Review Summary: Code Orange successfully build upon the foundation laid with I Am King, albeit with some mixed, disjointed results.
I Am King saw Code Orange abandon their thrashier hardcore influences from their debut in favor of a slower, metallic sound. On
Forever, Code Orange continue to build upon the foundation laid out on their previous album, this time infusing industrial electronics and ambience into the mix. These soundscapes provide a break in the metallic slug-fest that is the core of Code Orange’s sound, however some of the transitions feel forced and disjointed.
Openers “Forever” and “Kill the Creator” provide a general template for the rest of the album: chunky riffs and slogging grooves merged with eerie industrial effects. When used effectively, these components form a suffocating atmosphere and instill discomfort in the listener. “The Mud” and “Hurt Goes On” feature creepy build-ups that would feel right at home on
The Downward Spiral or an early Ministry record.
Other transitions are not employed as smoothly. The sudden breaks in “Kill the Creator” and half-way through “The Mud” are jarring and kill the momentum. They are abrupt pauses in the music that add little to the songs and leave the listener bewildered, wondering if they needed to be there in the first place.
Code Orange continue to capitalize on what made
I Am King a successful record in the spaces in-between. “The New Reality” and “No One is Untouchable” are straight-forward, metallic triumphs. The vicious, frenetic riffs cascading into the mosh call on “Real,” are downright blood-pumping. “Bleeding in the Blur” breaks up the action with a catchy, grunge-laden anthem.
Through their experimentation with industrial effects, Code Orange successfully build upon the foundation they laid with 2014's
I Am King. While these elements don’t fuse as cohesively in certain places, they provide a refreshing take on a newly popularized style of metalcore. Code Orange continue to do what they do best and explore new territory - albeit with some mixed, disjointed results.
