| | Full Review | Ratings (113) |
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| 5.0 classic | atyler | June 6th 17 |
The internet says that the golden age of metal was the 80s. What then is the mid 90s-00s? Opeth and Meshuggah created genres of their own. Mastodon, Clutch, Isis, Enslaved, Pig Destroyer, and High on Fire spewed forth album after album of familiar sounds with new vigor. Then...
Disagree if you will, but it ain't the same. Never before have so many bands had as much exposure and offered so much B- material. Nothing to sneer at, yet devoid of artistic expression.
Obzen was the last album that broke ground. De Vermiis and Earth Rocker were the last albums that made the old feel new. Except for this album. After reaching a pinnacle on Adultery, DFD broke up seemingly due to exhaustion of the underground. Then, years later, as crowdfunding was in its ascendance, this album debuted to a popcorn fart.
Sweet Nothings is a reverie from a band after the sheen of the scene wore thin.
First, this is a metal album. It's dark as *** and the foundation is riffing and heavy drumming. The hole card is the boundless genre hopping. Billy Joel, Slayer, Deftones, Queen, Green Day, PFunk, Alice in Chains, Dillinger Escape Plan, and the Braveheart soundtrack appear as influence or inspiration.
All of this is punctuated with circus keys, jazz, and death metal. It would be derivative if it wasn't blended so tastefully. Consider DFD the Ween of metal, but this album is as cohesive as the Mollusk if not more. Devin Townsend and Frank Zappa would drool for this.
The band couldn't imagine mainstream acceptance with this stew, but to ignore this album's place in the pantheon of the era is a missed opportunity.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | EasterInTheBatcave | June 29th 16 |
Sweet Nothings is marred by muddy guitar and flat drum sounds and a poor mixing job. One way that poor mix manifests itself is in the vocals. They are way too quiet in spots ("Tastes So Sweet"). It's a shame, because these are great songs for the most part-- the production hampers them. Ultimately, Sweet Nothings is not a bad record; it's just a shame that the mix is so poor. Were the sound clearer, this album would be infinitely more enjoyable. The muddy production casts a shadow over the entire affair, not rendering the record unlistenable but detracting from its overall presentation. Luckily, some of these songs are so good that they transcend this damper ("Doctor's Orders," "Envy the Vultures," "We Aren't the World," the title track).
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Deuce8311 | August 1st 14 |
Have never heard of this band before hearing this album, and apparently I was missing out on a lot. I really like the way DFD can mix so many different sounding genres into one collective and cohesive masterpiece.
Bump |
| 0.0 | | July 31st 14 |
Although the album by itself is sometimes a bit too filler-happy and, occasionally, the production and mixing aren't that strong, Sweet Nothings is a very respectable comeback for a band that doesn't have one terrible release within their discography.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | HarshCreep | July 22nd 14 |
Sweet Nothings is a damn awesome reunion album. The only real drawback is the mixing and mastering at times. SN doesn't sound as clear or precise compared to the previous DFD and PDot albums. Also, some of the filters and distortion applied to Todd's vocals on certain tracks really muddy the mix.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | pachaim | July 21st 14 |
Surprisingly good album! Very jazzy, lots of tonal shifts, basically everything I want to hear from DFD. Worthy comeback.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Ultihelmethead | July 18th 14 |
Fantastic album, and well worth the wait. The stretch of songs from War Party-Doctor's Orders is extremely strong.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | pornogrindtheater | July 18th 14 |
It ain't Adultery, but how could anyone reasonably follow that? It's fucking great in its own right. And so great to see these guys haven't lost their touch.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Oobaloo | April 7th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Adol | July 22nd 21 |
| 3.0 good | Sine | August 21st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Abraxas | October 23rd 15 |
| 3.5 great | rufous | September 3rd 15 |
| 3.0 good | Prole | May 18th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | seifer | March 12th 15 |
| 2.0 poor | yep123 | December 30th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | November 9th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | October 4th 14 |
| 2.5 average | mikep87 | September 12th 14 |
| 2.0 poor | Hati | September 6th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | CYCO27 | September 4th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kingdok | September 3rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Lalka | August 19th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | MadPat | August 5th 14 |
| 2.5 average | Daedus | August 3rd 14 |
| 3.5 great | Warpt | August 2nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oc3anic | July 31st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jet22 | July 31st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kruppe | July 30th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | July 29th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Escain | July 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smevin | July 19th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | greg84 EMERITUS | July 19th 14 |
| 3.5 great | NBA | July 17th 14 |
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