| | Full Review | Ratings (796) |
Give your Rating |
| 5.0 classic | Ire | August 2nd 13 |
pain = beauty, relinquished = cousin
8 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Wolfe | August 11th 13 |
oh you guys
6 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.6 great | Voivod STAFF | February 23rd 14 |
Chelsea Wolfe is growing more and more effective with every new album. Pain Is Beauty balances between avant-garde and mainstream dream pop, with the latter direction (somewhat) diluting the album's final merit.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.8 excellent | Erwann S. EMERITUS | May 2nd 19 |
Really intriguing atmosphere here, but I think I appreciated the artistic direction more than the music itself. Will need to re-listen, that gurl is interesting. "The Waves Have Come" is daaaaaaaaaaamn.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | April 16th 17 |
It would seem that, at this point in time, Pain Is Beauty is the full realization of Chelsea Wolfe's vision regarding her highly atmospheric mixture of ethereal wave, darkwave, gothic rock, and an almost doomy ethos and structure. Being able to tactfully blend all of this together along with subtly catchy choruses or refrains is an impressive skill, and nowhere is it more apparent on Wolfe's part than here. Opener "Feral Love" is a powerful and haunting track that sets the tone, not only atmospherically, but from a songwriting viewpoint as well, with hazy, ghostly instrumentation, tinkering with electronics whether they be conventional synth lines or dipping its feet in ambient noise, and of course Wolfe's stunning vocal work. The surprise of the album is "The Warden", which sounds upbeat and positive without ruining the overall gloomy mood. A pleasant melancholy, if you will. It's going to be interesting to see what she'll do in order to top this, as Abyss couldn't quite reach it, but I wouldn't put it past the woman to do so. It will be tough, though, as this is her most mature and developed work, and as such it's a jam.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | EasterInTheBatcave | June 10th 16 |
Darkly atmospheric. Chelsea Wolfe's vocals are phenomenal. Some of the material is too repetitive, but it's more good than bad.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Britch2tiger | September 18th 15 |
[INDUSTRIAL] Now THIS album is a solid 4/5. A bit more incorporation of electronica in this album than I'd wish, but still able to maintain that haunting feel. If this incorporation of extra instrumentation continues, I'm thinking Chelsea Wolfe's band self-titled band name at this point ought to be renamed into something else, 'cause that feels to be the evolution of this continued experimentation: a band experience, not an artist experience.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | BtwntheAKIRAndMe | September 8th 15 |
Low 9 out of 10: This LP really defines melancholy in music. From when I first listened to this in 2013 to now, this LP has an incredible grip on the emotion of sadness. I absolutely adore it for that reason.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Henry100 | December 4th 13 |
I love this girl. Pains me to give a lukewarm rating. The album is let down constantly by weak, unmemorable melodies. As usual, there's a persistent, haunting atmosphere. But it's not enough.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | zxlkho | September 5th 13 |
Does every Chelsea Wolfe fan know that feel? The one where you're just getting into her music and you jam one of her albums 7 times in one day?
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | whiskeysour | August 14th 13 |
I've listened to this album ten times in 24 hours. The only reason I haven't listened to it more is because I was sleeping. I should have listened to it in my sleep. The album is consistently beautiful and haunting from beginning to end. "The Warden" and "Sick" are two of the best tracks of the year so far.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | SubtleBody | August 11th 13 |
can't wait for my pre-order to come but until then gonna jam the leak hard 5/5
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Merlijn | September 3rd 25 |
| 4.5 superb | Dewinged EMERITUS | February 20th 25 |
| 3.5 great | Snuron | April 4th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brains | March 24th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Luna | February 29th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Tool1 | February 24th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Strills | February 8th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | emmny | October 26th 23 |
| 3.0 good | qt | July 10th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo05 | June 26th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Lurian | March 4th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Timmy | January 19th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Jake E. | December 15th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | xHaunted | November 29th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | November 21st 22 |
| 4.5 superb | btors | September 16th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kinski | September 12th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | kanker | July 1st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | lurxy | June 23rd 22 |
| 4.4 superb | A.R.O. EMERITUS | March 30th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | iGuter | March 24th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | ParoXysm | September 29th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | April 23rd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | TMTrates | February 25th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vaka | January 7th 21 |
| 3.0 good | carved | November 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ghlmoedo | September 5th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aszhi | September 3rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | August 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | vil1 | July 30th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Chili | June 25th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | valek | May 22nd 20 |
| 3.0 good | Pangea | February 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Luxx | February 4th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | SinNanna | December 28th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeuzo | October 20th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Aeon89 | September 26th 19 |
| 3.5 great | El Olam | September 18th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | September 13th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Mathias EMERITUS | September 10th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | zzf1918 | September 8th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | August 26th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Jaxer | August 23rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | hsb | August 12th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lucman | July 18th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | kleggi | June 26th 19 |
| 2.5 average | Krpa | June 18th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | warping | June 10th 19 |
| 3.5 great | JS98 | April 2nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | iunaphy | March 28th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Codah | March 25th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Elynna | January 7th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ryan P STAFF | January 4th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo005 | November 29th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | ARDCWE | November 2nd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | dunnope | October 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | rdawg20 | October 10th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | dvdkmlr | September 25th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Macck | September 16th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Epilogue | September 14th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Juca89 | September 6th 18 |
| 3.5 great | ksolan | September 6th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Coast | August 4th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | July 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | gilly | March 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Viot | March 20th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Soupjan | February 21st 18 |
| 3.5 great | Gueero | February 14th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano2 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano1 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano | December 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | qdgyu | December 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RATTFINK | December 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jedaum | December 24th 17 |
| 3.5 great | orakst | December 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | jdubbs11 | December 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fear | December 10th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | December 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | dhelmise | November 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | November 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sebe | October 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyll | October 30th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Mandais | October 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | DarinRG | October 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | TVparty | October 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | 0GuyMan0 | September 29th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Juanpa | September 29th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | September 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | garsiai | July 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Piglet | June 16th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enzx | May 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kimm | January 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | helti | January 11th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Stormii | September 27th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Hydra12 | September 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | progsun | September 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gmork89 | August 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Hyndez | August 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Lanas | July 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | h0rsie | July 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tyler | July 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xavier | May 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rdawg | May 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | April 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Verlix | April 23rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | shem | April 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yep321 | March 20th 16 |
| 3.5 great | doqtor | March 11th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nemeton | February 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | EvoHavok | February 12th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | bobby72 | February 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | December 3rd 15 |
| 3.5 great | czed | October 20th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | JD154 | October 8th 15 |
| 3.5 great | JBro | September 28th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aaron77 | September 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | DazSkunk | September 17th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Tom R. EMERITUS | September 14th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Majkl | September 6th 15 |
| 3.5 great | OSEL | September 1st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sithese | August 14th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Damus | August 12th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | airbear | August 10th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Brabiz | July 24th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | July 14th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ellagos | July 10th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | avf13 | July 4th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | boab92 | June 22nd 15 |
| 3.5 great | N2B3J | June 5th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | elry2k | May 18th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Plebble | April 7th 15 |
| 3.5 great | cvlts | February 23rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faraudo | February 14th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eames | January 30th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | dre517 | January 19th 15 |
| 3.0 good | p4p | December 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | aeroguy3 | November 12th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | codhead | October 31st 14 |
| 3.0 good | yep123 | October 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | limbs | September 30th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | September 20th 14 |
| 3.5 great | cotras | August 16th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Gurt | August 4th 14 |
| 3.5 great | fdrc | August 3rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jimbon | July 24th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | SourAK | July 14th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | June 29th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | SkaCali | June 13th 14 |
| 2.5 average | ProfC | May 6th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deviant. STAFF | April 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Rail | April 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | KevinKC | April 13th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | wwirusz | March 24th 14 |
| 3.0 good | TAJ | March 4th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Tale | February 25th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Muikuli | February 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Amry | February 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | W3bsurf | February 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | nalapoke | February 19th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ralphims | February 18th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | zinzuke | February 17th 14 |
| 3.5 great | JS19 | January 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarkus | January 10th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | wwf | January 5th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | January 4th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | YaelPol | December 30th 13 |
| 3.5 great | 76TVs | December 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | djunior | December 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rudhira | December 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | thejared | November 29th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Simon K. STAFF | November 27th 13 |
| 3.5 great | bjorkil | November 26th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | hamid95 | November 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | a7c7e7 | November 19th 13 |
| 3.0 good | willow | November 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | CepiKing | November 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Let | November 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | bgf97 | November 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | chaitu | November 12th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Uqnivde | November 4th 13 |
| 2.5 average | Ishysez | October 29th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Taboo | October 26th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Amebix | October 19th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | October 16th 13 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | October 16th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | pumi | October 11th 13 |
| 3.5 great | craven | October 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | cuki92 | September 24th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Filling | September 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Tobmast | September 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Escain | September 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | VanJalen | September 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Zantera | September 14th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Lelle | September 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | chayka | September 8th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | September 7th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ecotone | September 7th 13 |
| 3.5 great | JeiSiN | September 4th 13 |
| 3.0 good | pauke | September 4th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | drds89 | September 4th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Lani | September 3rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | inca829 | September 3rd 13 |
| 3.0 good | Skoj | August 29th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | August 27th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ILJ | August 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | flaffy | August 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyrael | August 17th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Thane | August 15th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Taxt | August 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | acad | August 5th 13 |
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