 | Ulver The Assassination of Julius Caesar
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| | Full Review | Ratings (815) |
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| 0.0 | Lewis EMERITUS | April 6th 17 |
I felt like I was listening to a post-punk playlist at a gay bar.
26 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.7 average | Xenophanes EMERITUS | April 3rd 17 |
I felt like I was listening to a post-punk playlist at a gay bar.
23 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Trey STAFF | April 6th 17 |
Ulver have always released polarizing albums. From their black metal beginnings to the industrial of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell to the “whatever you want to call what they’re doing these days” of their latest release, Ulver have always managed to frustrate a certain subset of their fans. Their change has probably been easier on me than a lot of long time fans because The Marriage of Heaven and Hell was my first Ulver album, and “Nowhere, Catastrophe” from their subsequent release is still my favorite song across the entire discography. What I’m saying is, my favorite Ulver tracks have always been the ones with vocals. This whole album has vocals and it kind of mixes their Blood Inside sound with an almost 80s style synth pop sound. I’m not opposed to a good melody or memorable chorus, and when a band like Ulver can mix those two things into the lush soundscapes they’re known for, I’ll take it every time.
10 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Herbie Chrost | April 7th 17 |
It's a sobering thing when a (former) black metal band is capable of writing pop music that is better than 99% of the mainstream stuff out there
7 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.3 superb | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | February 24th 17 |
Ghostly atmospheres are abound in Ulver's latest. Being their "pop" album, there are electro-pop melodies, dark synth passages, and even a few bass drops scattered throughout the run time. The lyrics traverse all times of history and mythology, while the music recalls a strange blend of their turn of the millennium records and Wars of the Roses. Garm's vocals are back in full force as well, all making for a resounding meditation on the dark side of history, mythology, and human nature.
7 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | i want to mort. | April 7th 17 |
Claims of revolutionism aside, it is very nice to hear Garm sing again.
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Nikkolae | September 22nd 22 |
Ulver walked so that Deafheaven could run
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Malcontent | September 2nd 20 |
This is a monster of an album. It's incredible that, two decades after creating some of the most frigid black metal ever recorded, Ulver is creating a dark synth-pop album and sound absolutely confident in doing so. The Assassination of Julius Caesar is a dark gem with facets revealing something old and beautiful, nostalgic and evil. Ulver have crafted something undeniably beautiful: the blissful baseline of Nemoralia, the reverb-soaked piano of Southern Gothic, or the ache of 1969. Yet the album drips menace: the lyrics sew different times and places of history together: heretics burning alive in the night, a car wreck snuffing the light out of a young princess, a slain pontiff. This tension between beauty and death, between nostalgia and decay, is found until the last track, and works remarkably well. Coming Home is the only track written in the present: a cynical, bleak piece breaking with previous tracks with the expression: "I have been thinking about my life lately: these old streets, this same old song of smoke and mirrors and sweet revenge." Implying perhaps that the nostalgia for the past is deeply flawed: it's not a fable or myth, it's an ugly, painful reality that calls back to Perdition City. It's a unique twist for Ulver to throw away their own sound in the last track. But the themes of nostalgia and the past, of reliving old times versus embracing the future, are as equally applicable to Ulver and their vast discography as they are to history itself.
Bump |
| 4.1 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | December 18th 19 |
Synthpop for the metalheads. As always with Ulver, it's a solid record that stands out in terms of the rest of the band's discography and the genre's general evolution. Concerning Ulver themselves, they showed us again they could release any kind of music they wanted (now I want a rap album, be ready Garm). In regards to the synthpop scene, the record's 80s influences are quite obvious, but, as Carly, the record has got recognizable influences but does not steal from them. This is still Ulver, in their most bombastic form.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Bedex | April 16th 19 |
Good god is there any genre these guys can't do. Amazing post-punky pop. Consistent
quality throughout the record, lots of head-bobbing moments, some questionable vocals.
Overall a very successful album. All tracks are faves although the closer is what bumped
the album from a 3.9-4.0 to a firm 4.1.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | TheManMachine | August 12th 17 |
Longtime shapeshifter black metal collective goes far enough down the experimental rabbit hole to arrive at the rather accessible antilogy of all-sang synth-pop; albeit retaining the dark+heavy tone-wise and thematically. No doubt these compositions are sturdy and sumptuous, symphonic flair throughout adds an air of grandeur. But really kinda hokey throughout, too. Personal prized moments are when songs venture into extended territory over historical tragedy -- i.e. the boisterous buildup of "Rolling Stone" and the smoky space-jazz of "Coming Home". Sections that are both basically vox-less, hmm.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | cjbizzlebizzle | June 26th 17 |
Ulver go synthpop, and to no one's surprise they do it well. The entire album takes on a dark, romantic sort of mood maintaining that feeling throughout without feeling desperate or overtly melancholy, it all comes off as very natural. This atmosphere mixes very well with the clever, interesting lyrical themes that deal with Roman mythology and more modern events like the death of Princess Diana. Musically Ulver stay loyal to the synthesizers but overall the sound is very refined and at times features almost orchestral percussion elements and great guest vocals. Ulver also do well with songwriting. The album finds strength in more straightforward tracks like Nemoralia, Southern Gothic and 1969 as well as more complex efforts like Rolling Stone and Coming Home which move more freely musically. In the end, The Assassination of Julius Caesar is a synthpop album, reminiscent of Depeche Mode, that should be accessible to almost any music fan but contains musical and lyrical depth that elevates it to greatness.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Finn Baker | June 8th 17 |
I dunno about this one. I may listen again later.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | BRAman22 | April 22nd 17 |
It's surprising to hear the band that made my favorite all-time folk metal album back in the 90' just released an electronic prog-pop album. What's more shocking is that it's actually good. If it had a darker tone, you could probably convince me that Trent Reznor had something to do with it. If that isn't an endorsement of quality, I don't know what is. So Falls the World is the best track.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | dihstyle69 | April 19th 17 |
ulver are known to dwelve into new territory time and time again, unafraid to try new things and risk their consistency to achieve new heights. after getting into ambient music, black metal and many other genres, they now gave a shot to synth pop and, surprisingly, this is one of the best efforts they have ever put out. not only that, it's one of the most impressive albums of its genre in quite a while. fantastic, one of this year's best. 4.5+
Bump |
| 3.5 great | zaruyache | April 15th 17 |
avant dance tracks woopy do
Bump |
| 3.5 great | EasterInTheBatcave | April 10th 17 |
Love it. This is super fun, and easily the most straightforward record Ulver have ever released. Among their discography, it's most akin to Blood Inside, but this is less dense and more unabashedly pop-flavoured. Indeed, there are incredibly catchy moments (the chorus on opener "Nemoralia" is the best example), though Ulver don't entirely sacrifice their idiosyncrasies or experimental nature (the outro on "Rolling Stone"). Genre-wise, this is synth-heavy, well, synthpop. Ulver have once again hit it out of the park.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | ItsOnlySkinDeep | April 9th 17 |
There is something here. It's weird...but I like it a lot.
Bump |
| 0.0 | L4titudes | April 6th 17 |
Do any of yall know if I can pick this collection of ditties up at target?
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Bard0 | July 30th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | phylyps | July 28th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dewinged STAFF | June 9th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mad. | April 12th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | DNiewen | April 11th 23 |
| 3.5 great | FunJan | April 3rd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | btati | December 15th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | s8n | November 11th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | btors | September 16th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bren80 | July 5th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | June 7th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Chippe | May 17th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | raddlad | March 25th 22 |
| 2.5 average | Lvxfra | October 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | chwe | October 20th 21 |
| 2.0 poor | sicky | September 3rd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | quetzal | August 25th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Jerrad | August 22nd 21 |
| 3.5 great | cvlts | August 20th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | porc | May 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | DefOs | April 18th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lassie | April 8th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Santet | February 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Juuso | February 7th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Muzz79 | January 27th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | CalinD | November 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Iciph3r | November 1st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brabiz | October 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | kenli | September 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | PG2001 | September 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | aGit | September 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ghlmoedo | September 5th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | nelrock | August 28th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | August 22nd 20 |
| 3.5 great | Spag | August 19th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | July 9th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | gk1979 | June 28th 20 |
| 3.0 good | 2ool | June 27th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | luetin | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sowing STAFF | May 12th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Elynna | April 29th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hanusko | April 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brinner | April 15th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Suyan | February 24th 20 |
| 3.5 great | OmairSh | February 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Majkl | February 12th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Acme | January 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Evenoss | January 7th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | endtell | December 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jadmin | December 13th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Verlix | December 11th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Torger | November 29th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | jfish226 | November 25th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Xavier | November 4th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Archaic | October 25th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Moge | September 11th 19 |
| 3.0 good | Corney | September 4th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | warping | June 10th 19 |
| 3.0 good | Skoop | June 1st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hyper | May 15th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Host78 | April 5th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Chuck | March 19th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Redfive | February 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | kkarron | January 29th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | tbone76 | December 17th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Krpa | December 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Negator | November 19th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alex C. | October 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Risodo | October 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | pumi | October 17th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Akifexx | October 17th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nisraak | October 16th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Yusuf | October 8th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | benkim | September 6th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Boivin | August 16th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Tuoni | July 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Revarf | July 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | stesta | June 7th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Nero | May 25th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Macck | April 23rd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | chayka | March 16th 18 |
| 3.0 good | nicksz | March 15th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Nishe | February 27th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Croojerr | February 20th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | neekafat CONTRIBUTOR | February 19th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gary CONTRIBUTOR | February 16th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Moraff | February 4th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | bremer | January 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | botb | January 1st 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Awake88 | December 27th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jordan M. EMERITUS | December 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | nateiv | December 24th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ariich | December 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | DRusso | December 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Ulshad | December 6th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Rdv | December 3rd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ErnstEf | November 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | November 16th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | neikos | November 16th 17 |
| 3.5 great | TBH717 | November 16th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jan555 | November 15th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Oldboy | November 14th 17 |
| 3.5 great | LamboGD | November 14th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Surtur | November 13th 17 |
| 2.0 poor | doqtor | November 12th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Marci | October 30th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Ka7 | October 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | kevbogz | October 15th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | cherno | October 15th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Prole | October 14th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | October 5th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | UFO | October 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | orakst | October 4th 17 |
| 3.5 great | SuzyC | October 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sebe | October 1st 17 |
| 4.5 superb | unkle | October 1st 17 |
| 3.5 great | Kazooka | September 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Michael | September 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pochi948 | September 21st 17 |
| 3.0 good | Trebor. EMERITUS | September 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kimm | September 18th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Emelic | September 12th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | extract | September 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | IceMole | September 9th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Brandon | September 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | n60storm | September 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Meuric | September 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arkadin | September 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | kx8 | August 23rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | clavier EMERITUS | August 19th 17 |
| 3.5 great | rid | August 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | tellah | August 1st 17 |
| 3.0 good | hsb | July 26th 17 |
| 3.5 great | wg98 | July 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | cndflg | July 10th 17 |
| 3.5 great | bahlof | June 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyrael | June 26th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | zxlkho | June 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ckssr1 | June 16th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Hyndez | June 15th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | KyleW | June 5th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | loulou | June 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | May 30th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | gabez | May 27th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | N2B3J | May 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wizard | May 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Peeps9 | May 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | nadryv | May 18th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Rail | May 12th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | eirinn | May 11th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Steev | May 10th 17 |
| 3.0 good | ti0n | May 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | April 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | progsun | April 29th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Thibs | April 29th 17 |
| 3.0 good | ignika | April 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | blabony | April 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Toolock | April 26th 17 |
| 3.0 good | jmh886 | April 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | April 24th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Zeta | April 23rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | greg84 EMERITUS | April 22nd 17 |
| 3.5 great | tarcus | April 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Agonba | April 20th 17 |
| 3.5 great | rufous | April 19th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Tasty | April 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | April 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Swarm | April 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pangea | April 16th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Wenzel | April 15th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Reeet | April 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ian b. | April 15th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Pulyx | April 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | April 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | rc239 | April 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Edlund | April 12th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Kruppe | April 12th 17 |
| 2.0 poor | Runeii | April 12th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Gbhill | April 11th 17 |
| 3.5 great | JWT155 | April 11th 17 |
| 3.5 great | gilly | April 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mojito | April 10th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jade | April 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | tyler | April 10th 17 |
| 3.0 good | 8genre | April 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Essence | April 9th 17 |
| 3.5 great | TwigTW | April 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkristi | April 9th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | JJKeys | April 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Greem | April 8th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | GhostK | April 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hawks | April 8th 17 |
| 3.0 good | adr | April 7th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | elch21 | April 7th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Jedaum | April 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | El Olam | April 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | April 7th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | April 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | April 6th 17 |
| 3.2 good | manosg STAFF | April 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Drpibb | April 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowan5215 EMERITUS | April 6th 17 |
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