Round Two results, 5/11Results 1-2 here:
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The Ongoing Concept – Handmade (2015), submitted by LukeFirst impression: Not what I was expecting at all, but this was very enjoyable in a lot of ways. Another one where there’s lots to take in.
Final opinion: What an absolute blast. To be honest there’s very little metalcore I particularly like, but there’s just such a sense of fun, energy and groove in this album and enough melody to make it hugely enjoyable. It’s also super short which helps stop it from getting too much. And of course the fact that they made all the instruments they used on the album is very impressive (right down to chopping wood for the drums, apparently). For my first listen I knew nothing about them except your explanation of the handmade instruments, and seeing the album cover. From those, I was expecting some sort of indie folk or something like that. I couldn’t really have been more wrong, really (with the exception of the first half of Melody, which is definitely closer to what I was anticipating).
Score: 8.5--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voyager – Ghost Mile (2017), submitted by LetheanFirst impression: Sounded quite exciting but has the potential to feel like it jumps around too much, like Lor did last round. Time will tell.
Final opinion: This is really nice, tight, punchy, djenty prog metal, and it gets better with each listen. Unusual vocal style - quite poppy and indie at times and others sounding more like Warrell Dane from Nevermore - but even though it's often pretty far removed stylistically from the music it works surprisingly well. On further listens it doesn't jump around as much as it felt it did on first listen. There are some absolutely cracking tunes, and moments of really cool and original instrumentation. My favourite parts tend to be when they do something unusual. What a Wonderful Day is a particular highlight, fusing elements of metal, musical theatre and more into something quite dark and quirky. Excellent album.
Score: 8.5--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Structural Disorder – ... and the Cage Crumbles in the Final Scene (2018), submitted by TACFirst impression: I can see why you like this so much, but I wasn't entirely convinced by my first listen.
Final opinion: Holy Haken! I mean, the overall sound ends up pretty distinct thanks largely to a very different type of singer (and of course far more use of growls), but damn if some of the riffs and instrumentals aren't very clearly Haken inspired. Which is cool - as you know, I absolutely love Haken - and so in some ways this album speaks to me rather well. But at the same time, it often feels like an inferior version. There's a certain charm that Haken has, particularly in the vocal melodies and overall sound design, but this album lacks for the most part. Still, there's some very tasty stuff, and I think the album is at its best when doing something a bit different, like the unusual use of accordion which adds a quirky bit of character. So I do wonder if they'd benefit from distinguishing themselves a bit more from their influences.
Score: 7.5--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranking so far1= Luoto = 8.5 + 8.0 = 16.5
1= Lethean = 8.0 + 8.5 = 16.5
3 Luke* = 7.5 + 8.5 = 16.0
4 Sacul* = 7.5 + 8.0 = 15.5
5 TAC* = 7.5 + 7.5 = 15.0
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? Parama = 8.5 + ? = ?
? Katt = 8.0 + ? = ?
? LordCost = 8.0 + ? = ?
? Train = 8.0 + ? = ?
? Jingle* = 7.5 + ? = ?
? Puppies* = 7.5 + ? = ?
*on probation until round five
Topic: ariich’s new album roulette, v. totally mad (The End Again: post-roulette Train) (Read 78292 times)