Holy. Crap.

man, A Solitary Reign is one hell of a song

woooooo can't wait for this existential crisis

i’m really interested in seeing just how different the mixes are

so which mix is the stream?

That mix thing is so weird. I've thought it would be cool to put out multiple versions of an album before, but my idea was normal version vs. a headphones-optimised version. Getting multiple people to mix it? Seems problematic and confusing. But still, it's interesting! Wonder how different they are.

I assume the stream is the European version since it's The Independent? I wonder which mix version has the jarringly-loud spoken word part, if any.

If I had to guess I would say it is the European version, based on the swan image and it being The Independent which is based out of the UK. The preorder info for the US version has the image of a rat on the forefront, while it is the swan for the European version.

Still, I don't think the could've gone wrong with either producer. Wish I could listen to this rn :/

The stream is the US version. It's uploaded via Neurot Recordings, who are handling the US side of things. I was hoping to hear Jack Shirley's mix, damn.

yessss

man, A Solitary Reign is one hell of a song [2]
so fucking good

"The stream is the US version. It's uploaded via Neurot Recordings, who are handling the US side of things. I was hoping to hear Jack Shirley's mix, damn."

oh you're right, good catch!

sooo damn good!

i kinda wanna hear that european mix now, if it sounds cleaner? Someone needs to report in the differences.

Yeah, I wanna know the differences so I'm adding this to my discussion for when somebody posts that

God those dutch poems are tasty.


man, A Solitary Reign is one hell of a song [2]
Pretty much song of the year.

Yeah, preordered this one. No question.

i was never really into this band for some reason and then i saw them open for converge and neurosis this year. they instantly shot to the top of my favorites. this new album is immense, can’t wait for the record to arrive

Just started listening to these guys, timed it well

I just want both versions! I don't even know which version I just bought!

It's a good time to be alive.

Never really got the hype behind this band, but I'm still gonna listen to this. m/

Wow, this is super impressive so far. A Solitary Reign is nuts.

yea Solitary Reign is beautiful

hope you like t hawks, i am shocked you gave Mass IIII a 2.5 though, that’s an incredible album. also the album is on spotify now, but appears to be the US version again.

Saw an interview on CVLT Nation with CHVE, and besides being a really awkward read, he talked about the fact that there are two mixes. Reading between the lines it seemed like they did it mostly for themselves and that they always have trouble with the recording process because “everything is so final” so maybe this was a way to get in some different/conflicting ideas they had. He also mentions that they also had two mixes for Mass V (CD and LP), and that while he doesn’t like any one mix more than the other, other members do like one or the other more.

here’s the link for those interested: http://www.cvltnation.com/cvlt-nation-interviews-amenra/

Anyone noticed that the independent stream's Children of the Eye is 9 and a bit minutes while the Bandcamp one is over 11mins?

Anyone think that might be the two different versions right there?

It actually says it's the Jack Shirley mix on the bandcamp page

oh you're right, four of the tracks actually have different lengths. mostly by just a few seconds. excited to give this a listen now. listening to a solitary reign right now and i can definitely hear a difference - the guitar that comes in at 2:02 is really jarring, and wow the end of the 7th minute is significantly different.

edit: children of the eye is much longer it seems because the intro was dragged out. full band doesn't come in until 4:16 vs 1:57 for the billy anderson version. overall i think the vocals are also higher in the mix, they seem to come in clearer than anderson's version. around 5:40 there is also a pretty extended part with the bass that I don't recall from the US mix, at least the ability to hear it - i'm sure its in there somewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, love this band so much

So the spotify and bandcamp versions are both American? Where can the Euro version be found?

No the bandcamp one is the EU version - at the very least they both sound very different, but the track lengths are different than the independent stream

As simple as this guys

Here is the US mix via Neurot Recordings: https://churchofra.bandcamp.com/album/mass-vi

Here is the EU mix via Consouling Sounds: https://amenra.bandcamp.com/album/mass-vi

I can't work out which one is better it's infuriating

thank you js19! so according to that, itunes UK sold me the american version! seems it should have sold me the EU version but maybe this album is the first victim of the brexits.

Edited my opinion

@JS19 Thanks.

First impressions: EU version has more stereo separation and more dynamic range. Mix is brighter and roomier. On the other hand, US version has more bass on guitars and mix is more unified. Has punchier, thicker wall of sound. EU has more of a "live" sound, US is more of a studio one.

Oooo that makes me want to check out the EU version.

The US one sounds a bit overproduced to me - the low end really 'booms' through my speakers and sort of engulfs everything else. The EU one sounds less 'compressed' and wide. Requires you to turn up the volume a bit compared to the US one for the same punch, but it's more enjoyable overall.

If the US one was the only one to exist I think I would be disappointed with the mix a little

Massive record. A Solitary Reign is fucking phenomenal.

Still need to listen to the EU version but now I'm a bit gutted that iTunes sold me the US version from what people have said.

If I was the band, I couldn't choose which mix to keep. They're different but both good. Really a matter of taste.

Theres a bit on Solitary reign that sounds like its autotuned when colin hits the higher notes towards the end and it really grates me : (

Solitary Reign has entered the discussion for song of the year. This is my first experience with these guys. Excited to jam more.

Just give yourself an hour and watch the live set, Youll never be the same. https://youtu.be/wNuoQO276yE

seeing them live is exactly what got me into them. they shot from someone i might listen to every once in a while to holy shit this is one of my favorite bands

Thanks for the link. I'll try to find time for that.

Theres absolutely nothing like them live. You cant explain it. I was in a real bad place and went to see them live, Quite possible saved my life I dont know. Id always been a fan but that changed everything.
The last 20 mins of that set D are my favourite of any live recording ever.

God damn, high praise from deezer!

i hope they come back to the states next year, i'd try to see them here in nyc and again in boston or philly. and that's really cool to hear deezer

Theyre such a great bunch of dudes too man. They put EVERYTHING into their work. Its from the very core of pain. When you hear Scott Kelly singing theyre praises so highly on that shed my skin interview. Its all in the pauses. The bits you cant put words too. the whole church of ra/Mass/Ritual thing. Its no gimmick.Im not the only one whos been helped unmeasurable by them. Its real af.

Theyre going back the states Robot, but i think its a west coast tour.

Someone hurry up and review this.