Average Rating: 4.01 Rating Variance: 0.38 Objectivity Score: 55% (Somewhat Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAspid кровоизлияние (Extravasation)At the Drive-In Relationship of CommandBlue Oyster Cult Secret TreatiesBorknagar EmpiricismCardiacs On Land and in the SeaMy personal favorite album of all time, both the most representative and strongest Cardiacs release. "Mare's Nest" and "Leader of the Starry Skies" are my favorite tracks, but all are fantastic.Cardiacs Sing to God A very unique album, even for Cardiacs. This is them at their poppiest (for most of the album) and a lot of the tracks breeze by... but since there are a whopping 22 of them it's still quite long. This greatly mitigates my only real problem with the album: the last few songs seem to slow the pace down so much and generally not be interesting enough of songs to really end the album on the right note. Anyway, considering the lineup changes, relatively large gap of time between releases, reasonably major stylistic changes, and sheer amount of totally new material, the album is remarkably good and contains some of the best moments in the Cardiacs discography (such as the solo in "Fiery Gun Hand", the first Cardiacs song I heard) as well as a few songs widely appreciated by fans ("Dirty Boy" and "Bellyeye", for example). Not the best starting point if you want longer, proggier songs, but definitely an essential listen eventually.Deathrow Deception IgnoredKlabautamann MerkurI've been listening to and greatly enjoying this a lot recently, and it just hit me that there's no good reason for me not to 5 it. Seamless integration of prog and black metal, not a dull song or passage, great lyrics (at least the ones in English, I haven't seen translations), and a few ridiculously beautiful songs.rIf you like prog and black metal I couldn't think of a way to keep you from this album if I wanted to.Led Zeppelin Physical GraffitiNokturnal Mortum Goat HornsPink Floyd Wish You Were HerePink Floyd AnimalsRush Moving PicturesSikTh Death of a Dead DaySpirogyra St. RadigundsWonderful progressive folk that (particularly on the first half or so) sounds like you handed a typical 70s prog band folk instruments and a fantastic female vocalist. Prominent bass, violin, and often piano along with acoustic guitar weave my favorite folk album of all time. No track is bad, but my personal favorites are "Cogwheels, Crutches and Cyanide", "Magical Mary" and "The Duke of Beaufoot", which are essentially the album's epics, and the meat of the album. The shorter tracks (even the ones that are essentially long interludes, like Captain's Log) complement them perfectly. Last mention - the lyricism here is often great... I usually don't care much about lyrics but this is an exception.Stratovarius VisionsThe Clash London CallingThe Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric LadylandThin Lizzy Jailbreak4.5 superbAfter the Burial Rareform (Re-release)Amogh Symphony The Quantum Hack CodeWe may have compiled our "Best of 2010" lists too early.Blue Oyster Cult Fire of Unknown OriginBoston BostonBurden of a Day Blessed Be Our Ever AfterCardiacs Heaven Born and Ever BrightA little bit of an oddball in Cardiacs' discography, this is pretty much their noisiest record - with a lot of "wall of sound" type songs (see "Anything I Can't Eat") and many infectious choruses (e.g. "Bodysbad"). Aside from that, I kind of have trouble picking out exactly how I feel about it - I like it a bit less than some of their other material but it definitely has its own thing going for it, and there are times when I just feel like I HAVE to listen to it for its incredibly infectious moments. My favorites are "March", "Bodysbad", and "Core".Cardiacs The SeasideAlthough it suffers from poor production and probably Tim Smith's worst vocal performance, the Seaside would see the first release of (and in many cases the most well-played versions of) several Cardiacs classics, for example R.E.S.Closure in Moscow The Penance and the PatienceDark Moor The Hall of the Olden DreamsEnsiferum IronGiant Squid CenotesHesitant to slap a 5 on something quickly, and that's honestly about the only reason it's not yet.Gojira The Way of All FleshHaken AquariusKing Crimson RedKing Crimson In the Court of the Crimson KingLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IINo Consequence In the Shadow of GodsOingo Boingo Only a LadPink Floyd The Dark Side Of The MoonProtest the Hero KeziaScartown Крик Мертвой СвободыThe Eyes of a Traitor A Clear PerceptionThe Number Twelve Looks Like You MongrelUnexpect _We, Invaders4.0 excellentA Lot Like Birds Plan BAnamnesis Myth of IdealArchons The Consequences of SilenceBlue Oyster Cult Agents of FortuneBlue Oyster Cult Blue Öyster CultCardiacs A Little Man and a House and the Whole World WindowI don't seem to like this as much as many Cardiacs fans for some reason. This is them at their closest to progressive rock, with punky tempos and beats as a rarity and the general energy level, noisiness, and pop structure all a bit toned down as compared to other releases. Even the previous production issues are largely gone. It's still Cardiacs and still sounds like them, though. Oh, and it also contains versions of many of their most well-known songs (e.g. "R.E.S." and their biggest commercial success, "Is This the Life?") which is probably one of the reasons why so many fans love it so much. Anyway, I will admit there are some real gems and great moments on here, for example I'm quite partial to "Whole World Window" and "Victory Egg".Chiodos All's Well That Ends WellClosure in Moscow First TempleConcept Insomnia KaleidoscopeThe vocals aren't perfectly polished, and the songwriting is slightly inconsistent. These small flaws withstanding, it's a very enjoyable and well-made album - cohesive yet varied and with many unique moments.Dance Gavin Dance Dance Gavin DanceDance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle MountainDark Moor The Gates of OblivionDreamshade What Silence HidesEnsiferum EnsiferumEsoteric Paragon of DissonanceDidn't quite grow on me like I thought it would, still a great album though.In Fear and Faith VoyageJag Panzer Casting the StonesThe song "Vigilant" contains audible bass. In power metal. If that isn't enough to excite you, it happens to be the best song in the album (imo). The entire album, however, is solid. Nothing is lackluster in any fashion - the instrumentation is the kind of catchy that doesn't wear off. The guitar, however, stands out a bit, largely because of great solos as the one in "Tempest". A unique and strong power metal album that isn't quite revolutionary or influential enough to warrant a 5, but perhaps a 4.5.Jamie's Elsewhere They Said a Storm Was ComingKhors Return to AbandonedYou guys are crazy. This has dense atmospheres and a great amount of variation. I might have to tweak this rating a bit but this is a very good album.Led Zeppelin PresenceLower Definition The Greatest of All Lost ArtsLower Definition MothsOh, Sleeper Son of the MorningOingo Boingo Nothing to FearOingo Boingo Dead Man's PartyPierce the Veil Selfish MachinesProtest the Hero FortressProtest the Hero ScurrilousSettle The Sky Now That We're WaitingSoilwork The Chainheart MachineSpirogyra Old Boot Wine"World's Eyes" is quite possibly the best song the band ever made, but the disc is overall a little samey and inconsistent, with some sections that drag on a bit and could've used a bit more of the masterful progressive songwriting displayed throughout St. Radigunds. But it's still a very fine release and a little different from the band's other material overall. Initially I found it noticeably worse than Spirogyra's other releases, but it's grown on me a lot... it might surpass Bells, Boots and Shambles in my eyes, soon.Spirogyra Bells, Boots and ShamblesI've talked with those who consider this Spirogyra's best, but it doesn't quite reach up there for me. It's quite good though - perhaps a bit more restrained than their earlier work and less outright proggy (quite likely why I don't enjoy it as much). The closing "In the Western World" is a fine epic track, true to Spirogyra's form, and there are no notable shortcomings to really speak of. I just don't get into it as much.Stigma Concerto For The DeadThe Absence From Your GraveThe Broken Result RecursiveUndoubtedly my favorite band and album from Africa, The Broken Result's debut album Recursive stands as a haunting journey that effortlessly flows between lilting melodic sections, harsh technical ones, and eerie atmospheres. Backed with superb songwriting and just the right degree of production, the album is a powerhouse.The Crimson Armada GuardiansThe Human Abstract NocturneThe Number Twelve Looks Like You Worse Than AloneThe Word Alive DeceiverThe Word Alive EmpireThis or the Apocalypse Haunt What's LeftUnexpect Fables of the Sleepless EmpireNot familiar enough with it yet to call it a 5, but (as everyone's saying) it's Unexpect's first album to take their chaotic brilliance and successfully mold it into catchiness and melody.Uriah Heep SalisburyWe Came As Romans To Plant a Seed3.5 greatA Skylit Drive Wires...and the Concept of BreathingAfter the Burial Forging a Future SelfAlesana Where Myth Fades to LegendAlesana The EmptinessChiodos IlluminaudioConducting from the Grave When Legends Become DustCutting Pink With Knives PopuluxxeRidiculously fun, and it only requires an investment of about 25 minutes. It's a little inconsistent and the beginning is a bit worse than the rest of the album, but everything's quick enough that it's not a huge deal. Highlights include No Falcons, Airz, and Montreal, Renegade. Also, there're some cool lyrics. Just don't take anything about it too seriously and you can probably enjoy this.Enter Shikari Anything Can Happen in the Next Half HourGenesis TrespassHaste the Day Attack of the Wolf KingLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IIIletlive. Fake HistoryMemphis May Fire Memphis May FireSaosin SaosinShai Hulud Misanthropy PureSkyfire EsotericSylosis Conclusion of an AgeThe Absence Riders of the PlagueThe Color Morale We All Have DemonsThe Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as LoveWe Came As Romans DreamsWithin the Ruins InvadeWoe, Is Me Number[s]3.0 goodA Skylit Drive AdelphiaA Skylit Drive She Watched the SkyAdestria Oh The Places You'll Go EPAlesana On Frail Wings of Vanity and WaxBroadway KingdomsBuilt on Secrets ReflectionsCardiacs GunsUnfortunately, Cardiacs' worst release is their most recent one. I sometimes feel as though I underrate it, but I really never do feel like listening to it over another album of theirs. But it's by no means bad either, I guess... "Ain't He Messy Though" is my favorite track, if I remember correctly. I can't wait for the day when Tim Smith is well enough to record another release, and hopefully top this one, if the time since has been kind to the band. Their discography deserves a better end.Conducting from the Grave RevenantsEvita Minutes and MilesIn Fear and Faith Your World On FireIvoryline VesselsMemphis May Fire Between the LiesThe Demonstration Accidents With IntelligenceThe Eyes of a Traitor By SunsetThe Human Abstract Digital Veil2.5 averageIn Fear and Faith ImperialIvoryline There Came A Lion
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