Average Rating: 3.16 Rating Variance: 0.73 Objectivity Score: 90% (Well Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name4.5 superbAlcest Écailles De LuneThis is just a beautiful album. The enchanting soundscapes of Souvenirs from Another World are here in their full splendor. But what's been added in are bursts of black metal that are incredibly strong, well integrated, and used to great effect. The only thing stopping it from being a perfect 5 in my book is that the first half is significantly better than the second half. I do wonder, though, why this album has received so many reviews--is it the influence of Pitchfork? Amorphis Forging the Land of Thousand LakesExcellent package all around. Great set list, top of the line video production values, sound is amazing, performance is top shelf, DVD bonuses (the documentary especially) genuinely intriguing. I think vocalist Tomi Joutsen really adds a lot to the pre-"Eclipse" songs. The medley from Elegy is especially killer. I'm generally not a huge fan of live albums, but I feel this package is essential for any Amorphis fan.Anathema We're Here Because We're HereImmense album and probably the favorite one I've bought this year. The degree of emotional intensity captured is frankly amazing. What kind of distracts me though is that "A Simple Mistake" sounds exactly like a Katatonia song and "Get Off Get Out" sounds exactly like a Porcupine Tree song. Not that there's anything bad about those two excellent groups, but it's still distracting.Arch/Matheos Sympathetic ResonanceJarzombek's drumming kicks the shit out of Mangini on the new Dream Theater album. The songs, except the fifth one which falls into some of the more unsavory cliches of the genre, are killer. Half-point off for solos that don't seem like they organically fit into the songs. A revelatory album. Fans of progressive metal absolutely need to hear this.Sculptured EmbodimentSimplifying things a little, the theory behind the use of 12-tone scale in classical music is that it opens up new musical possibilities beyond the cliched progressions and harmonies which the Western ear has become enslaved to. Sculptured's "Embodiment" fulfills the same function, but in the sphere of metal (I wouldn't call it death metal because that creates certain expectations--see the main review). Listening to this album is like listening to metal from an alternate universe, where different harmonies--if you can call them that--and different arrangements are the norm. It's not for everyone and it certainly takes a few listens, but there are plenty of headbangable grooves on this album, intensely beautiful passages, and some superior and insane drumming. Lyrics to my mind are anything but "childish"--as I understand it, it's a philosophical reflection on dying and the weirdness that we have all these organs inside of us that could fail at any time--why did God make us like that? The half-point off is for the vocals, which could really be better, both clean and growls. But, in sum, this album is a unique musical experience, one that you won't find anywhere else in metal, and that's why I rate it so highly. My favorite Sculptured disc.Shape of Despair Monotony FieldsNot much of a fan of doom metal to be honest, but these guys are just fucking excellent. At the same level as their previous two albums. Welcome back, SoD.4.0 excellentAlcest Le Secret (2011 Version)Wow, the contrast between the re-recorded 2011 versions and the original versions couldn't be more telling. The musical highs and lows can be heard much more clearly on the newer recordings (not to mention the bass). Vocal performance a huge step forward too--Niege has learned a lot in the five year interim. Eagerly counting down to when their next full length is released in Jan 2012!Canvas Solaris IrradianceOne of the best, most consistent, most consistently enjoyable instrumental technical metal bands out there. Plus they're pretty much the only tech metal band that releases something every 18-24 months.Janvs FvlgvresBoth this album and "Vega" are really good. There's black metal here, but there's so much more too. They have their own unique riffs and own unique style. Drum fills are really nice. Highly recommended. Only downside--it was a really stupid decision to name their band "Janvs"--it's unclear whether the "v" should really be a "u." I know it's meant as a throwback to Latin, but it makes Internet searching and marketing difficult.Leprous BilateralI really expected huge things from this album: "Tall Poppy Syndrome" was a superb album and a true grower for me. "Bilateral," while still a great album and also a grower, doesn't quite live up to the previous album. Surprises pop up here and there throughout the songs, which range from catchy (the first and last track especially), to unpredictably progressive (for example, "Forced Entry"), to rather awkward "Thorn," which could have been so much better.Opeth Pale CommunionIn my mind, easily the best and most cohesive of Opeth's three non-metal albums. "Heritage" was extremely scattershot in its approach, lacked memorable riffs, and, worst of all, some of the songs were quite Frankensteinian in how they grafted together musical parts with little to do with one another. These problems have largely disappeared on "Pale Communion." A much more polished effort with some superb vocals from Mikael Akerfeldt. That being said, it doesn't reach the same lofty heights as Opeth's best work (i.e. their metal albums).Scale the Summit The CollectiveBelieve it. Instrumental metal on a par with Canvas Solaris, which for my money was the best and most consistent instrumental metal band out there. Gorgeous melodies, excellent group dynamics, memorable passages abound. "Black Hills" is my personal favorite song, yours may vary.Steven Wilson Grace for DrowningThis is light years better than the last Porcupine Tree full-length, The Incident. It's well-executed, it's atmospheric, it's heavy at times, it benefits greatly from Steven Wilson's superb production. Worth your time and your money. That said, there are portions of the album that just kind of float by. The jazz (particularly the saxophone solos) is integrated in an extremely predictable way. And "Index," which comes sandwiched between the ethereal "Belle de Jour" and "Track One," sounds jarringly out of place to my ears.The Black League Ichor3.5 greatAgalloch Marrow of the SpiritI don't think it's reaches the level of their previous three albums, but it's still Agalloch. I absolutely love the nod to "Nattens Madrigal" that is the beginning riff of "Into the Painted Grey"--melancholic tremolo riff with a touch too much treble over fuzzy sounding, blastbeating drums and bass that are mostly inaudible. That haunting riff that seems to crawl slowly toward the heavens at 5:30 is the best moment on the album for me. For me it's the only Agalloch song on the album (please note that the intro wasn't composed by the group but by Grayceon's cellist) that organic flows and follows an interesting musical progression and doesn't sound pieced together from disparate elements. Other than that it's pretty barren: there are some outstanding moments on "Black Lake Nithstaang," but "The Watcher's Monolith" and "Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires" sound like standard Agalloch fare, except with poorly recorded drums. Oh yeah, and "To Drown" is also on the album. Whatever.Alarum Natural CausesWe'll let the review stand at 4.0 in deference to the prior awesomeness of "Eventuality."Alcest Les Voyages De L'ÂmeI had a hard time settling on a rating for this one. This is very professionally executed, the atmosphere created is great, and I'm really digging this subgenre right now. I rate the album's second track as the best song in Alcest's catalogue--from the unique manner of the harsh vocals coming in to the layering of guitars (a la Agalloch "Falling Snow") as the song rumbles to its conclusion it grips the listener's attention. On the down side, "Beings of Light" sounds like a weak imitation of earlier Alcest, and I'm surprised that it was included here as the spark of creativity is obviously missing.Amorphis The Beginning of TimesAmorphis have consistently done one thing well--write great, memorable, hook-filled melodies. They were present in spades on "Tales from the Thousand Lakes." Same with all their other albums (except for the abyssmal "Far from the Sun"). What seems to be different with this album from other Joutsen-era albums is how many songs' main melodies are played by the keyboard, with the guitars playing a supporting, rhythmic role. That being said, for me, the songs aren't as memorable as those on "Eclipse" or "Skyforger" (my favorite release of 2009, by the way, though fairly unpopular with Amorphis fans compared to its predecessor "Silent Waters," which I personally thought to be bland). Like with most Amorphis albums, the last third (except the album closer) lacks in comparison to the rest. Worth a pick up for fans, but others should probably start elsewhere in the catalogue.Anathema Weather SystemsI think the reviewer nailed it. Although I do wonder, given his valid criticisms, why he's rated the album as "Excellent." Everything here is monumentalized, bigger production, soaring vocal passages that at times soar perhaps a bit too high. "We're Here Because We're Here" had somewhat more of a rock edge, and I personally miss that element. I hear the experience of making "Falling Deeper" in this album.Borknagar UniversalOpening song "Havoc" gets a 5.0. I can't imagine a better Borknagar song. The rest of the album is much weaker, although there are a couple high points.Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn of EventsI 100% guarantee you that if you replace Mangini with Portnoy but keep the music exactly the same, there is nowhere near the same reaction of overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive reviews. In fact, I bet you'd be reading a lot of reviews "same old Dream Theater album, nothing new, nothing exciting, but outstanding musicianship." The biggest difference I noticed is that drums are way back in the mix (would have never happened if Portnoy were producing, fair enough), and you can actually hear Myung fairly clearly. Also, in my opinion, this sounds much more like a continuation of the string of "metal" albums than a return to early Dream Theater. Highlights for me are "Bridges in the Sky" and "Outcry" (the song Muse wish they had written for their previous album--minus the instrumental wank). I hope whichever label exec who approved the cover art gets fired.Ihsahn AfterSolid album, but doesn't reach the level of The Adversary or angL. The stuttering, opening riff is something to hear.Katatonia Dead End KingsYet another Katatonia album that subscribes to the following formula for just about every song: heavy riff intro, instruments lay back replaced by rather ambient atmospheric beats plus crooning and sad vocals for the verse, heavy riff returns for chorus. Repeat twice, throw in a bridge in the middle, and for one or two chosen songs, include a guitar solo. Don't get me wrong, they are the masters of this formula within their genre. Compared to their last three albums, this one sounds more emotional, more intimate, more akin to chamber music. This is good. On the other hand, the heavy parts are not as memorable or crushing (seeing them play this live made this abundantly clear--there is no "Forsaker" or "Leaders" on this album), and they sound a bit derivative of their previous albums. Plus, the variation between songs (except in emotional coloring) is nowhere near as pronounced as on Last Fair Deal Gone Down or Viva Emptiness. A solid album from a truly excellent band, but rating this against Katatonia's eight other full-lengths, I would place this latest effort somewhere in the middle.Pain of Salvation Road Salt TwoAn improvement over Road Salt One. Some truly dark tracks and, as always with PoS, some beautiful songs and vocal harmonies. "Healing Now" and "To the Shoreline" reach the heights PoS scaled in the Perfect Element / Remedy Lane days. My biggest problem with the band of late is the inclusion of corny spoken word passages or musical segments that don't play well the first time through and are simply excruciating on further listening. No such problem on this disc (unless you count the annoying "into the wild" chant = "I am the table!").Vaura SelenelionThis album is just waiting for a full review from someone who loves their music weird, eclectic, and challenging. So many different sounds and influences on this album from song to song. The brilliance of the instrumentation, unfortunately, gets a bit lost in the mix at times.3.0 goodAnathema Falling DeeperDisagree with the reviewer that this is a lazy effort compared to "Hindsight." With "Hindsight," the song structures are basically the same as on the original recordings, but with "unplugged" arrangements plus cello. Here, most of the songs are reworked from the ground up. It's arranged to float by your ears seemlessly over 40 minutes, with melodies splashing over you like waves. It's very nicely put together, but it's not quite my cup of tea, so that explains the 3.0Animals As Leaders Animals as LeadersThere's no doubt that this is a "good" album written by a technically gifted guitarist. It rstarts very spectacularly with "Tempting Time," continues well with the next two tracks, and then...well then, it's just kind of repetitive, dare I say, boring? He can play fast with multiple finger tapping, smooth arpeggios with clean tone, and sweep patterns popularized 15-20 years ago. Yes, all this is true. Sure, you can call it "sick." But the songwriting I find bland (not enough interaction between instruments). If I'm in the mood for instrumental metal, I'm much more likely to reach for other bands, for example, Canvas Solaris (better compositions), Scale the Summit, or Planet X (more interesting polyrhythms). Or for that matter Pat Metheny.Apocalyptica 7th SymphonyIt's true that very little of the unique character of the cello comes across anymore in their songs, which is certainly a bit disappointing (sigh, there's always Grayceon to listen to), but I for one (and it seems like I might be the only one here) like some of the collaborations with vocalists here. Ok, it might be insultingly simple, but it's meant to be simple clean melodies and harmonies. I actually prefer that part of the album to, say, "At The Gates of Manala," which basically cherrypicks a few memorable riffs from their previous albums and reassembles them into one song, or the boring "2010." Lol at "Manon Snikkers"--there are no guitars on this album, just electric cellos.Cynic Carbon-Based AnatomyIt pains me to give Paul Masvidal and Cynic, a musician and a band that has given me so much joy over the years (albeit with huge hiatuses in between), a 3.0. This has nothing to do with the fact there are no Cookie Monster death vocals. I happen to like Masvidal's other projects a lot (Portal and Aeon Spoke--check them out!), and those are much less heavy than this EP. It's the fact that there is only one song out of six (the title track) that lives up to standard Cynic has set on Focus and Traced in Air, which admittedly is hard to reach, but, hey, that's their job.ICS Vortex Storm SeekerLove Simen Hestn?s vocal performance here--lots of different styles, majestic and towering, unique, but probably love/hate in the same way that Getty Lee's vocals are (for the record I'm on the "love" side for him too).rThere's also a variety of musical styles here--the aggressive black metal opener, folkier riffs, Norwegian proggy stuff. Asgeir Mickelson's drumming is immense as usual. Almost all the tunes are catchy, especially on the first half. So why the 3.0? Because there's nothing complex enough or truly outstanding enough to hold this listener's attention beyond the first few spins. Not quite on the level of those Borknagar and Arcturus that Hestn?performed on.Illogicist The Unconsciousness of LivingThis is the only band in the world that I know of that's lifted their sound from "Symbolic"-era Death. Obviously, they don't do it as well as Chuck and co., but it's still a good album (though not as strong as their previous, "The Insight Eye").Iron Maiden The Final FrontierReally weird in that the best tracks are on all the second half of the album, which would get a 4.0 or 4.5 from me on a standalone basis. It's like that Biblical parable where all the good wine is saved for the end of wedding--why do it that way? "Starblind" especially is beautifully constructed and what a vocal performance. As a whole, I don't rate the album as highly as "A Matter of Life and Death."Opeth In Live Concert at the Royal Albert HallI'm as big as an Opeth fan as the next guy, especially of Blackwater Park, but there are some serious flaws with the production choices on the DVDs. For one, the editing--a new camera angle every 3.4 seconds, no focus on the guitar solos. For two, the fluorescent tape on the back of Mendez's basses is an eyesore. Lastly, and most damningly, I find the guitars much too raspy, too thin, and too tilted towards highs and mids.Pain of Salvation Road Salt OneA far cry from Perfect Element or Remedy Lane, but at least it's better than the atrocious "Scarsick."Virus (NO) The Agent That Shapes The DesertDiehard VBE/Virus fan here. But I agree with the reviewer, there's not much here that stands out. First track is absolutely superb, the rest is pretty formulaic! Uniquely Virus, true, but still formulaic according to their patented Virus formula. Even the "respite" in the middle of the album is the same as "The Black Flux"--a two-minute floating track #5 on a nine-track CD.2.5 averageBorknagar UrdDream Theater Dream TheaterMeh, really don't understand why they chose to self-title this album. There's nothing new here. And the songs, with a couple of exceptions, are pretty boring. Myung's role does pleasantly expand here, but I find LaBrie's vocals to be less striking than usual. Never was a fan of the selection of Mangini as "new drummer," who for the second straight album doesn't seem to add anything new.Enslaved Axioma Ethica OdiniI've admire Enslaved since their very early days, and I regularly listen to their early stuff, middle-career stuff, as well as their newer stuff (ISA and Ruun are stellar), but quite frankly I haven't been able to get into either Vertebrae or Axioma Ethica Odini. I'm not sure why. I just feel there are two or three standout songs on each of those two albums and the rest is rather samey.Ihsahn EremitaPersonally, I found this album boring, not fresh at all, and inferior to Ihsahn's other three solo albums (to say nothing of his work in Emperor).Lake of Tears IllwillHas Lake of Tears regressed since the Headstones-Crimson Cosmos-Forever Autumn era or have I become a more demanding listener with more sophisticated tastes? Probably a bit of both, but this album just doesn't click for me. Biggest surprise on album: the last two songs are tinged with some faint black metal stylings! These guys are surprisingly big in Russia. Who knew?Lantlos .neonWhen you're doing a combination of two different styles, each style needs be executed well for a good album to come out. I find the black metal elements on the album rather monotonous and boring to be honest. They could have definitely benefited from a real drummer. The mix leaves a lot to be desired too--it sounds a bit washed out, not crisp at all. The hypnotic post-rock parts add a lot though to the black metal when done in tandem and are executed fairly well. The last track, ".neon" is basically the exact same as the closing track on their self-titled, which I find a bit frustrating.October Tide A Thin ShellNot bad, but not nearly as good as October Tide's previous two albums. I think the reviewer hit the proverbial nail on its head--the album rarely goes beyond the cliches of the genre. And when it does, it's doesn't reach the heights of some of Finland's purveyors of melodic doom (for example, when Rapture moves beyond the cliches).Opeth HeritageI'm a huge Opeth fan, and I'm also a fan of 70s prog (King Crimson, Camel, etc.). But I'm not a fan of this album. It's sounds disjointed and stitched together with Silly Putty. "Folklore" for me is the clear standout. The "God is dead" line in "Devil's Orchard" is the single worst moment in the Opeth catalogue, and drops the rating to a 2.5 for me.rFor all the talk of things new on this album, I've heard almost of all of these riffs before on previous Opeth albums. It doesn't seem fresh or inspired to me.Solefald Norron LivskunstDon't get me wrong, there are moments (and a song or two) on here that I really quite enjoy, but this is the kind of album that's listened to a few times then disappears from one's mental radar for months or years. I've felt pretty much the same about every Solefald album, I guess, yet have somehow, much to own surprise, managed to collect them all.Wolves in the Throne Room Two HuntersSimply a boring album with repetitive, drawn-out riffs (think doom metal), and one not executed very well at all. If these guys weren't American, I doubt you would have ever heard of them. Cliched lyrics song titles and lyrics don't help either. On the positive side, the last song has some truly inspired parts, which saves the album from an even worse rating. And what the fuck is up with people comparing them to Emperor? They are far, far away from them--musically, talent-wise, and in terms of writing memorable and heavy riffs.Woods of Ypres Woods 4: The Green AlbumWoods of Ypres albums are always too long. I think the best stuff is found on the first four songs plus a few select moments in the remaining 12 songs. So, overall it's average, but the slightly out of tune vocal lines of Woods of Ypres always attract me for some reason, if only because they sound sui generis and are at times insanely catchy. About the lyrics: to be honest, I really don't find them any more ridiculous and cheesy than those of the typical metal band, much less the typical black metal band. They are painfully personal and this breaks an unwritten taboo in metal but so what. Singing about castles, darkness, sorcerers, and the like is better? If I want lyrics, I'll listen to Rush or better yet read some classic literature.2.0 poorDevin Townsend Project AddictedI know a few people who swear by Devin Townsend. They keep telling me how good he is. I have SYL "City," which is a sick album, yes, but one I never listen to. I also have "The New Black" and "Ocean Machine," but I do not care for either of them at all. But, what the hell, in deference to my fellow metalheads, I thought I should take a chance on some of Devin Townsend's newer stuff, if only for Anneke's voice. Unfortunately, I cannot say I care too much for this album either, so much so that it puzzles me why others like it so much.Lantlos AgapeYou know your album sucks when you've contrived to make the interesting song ("White Miasma") a bonus track. The other five songs just kind of wander here and there, really insipid really.1.5 very poorAndy Winter IncomprehensibleIncomprehensibly poor for such an outstanding musician.Hybrid (ES) AngstListened to it online. It's awful. For the life of me, I don't understand why some users feel strongly enough about the album to rate it "Superb," but then won't write about it to explain why it's such an incredible album. Especially when it's obviously not.Tarja Turunen What Lies BeneathDisappointing...I can think of about 4 or 5 inspired moments on the album and that's about all. Thankfully, nothing as godawful as "Poison" on My Winter Storm (though "Anteroom of Death" gives it a run for its money), but that doesn't mean much.1.0 awfulSentenced To Dissection Between the WorldsTo be honest, I only listened to a minute and it was so awful that I couldn't continue. I justify my rating in part based on the shitty band name.
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