dip on recs. :] | brickhed
05.05.25 | Ruins - Hyderomastgroningem | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | added! | Hawks
05.05.25 | WOOOO!!! | budgie
05.05.25 | U CANT DO 2 RECS THAT CHEAEATTTINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | guess im a softie
it’s my list yo!! | NexCeleris
05.05.25 | In that case... Not really a personal fav anymore, but here's a band that's missing from your ratings:
Gojira - From Mars to Sirius | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | not to sound pedantic, but I’d really rather do something you still consider a favorite
but dang I really should update my ratings, I’ve heard a fair bit of Gojira ever I saw em live with deftones | NexCeleris
05.05.25 | Yeah, your Deftones ratings are what made me rec that album in the first place. Thought it'd be a good fit and consider it to be excellent, but if you insist on "favorite":
Gorguts - Obscura
Still think you'd have gotten more mileage out of the og rec, but ig if you've heard a fair bit, chances are you already know it.
| Flashmobba
05.05.25 | oh gosh, I’ve heard that one too but honestly im really not a fan of that kinda metal, it didn’t feel right rating it
you know what, I’ll include the gojira one, it’s been a minute and it’ll be nice to revisit | NexCeleris
05.05.25 | Haha, that's what I had figured.
Really prefer Mars to Flesh, although that's a good one, too. Have you heard Terra Incognita and/or The Link? If not, maybe check one of those two instead? | budgie
05.05.25 | U CANT DOUBLE REC!!!! | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | @nex pretty sure I did a skim through their entire discography after I saw em live, I dig them but somehow they lack that emotional resonance I feel with deftones, I’ll stick with this one since ive heard it’s their best
@budgie I’ll let you triple rec if you stop whining | budgie
05.05.25 | if i cant whine then i have nothing | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | you’re a budgie not a seagull | budgie
05.05.25 | requin chagrin - semaphore | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | hmmm ill think about it | budgie
05.05.25 | dwight u ignorant slut | NudeTayne
05.05.25 | budgie i literally rec'd #1 in music channel | budgie
05.05.25 | ya teardrop is a sick track i preciate it | NudeTayne
05.05.25 | okay well play homeworld 2 then | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | @budgie LMAO just trying to enforce your very own rule here homie
@nude good taste my guy, any recs you have for me?
#1 is the benchmark 5 by which im judging everything else
| budgie
05.05.25 | this is betrayals on the levels that NO ONE has ever seen | NudeTayne
05.05.25 | what recs you need my man? | Flashmobba
05.05.25 | any album you think is a 5 or 4.5 that I might enjoy, ill add it to the list | NudeTayne
05.05.25 | The Midnight - Monsters is a pretty solid album, 4.5 imo | bach
05.05.25 | Three Six Mafia - Mystic Stylez | dedex
05.05.25 | Alpha Wann - Une Main Lave l'Autre | brickhed
05.05.25 | Wait hold up
I'm not sure if it's can change my rec but if I could it would be Bisbaye - Gestalt
I keep forgetting to rec it for these lists but I would say it's their best album. | Drifter
05.05.25 | haha let me know what you think if you do Flashmobba, I'd be happy to hear what you think of any of them | JohnnyoftheWell
05.05.25 | is this full
kayo dot - choirs of the eye | Egarran
05.05.25 | Man, what happened to flashmobs? | brickhed
05.05.25 | flashed the mob, paid the price | Flashmobba
05.06.25 | apologies fellers, will get to updating right away
think there’s 1 spot left, might continue this to next month | Zac124
05.08.25 | Glad to see you enjoyed Caligula's Horse! Definitely an album that gets even better each listen. | brickhed
05.08.25 | man is just not finding his fix in his list | Flashmobba
05.09.25 | @zac the hands are the hardest is one of my favorite songs I’ve done so far!
@brickhed ahah it’s all good mayn, I did a skim of a lot of these and there’s some records here that I really enjoy, you’ll see ;)
officially 24 guys, memento mori
| brickhed
05.09.25 | congrats, you are one year closer to the inevitable fate of death | Flashmobba
05.09.25 | dang im kinda glad, shid does not get any easier
least theres still good music around | JohnnyoftheWell
05.09.25 | is fucking caligula's horse the month frontrunner so far lmao | TheArtofTheGanja
05.09.25 | atheist - unquestionable presence | Flashmobba
05.09.25 | @johnny I believe The Damned is the frontrunner so far, but the CH record was solid! do you not like it?
@art thanks! that’s all for this month folks, thanks for playing | gabba
05.09.25 | I’m glad you dug Outside! I agree that this album has the timestamp of the era, and it also may feel bloated at times, but it holds a special place in my heart, and converted me to a Bowie fan (fanatic? not sure) for good. | Ectier
05.09.25 | Fakl of Efrafa - Inle | arthropod
05.09.25 | You summed up my rec perfectly, though that slightly boring alt rock style is exactly what I like about it. Feels calm and melancholic enough to be endearing and to excuse the jarring bits, and energetic and varied enough to (mostly) avoid being boring.
Do those "first few songs you enjoyed" include Brighter Than The Sun? It's an all-discog standout to me. | brickhed
05.09.25 | hawks be ready for flash to 3.0 your favorite album | Flashmobba
05.09.25 | @arthropod I can definitely see the appeal! that song was actually one of the main culprits of the radio sound lol, I thought I switched on to the country channel or sumn
@brickhed hey no one can predict my scores | Emim
05.09.25 | Some bangers coming up | Flashmobba
05.09.25 | indeed, though I think my favorites and least favorites may surprise some people | brickhed
05.09.25 | i'm givin you shit dawg its ight
i am interested on your take on meshuggah at this point | Flashmobba
05.10.25 | sorry hawky, I still love you
| brickhed
05.10.25 | literally called it
i'm not going to lie you're the harshest when it comes to these lists, i find it funny nothing has cracked a 4.0. not saying i don't like it. | Flashmobba
05.10.25 | lol I may be a tad particular, but fret not, there’s quite a few 4’s coming up in the remaining weeks
honestly one of them might end up becoming one of my all time favorites | Chippe
05.10.25 | Should be kauan:D | Flashmobba
05.10.25 | can neither confirm nor deny that :) | DType
05.11.25 | Dang these albums are getting smoked | Hawks
05.11.25 | The harsh words against the almighty Dani Filth are not going over well. | Flashmobba
05.11.25 | cmooon it was kinda funny 😁 | Hawks
05.11.25 | Lol I'm just messing around bro. | TheArtofTheGanja
05.11.25 | i hope he digs atheist
some of the greatest guitar work of all time there | Flashmobba
05.11.25 | shi I might love it, might hate it
only sure thing is, ima give you my word when i rate it | Flashmobba
05.11.25 | we’ve officially broken the plateau, Nex cooked tf up! | brickhed
05.11.25 | no way that as soon as he gets to meshuggah he completely flips the script
this man's music taste is quite mysterious as much as it is picky | Flashmobba
05.11.25 | ahah cmon it’s the shugg
to be fair, a lot of these records have been pretty niche | Hawks
05.11.25 | Shug is the best. | brickhed
05.11.25 | yeah not hating on meshuggah just surprised that it was the one that made you crack | brickhed
05.11.25 | also now hoping you'll like bisbaye since they're like meshuggah but taken to 11 and instrumental. | Flashmobba
05.11.25 | damn that’s high praise, got me excited! that album’s very underground too isn’t it? | brickhed
05.12.25 | yeah its absolutely criminal how underground they are. but i heard the founder/bassist always wanted it to be "down low". found them on a math rock blog years ago and they're still one of my favorite prog metal bands ever. | Chippe
05.14.25 | A well executed summary and yes, the right context is usually required to make it shine. Listened to it yesterday and it still gives me goosebumps after lots of spins the last decade. | Flashmobba
05.14.25 | a very cool record, thanks for the rec chippe:) | Hawks
05.14.25 | Fuck yeah Kauan rips so hard and Sorni Nai is their best album. | brickhed
05.14.25 | never checked out deeds of flesh but have defiantly heard of them. i heard their drummer went to play in exhumed when DOF was falling apart. at least i think, i'm a bit hazy on the details. | Hawks
05.14.25 | Jam them now. | brickhed
05.14.25 | waiting for the MASSIVE teardown of tundra's favorite album (of course its fucking pet sounds) | Flashmobba
05.14.25 | ikr what kind of furry would love an album called “pet sounds” | arthropod
05.14.25 | Would do as a grind album title. | brickhed
05.14.25 | nah don't tell me he's a furfag on top of everything else it'll only make me think about him slightly more | Flashmobba
05.14.25 | hold up I just realized Tundra’s rated pet sounds a 3.0
tundra you snake | Butkuiss
05.15.25 | “I’ve never checked a Russian artist”
I’m calling bullshit. Everyone has listened to Pistoletov whether they know it or not. | budgie
05.15.25 | 3.3 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooj scandal | Flashmobba
05.15.25 | @butkuiss lol maybe i shoulda added “knowingly”
@budgie i think today’s is the most scandalous if anything | Flashmobba
05.16.25 | ouch that was rough, sorry cylinder
halfway there folks! | Rowhaus
05.16.25 | Not the biggest grind fan either, or punk fan for that matter. Also very surprised to see The Midnight in this list. One of my go-to groups whenever I'm just looking to relax. | Demon of the Fall
05.16.25 | Is this a serious list of favourites? Flash got done lol
commiserations | Demon of the Fall
05.16.25 | back end gets better and I’m missing a chunk, admittedly | Rowhaus
05.16.25 | after the 5, 17 had to feel like going full steam into a brick wall :[ | Flashmobba
05.16.25 | yea i think people just wanted some niche albums to get more exposure at my expense, happy to do it though lol, i like finding gems here
maybe next month ill try again | Rowhaus
05.16.25 | Yeah I like to check people's chart before dropping a rec so I don't send them completely into left field lol. I see the appeal of broadening the horizons tho | brickhed
05.16.25 | you WILL enjoy noisegrind
just kidding i get it, its an acquired taste | mryrtmrnfoxxxy
05.16.25 | my fav album rn is actually effete and impudent snobs by cows but i gave you daddy has a tail cuz you wanted more popular stuff. you didn't ask me to i just did it | Flashmobba
05.17.25 | ya done good foxxxy
| evilford
05.17.25 | I dont think you'd like mine so I'm not gonna tell u to listen to it | mryrtmrnfoxxxy
05.17.25 | hell yeah dude glad you enjoyed it | Hyperion1001
05.17.25 | artery eruption - gouging out eyes of mutilated infants | brickhed
05.17.25 | woah 18 finally makes flash crack, glad to see it | Flashmobba
05.17.25 | @evil i promise i love music, check my ratings to inform your recommendation!
@hype please wait till i start next month’s
@brick lol i hope im not coming across like Simon cowell | DType
05.18.25 | Next one is a banger | Flashmobba
05.18.25 | perhaps i am a fool | Rowhaus
05.18.25 | Damn didn't see that coming at all lol | Flashmobba
05.18.25 | sorry mordecai, still a solid album | Hawks
05.18.25 | I have never disagreed with a take harder than I do with the analysis of Oneirology. | Flashmobba
05.18.25 | i feel naughty
ure gonna see a lot more naughty takes soon | Rowhaus
05.18.25 | "I have never disagreed with a take harder than I do with the analysis of Oneirology."
[2]
One of my favorite hip-hop albums for sure. Not everyone's cup of tea tho I guess haha | Flashmobba
05.19.25 | let’s call it revenge for u having endtroducing as a 2.5 :) hehehe | Rowhaus
05.19.25 | That's fair. Other than Midnight and Steam that record bores me lol | Wilt
05.19.25 | Teethed Glory and Injury by Altar Of Plagues | brickhed
05.20.25 | woah earrape? i know you don't hold any punches but thats just harsh | Flashmobba
05.20.25 | I dunno bricks, your pain threshold might just be way above mine, but the timbre of that record kinda scratched my eardrums badly | Hawks
05.20.25 | 3 for Acid Bath???? My emotions can't handle this anymore. | mystagogus
05.20.25 | Haha sleeping to Gridlock, ahem, well https://c.tenor.com/dzgbfCARzHAAAAAC/tenor.gif
On the other hand, since Cradle's Dusk is as "average" as Gridlock, perhaps there's certain harmony in all that.
My emotions can't handle this anymore. [2] | Rowhaus
05.20.25 | I'm melting down bros | Flashmobba
05.20.25 | sorry guys I swear I love music :( | mystagogus
05.20.25 | WE DON'T TRUST YOU ANYMORE | brickhed
05.20.25 | all we had to do was only feed him normal hip hop and we would have been fine (judging from his pie chart) | JohnnyoftheWell
05.20.25 | if 21 was literally any other acclaimed album (not by Autechre) from that general ballpark, I'd probably be mad rn but I never bought the hype on Gridlock so you can survive this one time maybe | Hawks
05.20.25 | Don't give him a pass Johnny!!! | JohnnyoftheWell
05.20.25 | lol okay then ofc a deftones diehard would be too adjusted to viewing sweat and piss as kinks best experienced through other people's limp kitsch bs fantasies to fw the real deal via acid bath, are we cooking yet
(haven't even heard that album, but their other one periodically rips) | Flashmobba
05.20.25 | what in the schizophrenia are we talking about here | brickhed
05.20.25 | johnny you can log off for a day none of us will judge | JohnnyoftheWell
05.20.25 | it is in my power
just as it is in yours to eat a literal brick | brickhed
05.20.25 | i typed that because your post was literal word salad | JohnnyoftheWell
05.20.25 | not my parse not my problem | RVAHC13
05.20.25 | A 3.5 for pet sounds :[ | RVAHC13
05.20.25 | There goes my favorite album lol | Flashmobba
05.20.25 | you don’t even have it rated you poser
and a 3.5 is great! | RVAHC13
05.20.25 | I don’t have most of my favorite albums rated | RVAHC13
05.20.25 | Poseur to the maximum | Flashmobba
05.20.25 | unacceptable behavior, concerning really | RVAHC13
05.21.25 | Well I can rate Operation Ivy if you want that rec | Flashmobba
05.21.25 | next month sweetheart | TheSonomaDude
05.21.25 | u should check Maudlin of the well - Bath | Flashmobba
05.21.25 | ok im getting too many recommendations I might as well start the June series | Flashmobba
05.23.25 | hawky with a home fucking run | Hawks
05.23.25 | LETS GOOOOO!!!! | Flashmobba
05.24.25 | great recovery brickface | brickhed
05.25.25 | looks like the month is ending well
I do agree that there should be more of a bass presence on Gestalt, their next album Synkronyk is more heavier. A bit less mathy but still erratic as all hell. Also it has Diachronie du Psychoïde, which is probably their all time best song. At least check that out
Also the fact that Bisbaye had two drummers and made it work as well as it did is impressive. | Flashmobba
05.25.25 | cool yea i checked out some of their other stuff
shame that they’re not on Spotify, I don’t like bandcamp’s UI personally | brickhed
05.25.25 | yeah the founders of the band (the bassist and one of the drummers) went out of their way to make the band as "low-key" as possible. still one of my favorite bands of all time, makes djent sound fresh again. | budgie
05.25.25 | lol okay then ofc a deftones diehard would be too adjusted to viewing sweat and piss as kinks best experienced through other people's limp kitsch bs fantasies to fw the real deal via acid bath, are we cooking yet | Flashmobba
05.25.25 | @brick I guess that’s kinda cool but I also think it’s unnecessary self-sabotage, like why release it at all if you wanna be so lowkey?
careful @budgie you’re next on the batting order | budgie
05.25.25 | if 21 was literally any other acclaimed album (not by Autechre) from that general ballpark, I'd probably be mad rn but I never bought the hype on Gridlock so you can survive this one time maybe | JohnnyoftheWell
05.25.25 | hi guys im budgie and ive got a big dumb energy shield omg someone adopt me plz | budgie
05.25.25 | IDENTITY THEFT IS NOT A JOKE JOHNNY | JohnnyoftheWell
05.25.25 | neither are the HORSES you still owe me | budgie
05.25.25 | im pretty sure youre not allowed within 100 m of a horse anymore johnny | jrlikestodance
05.25.25 | Great Gojira take. Agreed | JohnnyoftheWell
05.25.25 | at least i know how to suffer for my art | NexCeleris
05.25.25 | Phew, so glad I didn't rec 26. | budgie
05.25.25 | sup nex what did you have for dinner | NexCeleris
05.25.25 | Ello monsieur de la budg. Nothing fancy, Cestini with some chicken broth and a ton of garlic and ginger. | budgie
05.25.25 | ooooh this thing looks lovely, what was in it? | NexCeleris
05.25.25 | No, not the filled variety, just the regular ol pasta sold by Rustichella. | Flashmobba
05.25.25 | @jr thanks bud @nex lol it was still a solid listen bud
and please stop polluting my thread | budgie
05.25.25 | yeah johnny have some class for once | Flashmobba
05.28.25 | baaaaaaaaaanger | Flashmobba
05.30.25 | almost done bros, onward to June | Flashmobba
05.31.25 | ending with a BANGER, shout out to Hawks, TheArtoftheGanja, bach, and Nex for the best recommendations
thanks for a fun month amigos, I love you ALL | Hawks
05.31.25 | WOOOOO!!! | jrlikestodance
05.31.25 | Glad the Florida boys sent it off proper | NexCeleris
05.31.25 | 32 is the best album on this list, agreed. |
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