JenovaStark

Love it. This is the first album with Meegs Rascon of Coal Chamber fame on guitar. Their second album was good but I didn't think the singles were especially strong. This one is pretty much on par with the great singles off their debut album.

It's good, but it all sounds a bit "samey" to me (which isn't uncommon on AILD records). Wish there was a little more variety in the song structures, like an Anodyne Sea or an Anger and Apathy. Not sure if it's the performance or recording, but Tim's vocals don't have as much impact as past records. This is definitely Josh's best album though, he really stepped it up on the melodies. Undertow stood out as the best non-single first listen through. Redefined is the best heavy song. Gatekeeper was the most experimental and different song. The Powerless Rise remains their best album to me, but this one seems better than Awakened.

3 hours ago, SickMan_AIC said:

 

Where are all the ridiculous gutturals and lows? I'm still holding the belief that Dickie can't do them anymore.

I haven't memorized the album yet, but the lows seem to be all over the place. As an example, Swinaecologist, when he says "a stadium of savagery, hear the cries of the talent, witness my beauties on display, behold my vision of rampant lust". Also, the last version of the chorus where he says "come one, come all". If that's not what you're talking about then what guttural off the EGG is lower than that?

5 hours ago, Brad . said:

Loving the downvotes. Fuck me for thinking the people who write lyrics about raping dead babies until their intestines fall out are bad people. Whoever genuinely listens to this crap needs to take a look at themselves. There's separating the artist from the message, but this is too much. And no, it isn't relevant if this song doesn't contain any filth, plenty of their others ones do, enough to give a good idea of what these vile cunts stand for. 

So when you watch a horror film, are those movies immediately bad because the killer does horrific shit in it? Death Metal is basically  the metal equivalent of a horror film. And on this new album they even made it less realistic by venturing into the realm of fantasy. Just look at the album cover. That's some Lord of the Rings shit, and the album describes specific demon characters now like the Childchewer, the Three Bastards, Swineacologist, ect. Feels closer to Diablo or Doom now. Do you imagine if demons were having a battle with corrupt priests they'd be cool and only do fucked up shit to fully grown adults? 

Sounds like they're about to achieve the hat trick with three consecutively amazing albums.

4 hours ago, Frak The Gods said:

That's what I'm saying. 

 

 

 

It's more the fact that talking about Trump at this point is just low hanging fruit. Pretty much the entire entertainment industry has been united in anti-Trump criticism, so adding yet another voice to the pile is boring and uninspired. It also squarely dates the music so probably won't age well. There's nothing wrong with politics in music, but I think what the others are saying is that it's better when the message is more universal and timeless.

I had a shit eating grin on my face and chills the entire time listening to this. I don't know how they manage to keep evolving their sound album after album (and with all they've been through) and keep getting better and better. Almost every band, even the great ones, eventually hit a point of falling off or at least diminishing returns, yet this new AILD is more refined and perfected than most of their discography, and that discography includes some of my favorite albums of all time. As someone who has been singing their praise since Shadows Are Security it's incredible to see who these guys have grown as musicians. 

A Perfect Circle - Eat The Elephant was AOTY for me.

Even when he was alive many of the songs he released were short like that. Take "Riot", my personal fav song by him, which clocks in at just 1:18. That was part of his gimmick. Pretty sure the short tracks were to take advantage of the YouTube era, whether due to the short attention span of millennial's, or just to rack up views for ad revenue.

I don't get the hate people give these guys for this style change. I can understand wishing they stuck with the Hollow style, but they put out several albums after that which were pretty close to that sound. Sure, the new music is more simple and radio friendly, but it still sounds good, largely because of of Kellen McGregor's guitarwork, and Matty's awesome vocals and melodies (although the screams do sound subpar here, and what the hell was that rap part).

I'm someone who got into them with This Light I Hold then went back and discovered the greatness that is The Hollow. They couldn't replicate The Hollow in like 3 albums so it makes sense they changed it up a bit. I don't have a problem with either direction

This is a pretty good song in their more recent radio friendly style. Much better than Bring Me The Horizon's latest single. Even noticing some nu-metal influence on the riffs and almost rapping bridge. There's some really good melodies and singing from Matty on this one.

I don't know why the metal community can't get over the elitist attitude towards bands making catchier music. I mean, it's not like they went full on All That Remains and started making wimpy ballads. This still has heaviness and aggression, it's just more basic and more produced sounding. 

48 minutes ago, The Top Hat said:

This song slays. Never listened to them before now. All their songs this good? Cleans and uncleans wise? 

I would start with Shadows are Security which is the first album with this lineup of band members, although a different bassist/clean singer. It was a defining album of the metalcore genre and a good foundation of their catalog. The riffs are simpler but still kickass and the screams are a little less structured.

If you want to get right into this current sound though then start with An Ocean Between Us.

Song Recommendations:
Meaning In Tragedy, Confined, The Darkest Nights, Nothing Left, An Ocean Between Us, Anodyne Sea (imo, their best song), Anger and Apathy, Overcome, Paralyzed.

8 hours ago, Soilworker said:

Yeah who needs sleep right now. This will be my sleep for the night. So far a rock solid album. Going to be another front-to-back constant listen for me.

 

Also the album cover makes for the perfect phone home screen.

Cool homescreen. What phone is that?