Average Rating: 3.11 Rating Variance: 1.18 Objectivity Score: 93% (Very Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicERRA AugmentI like metalcore. This is exactly what I like to hear when I listen to a metalcore band. Everyone who says this sounds exactly like whatever else you think it sounds like, shut the fuck up. There is not a single metalcore band I would confuse this album for. I know you're all high and mighty with your Jane Doe or whatever Dillinger or Botch album you like, as if all of their albums don't sound exactly like eachother. Sure, this album won't be for everyone, but give me a fucking break if you praise the homogeneous riffs of those earlier metalcore bands and completely write off the effort and ingenuity put into the guitar work on this album. Put your bias of hating modern metalcore with clean vocals aside and at least give credit where credit is due. Classic modern metalcore album.Invent Animate StillworldAn all around amazing album with top notch metalcore instrumentals, a very talented vocalist and even more talented lyricist. Sure they clearly studied up on their Northlane, but they do it better than Northlane ever did in my opinion. A captivating ambient atmosphere and great hooks round this out as an essential "modern metalcore" album.Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d cityA masterpiece of a hip-hop album that plays like a movie in album format.Night Verses From the Gallery of SleepAmazing instrumental album that is an absolute pleasure to listen all the way through. Every aspect of the album is performed to perfection and there is not a dull moment to be found despite the longer run time. Extra good to listen to when driving at night .4.5 superbERRA NeonErra find somewhat of a balance between the aesthetic and songwriting of their previous effort Drift, and the instrumental prowess of their earlier heavy records. Each song stands on its own as a top notch modern metalcore song, and at only 10 tracks that album flows smoothly and doesn't overstay its welcome. Many will say that other bands have done similar/the same thing, but I strongly disagree. Erra has taken notes from their predecessors and yet they've crafted their own sound with ambient guitar tones, grandiose soundscapes, and riffs with more passion and energy than most other metalcore bands. Rarely is a riff repeated in the exact same way, and while the song structures may be towards the simpler side when you break it down, they always makes sure to change up just enough that it doesn't become overly predictable. There is not much more one could ask for in a metalcore album aside from some more variation in the screamed vocals.Kids See Ghosts Kids See GhostsKanye and Kudi come together to write a short and sweet 7 track project that has no weak spots. Catchy hooks, amazing production and fun lyrics are found throughout. A lot of rappers and even bands in general could learn a thing or two from them about quality over quantity.Polyphia New Levels New DevilsA truly amazing instrumental album that is a pleasure to listen to from front to back. Incredibly outstanding, technical performances by both guitarists, bassist and drummer. Despite what some people with short attention spans or poor listening skills might say, each song has its own theme (vibe, unique set of ideas, whatever term you'd like to use) aside from a select few tracks, which is perhaps the only thing holding this album back from a 5 (although those songs are still fantastic and a joy to listen to).Pusha T DAYTONAPusha T (and Kanye) deliver 7 straight tracks of bars, hooks, and top notch production. Each songs stands out from the rest and the album flows seamlessly from front to back. I only wish it was longer, but then again, perhaps that is what makes this project so fantastic. It satisfies completely and yet leaves me wanting more.4.0 excellentBleed from Within EraA very fun metalcore album that doesn't do much wrong but could probably have been shortened to a nice round 10 songs to make it a little more digestable. Clean vocals aren't the most memorable but some catchy hooks and very solid guitars make this one of the better metalcore albums of 2018.Code Orange ForeverThis album's chaotic and evil sound does not let up for its entire run time, even in some of its softer moments. The vocals are harsh and relentless, and the guitars are crushing and hectic. The tasteful use of electronics and experimentation with sudden and extremely short complete stoppage of sound makes this album truly unique in the genre, and add immensely to its eerie and unsettling nature. Some of the lyrics are a little overly angsty, and some of the riffs/songs outshine others, but overall this is a very solid modern hardcore record, and has me looking forward to whatever they release next.Like Pacific In Spite of MeCertainly one of the best albums pop punk has to offer this year (2018). Very catchy hooks, passionate vocals, some solid riffs, and above average lyrics found throughout. A short tracklist and generally short average song length ensure it doesn't overstay its welcome.Novelists SouvenirsThe questionable lyrics are forgivable when you consider that they are French and still somehow write better lyrics than many bands in the genre that speak English. They're difficult to understand as it is, more or less making the vocals just another instrument, and one that fits well the often laid back, groovy style of metalcore. A decent amount of technicality make the album a fun listen.Oceans Ate Alaska Lost IslesI get that the clean vocals and the overly chaotic sound aren't for everyone, and the lyrical content is average at best, but the technical skill on guitar and drums, along with some pretty strong screamed vocals, make this a stand out record in the oversaturated field of "modern metalcore". Their sound may be derivative but what metalcore band's sound isn't? They take it to a level that most of the contemporaries are incapable of and craft a unique enough sound, particularly with their guitar tones and other wordly drumming, that you'd have to be a fool to confuse them for another metalcore band.Oceans Ate Alaska HikariInsane guitars, next level drumming and solid screamed vocals more than make up for the average lyrics and sometimes underwhelming clean vocals that, while probably more technically sound, have less uniqueness and charm to them than the old clean vocals.Reflections The Color ClearReflections went from being a band that made wankery, insane metalcore with little soul to it, to a band that toned back their wankery in favor of more tastefully implimented/actually memorable guitar riffs, and songs in general. The lyrics may be overly angsty but it doesn't deter me from this very solid metalcore album.Vince Staples FM!Short and sweet album from Vince. Perhaps a little too short, as 3 of the 11 tracks are skits, but at the same time, it's refreshing to see a hip hop album in 2018 that isn't 20+ tracks long for the sake of getting more streams. Vince clearly didn't put any filler songs in here, at least not on purpose. Some solid flows and hooks, but nothing mind blowing or exceptionally catchy. Solid project nonetheless.3.5 greatEarthists. LifebinderI was very torn between giving this a 3 and a 3.5. I would give it a 3.3 if possible, but in the end I settled for the higher score simply because of the energy and instrumental prowess heard throughout the album. Where this album falters in comparison to its predecessor, is in the songwriting, as well as the pacing of the album. Very few of the tracks stand out from the rest, or have much in the way of personality. For the most part they are a collection of very solid metalcore riffs, haphazardly thrown together with some decent but aimless/a bit monotonous screamed vocals. Mostly absent are the far from perfect, but somewhat charming clean vocals found throughout much of their previous album. I feel those cleans gave each song more of an identity, and this album's songwriting is at its best when it tastefully uses the very few clean vocal sections that it does. The pacing is also odd. Of the first 5 tracks (out of 11), 2 are an intro and a interlude,1 is the slowest track (yet possibly the one with the most personality on the whole record), and the other 2 have perhaps the least personality on the record. This makes for a bit of a slow start to the record that initially turned me off. The final 6 tracks are the strongest on the record, aside from the very last track, which features some guest clean vocals that I did not enjoy much at all. Overall, this is a mixed bag of an album, and a bit of a letdown compared to their debut, but if you are looking for some high octane metalcore riffage, this album will likely satisfy.Monuments (UK) PhronesisThe instrumental prowess is clearly there, as is the vocal talent, making this a solid metalcore album by todays standards. Unfortunately this band and album for short of their potential with songwriting that I simply don't find to be that compelling on several songs, with many riffs I find to be interchangeable, and some questionable lyrical content. Great to work out to though!Structures All of the AboveA relentless 5 tracks of technical metalcore that displays some pretty impressive guitar chops, but that doesn't really bring a lot to the table as far as memorable songwriting goes. I find this forgivable as it's the band's debut project and they were likely trying to jam as much instrumental insanity into the 5 tracks as possible to impress a label, as that probably came easier than crafting songs with songwriting skills that they had yet to develop. The small bits of clean vocals were a little forced but overall this is a short and sweet 5 song of EP that you will enjoy if you like intense, technical modern metalcore.The Afterimage EveThese instrumentals hit my sweet spot for what I enjoy in a metalcore song/album. Unfortunately a lot of the clean vocal sections just didn't do it for me. The lyrics were a little questionable, and I feel like if the cleans were implemented a little more tastefully/less frequently, it would have made the album much stronger. They were often overbearing, and I feel if the band had made use of some less traditional song structures, perhaps using each clean vocal passage only one time each, it would have made the album much stronger. Nevertheless, this is very much an above average metalcore album, and an incredible one if you tune in mainly to the instrumental aspects of it.The Story So Far Proper DoseSuch a relief that this band brought back the energy that they abandoned on their previous release, but with a more laid back approach. Exactly what they should have done after What You Don't See, rather than the collection of B-Side quality material found on the self-titled. Some cliche lyrics here and there but a fun album nevertheless.3.0 goodFit for a King Dark SkiesA fine metalcore record that will mostly satisfy one's hunger for heaviness but that is predominately underwhelming when it comes to showcasing the instrumental prowess heard on the lead single Tower of Pain and parts of other songs. Also comes with a healthy dose of cheesy/cliche hooks and subpar lyrics.Ice Nine Kills The Silver ScreamI am not a huge fan of super heavily themed lyrics/music, but with that being said, I think they executed it about as well as they could, aside from a few choruses I found a little underwhelming, and some sections of the instrumentals that I felt they could have added a little more flair to. The vocalist is objectively very talented in both singing and screaming, and the guitarists are talented as well, though I know they're capable of more (see The Predator Becomes The Prey), but I'll always have a soft spot for this band. That being said, I wish they would take the amazing song writing found on their all-time best song, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and apply it to these "theme albums". That would truly be a spectacle. Until then, these guy still put out above average metalcore.Northlane MesmerThe bad: Monotonous screamed vocals and a good chunk of the riffs sound interchangeable from song to song, and just not very interesting. The good: Solid clean vocals and hooks, the occasional flashes of really impressive guitar work, and consistent atmospheric aesthetic that I just wish they'd intertwine with some more impressive instrumental work.Shields Life In ExileI knew this band had potential from their previously released EP's and singles. Unfortunately, it doesn't come through to the fullest extent on their debut full length. The instrumentation, while certainly above average for metalcore, opts for a very djenty/chuggy sound that lacks a lot of the tasty higher end riffs prevously heard by the band, and the production makes it all sound a bit muddy. The albums biggest fault is the over-use of the clean vocalist who, while he may not be the most talented singer ever, can add a nice dynamic to a song when used tastefully (see the track Jordan off their Guilt EP). However on this album, he is used heavily in almost every song. Perhaps this wouldn't be as noticeable if the band used some less traditional song structures, resulting in each clean vocal passage being used only once, but most are repeated 3 times. There are some very catchy hooks to be found, as well as some lackluster ones, and the lyrics range from decent to a little cringy. Overall, this release let me down a bit, and I unfortunately predict the band will do the opposite of what I think would improve their sound going forward, but they have potential so I will hope for the best. Still a decent metalcore album, with some diamonds in the rough (Black Dog in particular).2.5 averageBefore I Turn ClaustrophobicThis album shows some potential, especially from the guitarists, but unfortunately leans way to heavily on super choppy chugs. The vocalists are decent but the lyrics get pretty cringey.Cane Hill Too Far GoneI can appreciate some of the things they're doing and the sound they're going for, even if its not for me, but the lyrics are average at best and they are just trying so hard to sound dark and edgy that it just comes of as forced.Chelsea Grin Eternal NightmareA decent deathcore album. Some awesome guitar riffs mixed in with some kind of bland and forgettable guitar riffs, and some pretty basic chugging when put into the context of todays metalcore/deathcore scene. The new vocalist is solid enough, and the lyrical content isn't horrendous but more miss than hit.For the Fallen Dreams SixWhile I actually enjoy the the overall sound they have going, and can definitely appreciate the effort they put into these above average metalcore/hardcore instrumentals, the lyrics are just painfully cliche/basic/cringey, and the clean vocals are just not something I enjoyed at all. They would have been better off sticking with just the relatively strong screamed vocals. That plus some decent lyrics would have made this a solid album.Of Mice and Men DefyA step up from Cold World, which isn't hard to do. Guitar work is actually decent but the songs are predictable and lyrics are the same cliche lyrics I've heard a hundred times before.SECRETS SecretsFun, poppy "post hardcore" record. Plenty of cheesy, cliche lyrics, but some decent guitar work and some catchy hooks help it not be a drag to listen all the way through. Could do without the "WHOA-OH's" sprinkled throughout.The Plot In You DisposeNothing offensively bad, but nothing super memorable either. Landon seems to be under the impression that his overly melodramatic lyrics don't get a little stale over an entire album (2 now actually, as the last album's lyrics had a similar vibe). Some cool ideas here and there but nothing I'll come back to.The Story So Far The Story So FarParker can't help but repeat the exact same vocal pattern 4-8 times in a row for every verse and every chorus, and every last word of each line has to rhyme perfectly with the next. Get's old after 2 songs, and this album has 10. Some decent songs here and there but just a sad when compared to the fun, energetic effort put into the previous two releases.The Word Alive Violent NoiseThey've managed to somewhat craft a halfway unique sound, at least within the genre they're usually classified in. It's just not a very exciting or interesting one. The pretty corny lyrics don't help.2.0 poorBeartooth DiseaseIf Disney made a hardcore band, it would literally be this band. At least they put in a little more effort on the instrumental side of things. Lyrics as basic and cringey as ever.Blessthefall Hard FeelingsSome solid guitar work, and I've always liked the screamer, but the songs are all predictable, the lyrics are below average, and Beau just isn't that impressive of a singer.Hands Like Houses -Anon.This albums lacks every ounce of passion and creativity that oozed from their first two records and that was at least found here and there on their third record. They've traded in any sort of originality in favor of writing 10 tracks that take lyrics, vocal melodies, riffs and musical motifs that I know I've heard before elsewhere. There was no attempt to write something new and fresh, but rather only an attempt to follow in the footsteps of other bands from the scene (BMTH, WCAR, OM&M) who have traded in the sound that gained them a fanbase in favor of a sound that will gain them mainstream attention. Its worked so far, as I heard a clip of "Monster" during a NFL commerical segue (just like I heard a BMTH song the previous year).Memphis May Fire This Light I HoldSome of the most mind-numbingly boring/cliche/bad lyrics you can find, uninspired vocals, predictable song structures, and guitar work that, while technically decent, hasn't evolved at all from their earlier work. Woof.Parkway Drive ReverenceA sad shell of the band Parkway once was. Some decent guitar work pops up occasionally but boring and predictable songwriting and subpar lyrics make this album a drag.Rain City Drive Beautiful DeathThe Johnny Craig Show. Some decent guitar work here and there that is often overshadowed by Johnny Craig trying so hard to carry this band when in reality they would probably be much better off if he toned it back little (a lot) and allowed it to be more of a group effort. Lyrics are also cringey as hell.State Champs Living ProofThe band strays further away from the youthful, passionate sound they had on the Finer Things, and further towards an over produced, "whoa-oh" soaked, pop rock sound that sounds like Something All Time Low did 10 years ago but much better.The Amity Affliction MiseryWhile I can appreciate the band trying to add a new dynamic to their sound, everything else about the album falls flat. The majority of the lyrics are very cringe, and the instrumentation aside from the electronics, which I thought were actually decent, are dull and forgettable, much like the album as a whole. The lead single Doomsday gave me a little hope that they would vastly improve from their previous effort, which was truly terrible, but they've only managed to improve by the slimmest of margins1.5 very poorBeartooth AggressiveA complete failure by this band in regards to taking everything/ anything positive about their previous release and stepping it up in any sort of way. Extremely predictable songwriting and cliche'/boring/as-basic-as-possible lyrics make this a very passable album.Sylar SeasonsTaking a sound that has been done a million times, 15 years ago, and doing absolutely nothing to innovate it into something new. When rap vocals and grand clean vocal choruses are the main focus of the album, good lyrics are essential. Unfortunately this album has some of the most cringey, cliche, boring and uninspired lyrics I've ever heard. Instrumentation is bland and forgettable. This album has nothing going for it aside from some catchy hooks.We Came As Romans We Came As RomansWe Came As Romans almost completely abandons the sound they had on their first two albums (and 3rd to an extent) in favor of a radio friendly sound that sounds about as fresh and original as... something that is not fresh and original at all. Savior of the Weak? Worst song they've ever written and one of the worst songs in general that I've ever heard.1.0 awfulEscape the Fate I Am HumanHorrendous lyrics that make you wonder if the band seriously wrote them and thought, "These are good lyrics", paired with lifeless instrumental work make this a true struggle to listen through.
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