On the Backs of Angels ratings thread

[jlandrus23]

It's easily a 9 for me. This is one of their better songs in quite some time.

[Bone_Daddy]

Based on one listen, on youtube, with crappy headphones, at work, a solid 7. Imagine once I listen to it at home, I'll revisit to upgrade.

This. The youtube quality is pretty crappy. I'm looking forward to hearing the track in CD quality.

On another note, I'm not a fan of the rhythm. It does sound like it was programmed - it's very stiff and not organic.
That sucks as a listener who is a drummer.

Yet on another note, boo-yah on hearing JMX. Great to hear his audio in the mix.

James sounds great. JP is standard JP. Jordan is Jordan.

[ElliottTamer]

Listening to it for the sixth time now and I keep moving between 8,5 and 9,5... Settle for 9 but let's see how things change with time.
I really liked the chorus and most of the composition (I think that's what it is anyway, the "Tears fall from the shameless/ Shelter, guide me to the edge of the water/..."). In my opinion, this songs is definitely DT, but unlike anything they've already released (not better or worse, just unlike), which is a pretty cool accomplishment when you already have 10 albums out...
Anyway, I'm really upset that I cannot have this on my iPod right now... Have to go buy food for the house and can't listen to it anymore!!!

[Durg]

9 for me.  Not "life changing" but awesome!

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

8. And since it's the single and those are always the lesser tracks, my hopes for this album are high.

[CrimsonSunrise]

After 7 or so listens... I'm really hearing a LOT of SFAM and 8V... with maybe a lil 6doit

[PS Head]

A deff 9...great song,loved the JR/JP trade off and thought the opening(right where TCOT finished)was superb......The drums were too far back in the mix and did sound a little stiff though.Maybe im so used to MP having his drum mix so high,it just sounded weird to have a more balanced mix.....Great to here JM for once and cant wait to hear the full album in sept.

[chrisbDTM]

8. its not their best, but sure is amazing

[italianoman]

7/10
Loved the intro and AMAZING guitar solo but I agree with a previous poster, the vocal melodies were not terribly refined nor can I hear them in my head at all and I think, a lot of the time, the song was way too busy for vocals to begin with and/or the vocals were mixed funny (I'll accept that YouTube probably trashed the quality, too ). I also didn't love JR's patches very much. Other than that, still a fantastic song and infinitely better than AROP! How about JP's lead tone though *dies* 'twas beautiful.

[MetalManiac666]

Solid 7.

[wasteland]

After the first listen, I would have said 7. Now it's been five of them, and I go for an 8. The song is growing, and this is good. 

[Perpetual Change]

What I absolutely love about this song is how each member manages to "wow" you with their playing, but it comes naturally with the music and riffing rather than through abrupt solo trade-off sessions.

[Metrovarium]

A definite 9 for me. I can hear I&W in this song, particularly Pull Me Under, at certain parts. I was surprised to hear that they started from where BC&SL left off, but it doesn't hurt the song, so I'm okay with it. The buildup from the acoustic intro to the choir was incredible, and the lyrics are certainly better than those on BC&SL. JLB sounds like he did on Static Impulse, which I enjoyed quite a bit, but I'm hoping for a greater range on other songs in the album. Perhaps it'll even be like TROAE, one of my favorite JLB performances of the last few albums. Overall, this song is growing on me and it certainly raises my expectations for ADTOE.

[Nekov]

5/10

[Dynia]

I would give it 8,5, but since there is no such option, and I like it more and more with every listen, I voted 9. Really an amazing song.

[perfectchaos180]

8/10 after 3 listens

Loved the beginning until the vocals and then from the break to the end

everything else was still pretty good, just wasn't a fan of the verses and chorus

[RaiseTheKnife]

5, with the potential to move up as I absorb it more.

Lyrics and melodies are bold and solid.  

However, production is overly slick.  I can certainly hear Andy Wallace's influence, which I could get used to as it reminds me of the Faith No More sound.

Still not acclimated to Mangini's drumming.  Not sure it has the same intensity and presence I'm used to with DT.

Maybe a hiatus wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all.  JK

[italianoman]

Oh man, for everyone who said it grows on you with each listen; you nailed it...now that I gave it another listen, I'm REALLY digging it. The melody is ALMOST stuck in my head, finally, ha.

[Ferd Burple]

DT knocked it outta the park with this one! 10 out of 10. 

And welcome again, Mike. Love your drumming on this track! 

[dongringo]

I voted 7 then changed it to 8 by the third listen. Great album opener imo.

For those mentioning the production, remember it's a youtube clip. The album will sound much, much better.

[MasterLomaxus]

5.  I find the song pretty boring.  I'm not really digging the guitar riffs and the melodies are meh.  However, I did give it a second listen and it may be growing on me a bit.  I have a feeling my rating is bound to go up.

[Ferd Burple]

Is this their first release that Mike Portnoy didn't participate in songwriting?
(I'm a noob, hence my question.)

[Ħ]

Is this their first release that Mike Portnoy didn't participate in songwriting?
(I'm a noob, hence my question.)

Yes.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

5, with the potential to move up as I absorb it more.

Lyrics and melodies are bold and solid.  

However, production is overly slick.  I can certainly hear Andy Wallace's influence, which I could get used to as it reminds me of the Faith No More sound.

Still not acclimated to Mangini's drumming.  Not sure it has the same intensity and presence I'm used to with DT.

Maybe a hiatus wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all.  JK

You're like, the first person I've heard saying the hiatus thing right now  

[Ferd Burple]

Is this their first release that Mike Portnoy didn't participate in songwriting?
(I'm a noob, hence my question.)

Yes.

Thanks!

[Vajra]

I gave it a 9. My only complaint is that first section of the verse isn't repeated enough, it's so damn good!

If the rest of the album is better than this song, this may be one of my new favorite albums.

[Ħ]

Is this their first release that Mike Portnoy didn't participate in songwriting?
(I'm a noob, hence my question.)

Yes.

Thanks!

You're welcome.

[Gadough]

On my 2nd listen, I can confidently give it a 8/10. I can see it climbing to a 9/10 when I get off from work and am able to play it as loud as possible.

[wasp2020]

The instrumental sections are manic and great, they almost remind me of WDADU.
Some TOT+SC heaviness too, but definitely more interesting and proggy.
The vocal sections are really meh in comparison, as are the melodies. Really lacking and bland. "Shameless" is pretty a weird word to stress.
Drumming's a little stiff and flat.

Oh, piano, lovely! Great guitar solo. Love the instrumental part after too.
Really abrupt ending of the chorus...great instrumental ending though.

[Dellers]

A nice and strong 8.

[5]

Oh, man. It's really good. Not phenomenal (comparing to I&W and Awake, compared to SC it's amazing, and to BCSL - indeed phenomenal), but definitely giving a lot of hope for their best album in a long while.

[mittinagus]

7 Good song, nothing memorable...

Tin

[zxlkho]

A 7 means nothing is memorable? Wow, that's quite a flawed rating system.

[Lowdz]

At first listen I was thinking "where's the song?", but on my fourth straight go it's there. Miles better tha AROP anyway.
Ahh, to hear bass on a DT album again.
The music grabbed me on the first listen and it sounds brighter than recent albums- a good thing. And on a shitty YT vid too. It's just getting better and better as I hear new things each time. The guitar solo is a bit different from recent offerings too.
Piano-excellent!
And the drums... I like it. Certainly no train wreck and the best I've heard from MM. If I'd just come back from Mars and didn't know the story of the last few months I probably wouldn't have noticed MP was gone, but I'm a guitarist, what do I know of drums?

On the fifth listen and I've Mangini'd.

voted 9.

[Fuzzboy]

7 on the first listen. The best single they've done in a while though.