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Staff
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Album Edits 2,238
Album Ratings 3166
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Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
Joined 01-01-70
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| | Best User Reviews: August 2022 | | 1 |  | Cheem
Guilty Pleasure
"In under 30 minutes, Cheem continues to crumple up blueprints laid out for each genre they confront. Guilty Pleasure simply doesn’t fit into one box, it would do the band a disservice - when vocalist Sam takes centerstage, the pop-punk of Fall Out Boy might come to mind. But when Skye comes barreling in with a frenetic rap verse we’ve clearly entered some sort of nu-metal territory. In the same vein, the instrumentation isn’t something that could be described with just one genre. Pay2Play flicks the dial between high energy punk riffs and a lighter, funkier section that fits the rapped guest verse swimmingly. These lighter sections pop up throughout the album, almost always accompanied by a few bars courtesy of Skye." --gryndstone | | 2 |  | Asunojokei
Island
"I can’t applaud the cleaner production enough, either; drummer Saitoh’s work has substantially more punch to it here than on Awakening, the guitars titillate with shoegazey wash at several highlights, and Daiki Nuno’s vocals display more character now as well—raspier and louder, uneven at times, but more colorful nonetheless. Every single aspect of Island is not only a welcome improvement from its predecessor release, it represents a proverbial passing of the torch. Asunojokei is following the footprints of giants, and their shoe size is wide enough to fill the holes laid down as early as album number two. If it doesn’t bestow upon them as much praise as the work of their forebears, I don’t know if anything will." --ashcrash9 | | 3 |  | Disfuneral
Blood Red Tentacle
"Overall Blood Red Tentacle is a damn fine showcase of some pretty straight forward rocking death metal with a tinge of that sweet punk attitude to top it off. "Feastering the Undead" sets the tone for the filth about to come, "Lord of Discord" riffed so hard I was tempted to mosh with my imaginary friends, and the way "Funeral Maze" slowly bogs out closing the album made me want to click play and do it all over again. These guys clearly love themselves some Autopsy and Abscess and they do a damn fine job paying tribute to those legendary bands. If that sounds up your alley this is easily worth the time, if not Disfuneral won't flip some kind of death/doom loving switch in your brain." --combustion07 | | 4 |  | Toxik
Dis Morta
"Standout moments? I am baffled, for instance, by the dramatic effect injected by the Christmas carol style vocal bridge into the otherwise epic and monumental build-up of title track 'Dis Morta'; and similarly by how the oriental lullaby-themed bridge in 'Feeding Frenzy' lifts up the track to a new level of shred. I am charmed by the beautiful melody and harmonies of 'Chasing Mercury'. I am puzzled by how 'Hyper Reality' - most likely my favourite here, if pressed - oozes with progressive alienation and intrigue. I am mesmerized by the vertiginous, spiralling design of 'Creating The Abyss'. I am blown away by the guitar lead intro to 'Power' and the uncanny speeds of 'Straight Razor' (still not sure what hit me there). And I am as endeared by the Queen-style piano intro to 'Devil In The Mirror' as I am awestruck by that track's riff attack and solo section." --DePlazz | | 5 |  | Dol Theeta
Monad
"Overall, Monad does not have any enveloping weaknesses in its core sounds aside from being a prog metal album with minimal guitar work. Also, some of the weaker tracks can easily weaken the album flow. But despite these shortcomings, Dol Theeta pulls off something grand, captivating, and introspective. And as far as the uniqueness of this album goes, aside from Thanasis’ other work in Dol Ammand, I couldn’t find any other music with this combination of vocals, spacey progressive electronic, and prog metal influences since Marge Litch‘s final album in 1998. Sure, not every song sticks the landing, but when they do, they do so with enviable grace." --WattPheasant | | 6 |  | Savage Master
Those Who Hunt At Night
"The musicianship also feels a little more put together, seemingly working off the more polished production that came about with 2019’s Myth, Magic, and Steel. The vocals feel especially reined in with the lead vocals aiming for a more tuneful delivery while still maintaining a raw, untrained demeanor while the gang shouts and other layers often contributing their own melodicism. Thankfully it never feels too watered down or too far removed from their past works." --PsychicChris | | 7 |  | The Halo Effect
Days of the Lost
"As mentioned earlier, there is nothing groundbreaking on this record, and aside from some parts of The Needless End, the album has a consistent flow as there are no boring sections throughout. Everything a melodic death album needs to be successful and memorable is present on Days of the Lost: strong guttural vocals from one of the best to ever do it, soaring harmonic guitars that compliment each other exceptionally well, and a rhythm section that provides an extra punch which creates a melodic wall of sound. Very few melodic death albums have achieved all three aspects. The Halo Effect’s Days of the Lost achieves them in spades." --Poet | | 8 |  | Emperor X
Oversleepers International
"Whether it’s an impossibly angled street crammed with jagged architecture and puffs of intoxicating alien gasses or a vast expanse travelled in seconds, the writer’s trick is to do more with less. But unlike Azimov or Herbert, Chad Matheny of Emperor X uses the negative space of language to make small feelings enormous, rather than new galaxies into a passing few lines. From the abstract bureaucratic vignettes of €30,000 to the dreamlike wandering of God Save Coastal Dorset, Oversleepers International sings of the mundane and forgettable put under a microscope. With irreverent but evocative lyrics, the 11 tracks are freed to be about everything and nothing at once—jumping effortlessly between chemical bonds, trade names, insurance offices, and questions of true love without suffering a second of irony or pretension." --libraryofsalt | | 9 |  | Norma Jean
Deathrattle Sing for Me
"The album is weighted down by its sheer length and density. The record is structurally chaotic, adapting various styles such as sludge, grunge, punk, and alternative into the band’s already harsh metalcore sound. Despite this, the entire album feels incredibly cohesive, with many of it’s tracks leading into the next with dynamic production and passionate, emotive vocal performances from frontman Cory Brandan. This is perhaps best culminated in “A Killing Word”, a full-force assault of drum fills and bludgeoning riffs that blends unhinged aggression with the soaring rock choruses of “Sleep Explosion” and atmospherics of “el-roi”, feeling like everything the record tries to be condensed into one track. Due to its overwhelming nature, the album is a grower, taking repeated listens to fully digest, and while it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor ‘All Hail’, its still an incredibly solid album and one of the best metalcore releases of 2022 thus far." --Crxmateo | | 10 |  | Thoughtcrimes
Altered Pasts
"Overall, Altered Pasts is one of the strongest mathcore releases in a while with its excellent performances and enjoyable experimentation. The riffs are sporadic, the vocals are powerful and harsh, and the drums are intense. All it really suffers from is a slight pacing issue. Even then, from beginning to end, the album has multiple standout songs and moments. If you are a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan, this is a must listen as it captures a similar sound while also being its own independent and unique work." --Zac124 | | 11 |  | Royal Coda
To Only a Few at First
"The word I keep coming back to when I think of this record as whole, is chemistry. To Only A Few At First is album that where each member plays off eachother’s strengths: Will’s playing intertwines beautifully with Sergio’s but also allows for Joseph to be creative with his kit. On “Too Only A Few At First” bassist Steffen Gotsch faithfully follows the map scrawled out by the guitars, but when appropriate, takes excursions of his own to flesh out the landscape. This is how a band should operate, and that is why Only A Few At First is an easy highlight in the careers of all those involved." --TheSpirit | | 12 |  | Anberlin
Silverline
"Silverline is an absolute masterwork of a short-form album from a band that could have cynically rolled out a third recording of “Feel Good Drag” and paid the bills. There are moments where the production - and it is, in fact, a glorious production - seems to override actual substance, but this is as nearly perfect an introduction to this new Anberlin as it could have possibly been. Dig only one grave for the old Anberlin - this new one has a lot of life in it." --Clifgard | | 13 |  | Arch Enemy
Deceivers
"A stings and guitar intro to “Poisoned Arrow” reveal a more restrained tune that has a clever tempo change and then more leads. The quality continues with two of the best songs in the atmosphere drenched “Sunset over the Empire” and the thoroughly delicious "House of Mirrors”. Mirrors is a career defining song in my opinion that stands up in their whole discography. I’m surprised as anyone at this exhibition of modern guitar based melodeath." --Muzz79 | | 14 |  | Kekal
Envisaged
"The rest of the songs are varied between atmospheric and melodic prog-rock approach with added strong grooves and electronic twists, to a jazzy presentation of synth-rock/electronic-goth music, to almost a modern interpretation of anarcho-punk music with advanced guitar-works akin to King Crimson, Killing Joke and Voivod mixed with post-punk/dub hybrid. The general atmosphere of the album is dark. Not a depressive kind of dark like their 2008 album "Audible Minority", but more introspective and spiritual in exploring and opening-up all the darkness in life without hesitation. The choices of chords and chord-progressions enhance the dark atmosphere of this album, and so the texture. Production-wise, it seems that the guitar, bass and drums sound intentionally darker and "punkier" in this album. The bass is distorted as usual. Overall, the production has some analog feel to it, including the addition of dub-styled echoing reverbs and delay-effects to the vocals." --eMZ | | 15 |  | Orphan
Porcelain
"The Mathes brothers insane vocal work is a highlight throughout the album, delivering some of the most agressive and varied vocals we've heard from them yet, switching constantly between raw hardcore yelling and some genuinely monstrous slam vocals, with unique rhythmic choices drawing clear influence from trap metal throughout and some decently cool vocal hooks throughout, like the interchanging gutturals on Dying Light, or the off-kilter rhythmic delivery of the yelling on Canary. The lyrical work deserves some props too for exploring some new territory for the two in a new way, including among other things LGBTQ-rights, and Grief, in a genuinely poetic way at times." --BlackTemplarofAutism | | 16 | | Norma Jean
Deathrattle Sing for Me
"Deathrattle Sing for Me doesn’t change a whole lot about the Norma Jean formula, but the delivery is something to behold. The shifts between sludgy, even (dare I say it) bluesy, riffs and slides are contrasted against samples, punk passages, breakdowns and Norma Jean’s signature approach to mathcore. What’s even more admirable is that they play around with their formula and approach it in enough of a new way that it also stands as its own work of art, separate from the rest of their music." --Manatea | | 17 |  | Panic! at the Disco
Viva Las Vengeance
"This album was a slog to get through. It’s not just unoriginal in concept and execution, it’s boring. Really really boring. And at the end of the day, that’s worse than listening to something like Corey Feldman or William Control because at least they provide some laughs whilst you listen, they’re so bad they’re good. This album? It’s empty of entertainment, devoid of personality, and is a stark reminder of how much Brendon refuses to use his talents." --hobblepot | | 18 |  | Conan
Evidence of Immortality
"There are two things that Conan’s music always brings to mind: barbaric battles and geological processes. Opening track “A Cleaved Head No Longer Plots” is so destructively heavy and dense that it manages to replicate how I imagine the collision of continents would sound if occurring in 10 minutes rather than over a period of millions of years. The usual pulverising doom riffs are nuanced with some nice touches of post-metal adding stylistic diversity. Conjured in the mind are images of thick, slow-moving lava snaking its way down the side of a volcano as pyroclastic bombs descend from the ash-obscured sky above, reducing everything in their path to cinders." --BitterJalapenoJr | | 19 |  | Soilwork
Övergivenheten
"Every song has its own formula without ever making Overgivenheten sound disjointed or aimless. “Electric Again” features the standard high-speed Soilwork aggression with a twist, “Valleys of Gloam” sounds like a heavier alternative rock song. As the album progresses, a few things become obvious. The most apparent thing is this is easily Soilwork’s most melodic album, but unlike their previous forays into that sound (The Panic Broadcast and Sworn to a Great Divide) the band haven’t lost their edge or energy. This album also features the most actual singing (and his best delivery) of any album thus far. The melodies, harmonies, and layers of clean vocals are catchy and powerful even during the verses. Finally, Overgivenheten probably makes the most use of their keyboardist of any Soilwork release, but without ever becoming overbearing. Unfortunately, the quality of the front half doesn’t carry over to the second." --TerraIncognita | | 20 |  | Liminal Shroud
All Virtues Ablaze
"The savage intensity of Death/Black Metal occasionally percolates through the melodic veil. However, these rain showers never build into destructive storms capable of destroying the beauty of this melancholic world. These dynamic sonic shifts keep a steady level of excitement throughout the 40-minute run length. The most dynamic track is undoubtedly Transmigration I. A fusion of melody, savagery, and ambiance are all given their fair share of attention. At the midpoint of this track, ritualistic chanting eases the listener into a pleasant yet short-lived trance. The speed that is displayed on this track honestly seems damn near impossible. The song waltzes dangerously close to dissonance yet never quite descends into madness. All Virtues Ablaze is a thrilling display of restraint and visceral power." --InfernalDeity | | 21 |  | nouns
While of Unsound Mind
"It isn't just the addition of extra vocalists that give this album a unique feel. Nouns have gathered an array of musicians, and musical instruments to expand the diversity of sound. Featuring not only the alto and tenor sax on "INTERLUDE", there are flute, piano, violin, gamelan, cajon, trumpet, electric organ, and plenty of other sampling, field recording, databending instruments, to pick out in a Where's Waldo of sound. The production on this album is also a stark improvement from the bedroom quality of their earlier releases, and a clear step ahead of peers such as STOMACH BOOK and Bigger Boot." --SlothcoreSam | | 22 |  | Muse
Will of the People
"I just don’t get Will Of The People. The album is directionless, with romantic ballads immediately following guitar breakdowns. Frontman Matt Bellamy’s lyricism is still as woeful as it has always been, with title track Will Of The People having the worst of the lot. The production is all over the place; bassist Chris Wolstenholme seemingly decided to take the day off when recording Kill Or Be Killed. The album as a whole is over before it even begins. Its jarring pacing does nothing to hide its thirty-seven minute runtime, a figure which is shockingly short for an album considering it has had the entirety of the last two years to use as inspiration. Why were they so afraid to flesh it out a little more?" --YadMot | | 23 |  | Senses Fail
Hell Is in Your Head
"I do appreciate the band still adhering to a heavier sound when their contemporaries are taking a noticeable change in their sound for marketability, but there just isn't enough here to keep you coming back. There's two guest spots on songs "End of the World" and "Death By Water" that inject a little spice to the songs formula but it's fleeting and too short lived. The guest vocals are welcome but barely manage 20 seconds total over the album so it's hard to tell if these moments were undercooked or just not thought out that much." --ConcubinaryCode | | 24 |  | Spite
Dedication to Flesh
"If you’re looking for rip-roaring chaos, look no further than the absolute crushing opener “Lord of the Upside Down.” Lyrically, it’s fairly standard territory for heavy music with charged and aggressive themes like death, hate, violence, depression, anger towards the world, etc. Lyrics like “I can no longer withstand the sight of my creation/spiral into darkness/I paint a brand-new image” are indicative of the sort of patterns and themes that transpire throughout the course of the runtime. Like I mentioned, it’s fairly standard and doesn’t break new ground but Dars’ delivery of these lines is what sells the passion." --mkmusic1995 | | 25 |  | Wisteria Lodge
Wisteria Lodge
"Karen Dooley is classically trained and it shows a difference like a newly waxed car. In the hands of another singer the tunes may have seemed a tad basic, but Karen brings an almost otherworldly presence to the role. What I mean is this: the numbing gel of her notes is relaxing to the point of feeling like space drifting. Yet, her singing is powerful, propelling this EP into repeated listens for me. A blissful time awaits you if you give a chance to this little release." --pizzamachine | |
mkmusic1995
09.02.22 | Thanks for the shoutout! So many great writers on this site and it's an honor to be placed alongside them :) | BitterJalapenoJr
09.02.22 | Thanks for the inclusion and congratulations to all other writers! | Zac124
09.02.22 | Thanks for putting my review on the list, Sowing! There were lots of great reviews this month. | Minortimbo12
09.02.22 | Congrats to all!
Shoutout to all of those who had killer reviews but the albums themselves weren't eligible for this list. | ConcubinaryCode
09.02.22 | Ah, cool. Thanks for adding me, I just kinda wish made it for an album I liked more. Is the bit you chose your favorite part from the reviews? | InfernalDeity
09.02.22 | Always an honor to be featured here. Truly. | Muzz79
09.03.22 | Cheers Sowing. Keep jamming Dy'th Requiem For The Serpent Telepath! | SlothcoreSam
09.03.22 | Thanx son yo. | Manatea
09.03.22 | Thanks for the shoutout again! I’m thoroughly enjoying writing on this site man. | Crxmateo
09.04.22 | Thank you so much Sowing! | Koris
09.04.22 | Nice job everyone! | TheSpirit
09.04.22 | Thanks for the shout Sowing! | Nikkolae
09.04.22 | holy shit bran, didnt knew you dug Royal Coda, nice | Manatea
09.05.22 | Sowing, imagine spending sixteen or so years and discovering about 70% of what you listen to thinking “I could never do this,” and then getting some recognition from the king himself. It’s an honor and incredibly gratifying. So thanks. | WattPheasant
09.07.22 | Sowing, thank you so much for including my review in your distinguished "Best User Reviews" list. I am always very grateful to be included, and I will continue to work on my writing skills.
I also want to point out that I am not alone here, obviously, there are many other very talented writers here that I'm happy to be a part of a community with you all. | DePlazz
12.30.22 | Only noticing this now. Thanks a bunch for including my review here. Nice work everyone! |
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