| | Full Review | Ratings (716) |
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| 5.0 classic | zxlkho | July 8th 17 |
"Musical scholars unanimously agree that it is the greatest metal album ever made." -Wikipedia
13 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | September 24th 17 |
It would appear that Chelsea Wolfe has now leaned completely into those delicious doom metal influences that gave Abyss a lot of character, and for what it's worth, Hiss Spun is pound-for-pound the heaviest album she's ever penned. It's an obvious change even from the plodding opener "Spun" and very apparent when those sick growls come through on "Vex". The songs have an undeniable ebb and flow to them, the bass swarming over what sparse guitar riff refrains the song like waves upon a beachfront. Wolfe's vocals are typically excellent, with the airy etherealness of her voice morphing with the already hazy atmosphere to create a very hypnotic feeling. In this regard, Hiss Spun does do a lot of the things albums past were able to accomplish, but the path taken to get to the point is very much a different one. This is the record many have been waiting for her to create, and it definitely does not disappoint.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | thelamestallion | October 8th 18 |
It's a great and precise album, but it kinda
gets lost in the shadow of "Abyss", which was
less precise but more intuitive and empathetic
- a lot more important accomplishment for
music.
"Hiss Spun" kinda dangerously parasites on the
ideas of her previous album, while its own
character doesn't have that much to offer. The
heaviness here is no longer veiled by a lofi
sound aesthetic, and we got this trademark
Kurt Ballou (Kevin Churko of underground)
sound and now everything sounds generic. The
album lost one thing that was crucial to
"Abyss": contrasts that made it so effective
and memorable. "Hiss Spun" relies on
heaviness, but it's a lot more explored
territory. It still contains some pretty
quality hooks (mostly never as good as those
of "Abyss" tho), but they're not enough to
compensate the shortage of
aesthetics.
If "Abyss" was shifting between some
lightweight melancholy and some pretty
profound darkness, then here we don't have
these dynamics to be carried by: we're put
wholly into a tar of this deep and
uncompromising desperation; and although a
late and abrupt highlight "Offering" tries to
mix things up a little bit, as well as a deja
vu-inducing "Two spirit", the album ends up
emotionally static and therefore lot more
wearying, maybe purposefully but nevertheless
not quite to its own good.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Trey STAFF | December 25th 17 |
There was a 90s record label called Projekt Records that specialized in lush, etheral, albums that trended towards breathy female vocals, lush, yet minimal, instrumentation, and an abundance of atmosphere. I imagine if one of those bands ever decided to do a doomy/post metal-ish release it would sound exactly like this. Despite the use of guitars, drums, and bass, the music itself leans towards an almost abstract and ethereal sound that just so happens to revel in a gritty/heavy space that is entirely unexpected. It?s unexpected because Chelsea Wolfe?s vocals are so? how do you even describe her voice? They?re soft, yet sinister. They kind of drift over the music, but are still the focal point. They?re sweet sounding, but dark as hell.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | meenwolf131 | November 9th 17 |
creation of the dark matter / combination and blurred boundary of doom, sludge, metal create such a solid atmosphere that drive the vibes to the explosive soundscape
Bump |
| 3.5 great | cjbizzlebizzle | November 6th 17 |
The queen of gothic rock and darkness returns in 2017 this time adding several cups of doom metal to her signature mix of goth rock and darkwave. The electronics are noticeably dialed back in comparison to her 2015 masterpiece 'Abyss' and the songwriting simpler. This formula on the whole creates the most approachable Wolfe album to date and one where it wouldn't be surprising to hear the best tracks, Vex, Twin Fawn, Static Hum and 16 Psyche in a more mainstream/popular setting. Chelsea deserves enormous credit for this feat considering her music has evolved naturally and she has not sold her soul to make these changes. So why isn't Hiss Spun her best album yet? Beyond those four tracks the rest of the music is just not as dynamic and many of the songs just sound like less good versions of those four. The album also lacks the extreme highs and lows in atmosphere and flow she was able to find in past releases; some of the tracks here feel more disposable. All of this together, Chelsea is still one of the most interesting artists of the last five years carving out a niche sound of mainly gothic rock and darkwave that one can instantly identify as Wolfe material due to her excellent vocals. Hiss Spun is an essential 2017 listen but not as addicting or jam packed with essentials as other 2017 releases or Chelsea's 'Abyss'.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Chuggy | September 15th 17 |
Chelsea Wolfe delivers her strongest album yet.
Dark, suffocating and soaked in despair. Where abyss had bouts of shoddy songwriting Hiss Spun manages to make every
song count where it needs to whilst balancing the softer and heavier sides in a way not seen before from her.
Songs like 16 Psyche, Vex, Particle Plux and Scrape show her and the band at their creative peak.
The production here is easily one of the standouts with its crisp guitars and excellent vocal mixing. Kurt Ballou has used all
the tricks he has to make an album worthy of his name.
If you were ever on the fence about Chelsea Wolfe this album will easily make you a fan.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | steigi | September 6th 17 |
Such an intense overall experience and the production is suberb! Their best Album so far in my opinion!
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Brady Hayes | September 5th 17 |
Of course Kurt Ballou would produce such a monster
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | withateethuh | August 27th 17 |
This album does an incredible job of fully embracing a much heavier sound while still maintaining
her trademark atmosphere and delicately unstable songwriting. It is everything its hyped to be.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Nikkolae | August 9th 17 |
A lovely change of pace from the more slow burning "Abyss"
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Panzerchrist | August 5th 17 |
This album beat my ass and took my lunch money...
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | the strange autumnal pleasure of 5-ing a 3.5 | August 5th 17 |
By turning up the guitars and putting her more gossamer musical ideas aside, the Wolfe has released her most crushing, visceral album yet. All that blank space in her sound has been filled in, with gritty, doomy guitars and pitch-black noise. Over all the scorched earth and ash, she weaves her grim poetry and howls for the moon. Though I'm sure we'll hear her gloriously understated, quieter side again, for now we have what is certainly the most substantial Chelsea Wolfe album so far, and maybe her best.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Merlijn | September 3rd 25 |
| 4.5 superb | Dewinged EMERITUS | February 20th 25 |
| 3.5 great | Brabiz | September 2nd 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Lani | June 13th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | DType | May 3rd 24 |
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| 3.5 great | El Olam | February 15th 24 |
| 3.5 great | DadKungFu EMERITUS | February 13th 24 |
| 3.0 good | doofy | February 9th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | kkarron | January 17th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | MaSuPe | January 14th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | heuhe | October 11th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo05 | June 26th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Timmy | January 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | December 15th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | December 1st 22 |
| 3.5 great | btors | September 16th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kinski | September 12th 22 |
| 3.5 great | remi | August 28th 22 |
| 3.5 great | ariich | August 4th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | kanker | July 1st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | lurxy | June 23rd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | jd0247 | March 28th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alpisko | March 19th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | GLaDOS | November 13th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | eirinn | November 7th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | ParoXysm | September 29th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | K3nsei69 | February 17th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | KingZal | February 5th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vaka | January 7th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | carved | November 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | August 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Chili | June 25th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Moshin | May 11th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | valek | April 26th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | rifkadm | April 1st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | neikos | February 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | ghworin | January 27th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | h0rsie | January 15th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Luxx | December 13th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | sman789 | November 12th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lieder | November 7th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zeuzo | October 20th 19 |
| 3.5 great | cazzill | September 30th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aeon89 | September 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | madtwoo | September 26th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Risodo | September 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | rafalafa | September 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | FakeOne | September 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | September 13th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Moge | September 11th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mathias EMERITUS | September 10th 19 |
| 3.5 great | zzf1918 | September 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | mobman47 | September 6th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | August 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jaxer | August 23rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | hsb | August 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Luisito | August 11th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | shanks | July 12th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | kleggi | June 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | warping | June 10th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS98 | April 2nd 19 |
| 3.5 great | Erwann S. EMERITUS | January 19th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Codah | December 17th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Pangea | December 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo005 | November 29th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | ARDCWE | November 2nd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | dunnope | October 28th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Djang0 | October 13th 18 |
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| 3.5 great | Coast | October 7th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Juca89 | September 6th 18 |
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| 3.5 great | KevinMM | September 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | August 28th 18 |
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| 5.0 classic | bSmith | July 3rd 18 |
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| 3.5 great | Santet | April 4th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | YourDad | March 31st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Viot | March 20th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Basara | March 16th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | February 27th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | SweetAsh | February 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | jdubbs11 | February 22nd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Soupjan | February 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | alamo | February 16th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Inveigh | February 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tritium | February 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnimas | February 8th 18 |
| 4.2 excellent | A.R.O. EMERITUS | February 2nd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Egarran | February 1st 18 |
| 2.5 average | ian b. | January 16th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | patol | December 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | alsid | December 29th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | d-503 | December 29th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | kx8 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano2 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano1 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano | December 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | pumi | December 27th 17 |
| 3.0 good | qdgyu | December 26th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | junyi15 | December 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Airbag95 | December 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jedaum | December 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | orakst | December 22nd 17 |
| 3.5 great | Guiltor | December 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Essence | December 18th 17 |
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| 4.0 excellent | Fear | December 10th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | December 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Ulshad | December 6th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | wwirusz | December 3rd 17 |
| 2.0 poor | Rdv | December 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | JS19 | November 29th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | November 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | robotore | November 12th 17 |
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| 4.5 superb | Simon K. STAFF | September 18th 17 |
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| 4.5 superb | Eames | July 31st 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Wolfe | June 16th 17 |
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