Prelim Round Results part 2!
Alithia - To the Edge of Time
KatteloxProgressive Rock
AustraliaFirst Impression - This is going to take more listens to unravel fullyThis took a long time to wrap my head around. There's a lot of different styles going in to this. I'm still not 100% sure on the rating here. I almost feel like I should be giving it a higher score, but there's a complexity to it that I feel is going to take many more listens than this roulette will allow to fully unravel it. Let me try to explain my thoughts.
The first track opens with a really cool ambient intro that gives way to a very Riverside-esque section that is open and mellow with fantastic lead guitars and light airy keyboards. This song is just so immense. Then the vocals come in and are very un-Riverside-like. They remind me of the band Klimt 1918. Actually most of the album reminds me of a more complex and progressive Klimt 1918. This track is an amazing way to start an album, showcasing everything that they are about. They go through so many different genres and make it flow perfectly; Post Rock, Ambient, Prog Rock, Indie Rock, Dream Pop, a little metal here and there. I think the one thing that really grabbed me was the drummer (I'm a drummer so why wouldn't it), they are fairly unique and add a lot of flavor to the album as a whole. They are complex when they need to be and get more relaxed and settle in to a nice backseat groove when they need to. The whole album kind of follows the mold of the first track, but with new little additions or twists. Like in Sacrifice, the spoken word/rapped? part that leads in to that distant scream is just chill inducing. These little additions to a model that works keep the album fresh all the way through without feeling like an everything but the kitchen sink kind of album. That guitar solo at the end of Tribulations Rise! Oh my! Then they even throw in a little Post Hardcore in a few places.
I think you said it was Jingle that sent this album to you in your roulette (I'm too lazy to look). If so props to him! I almost feel like giving him a bonus point for this. But then again, he decided not to send it to me, too bad for him. There wasn't anything on this album that I disliked. Maybe a couple of the time signature changes were slightly disjointed, if I'm being nit picky... This album is a real tour de force! And I'm sure it's only going to get better with time.
Favorite songs - Thirteen Revelations
Least favorite - cant really pick one......gun to head and I had to pick one? Here I Am....I guess, even though I think it bridges the 2 tracks around it quite well.
9/10
Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here
SaculJazz Fusion
United StatesFirst Impression - This was a super fun listen, but it loses a little steam near the end.This was the second Jazzy album that was sent so far. I actually don't have a ton to say about this album. It was really just super fun to listen to. Everyone involved with this project is a very talented musician. It's fun to focus on 1 or 2 at a time and really listen to what they are doing. Everyone has something interesting going on instrumentally. Then when you add horns in to music like this it just brings it to a whole new level. The horns might be the best part of this. Or maybe the percussion. Or the bass player? AH they are all so good! Hard to decide. The fact that the album loses a bit of steam near the end (mostly just the last track) is really the only knock on it. No vocals to criticize here, like pretty much every other album I've done a write up for so far this roulette. But that might be the other knock on it. I have a hard time rating instrumental albums much higher than this....
Favorite songs - Shofukan, What About Me?
Least favorite - Lingus
8.5/10
Eagleheart - Reverse
JinglePower Metal
Czech Republic First Impression - Has most of the elements of Power Metal that make it enjoyableThat intro track did not prepare me for what was to come, but it does flow nicely in to the first proper song with a sick double bass drum part and epic guitar riff. What a great way to start the album. It has a lot of what I'm looking for in power metal. Fantastic melodies, killer riffs, a solid rhythm section to hold it all together, and soaring vocals (in that order). Melody and awesome riffs are most important to me in Power Metal. This has both. The title track Reverse is another track that showcases all of this as well. Maybe to an even greater extent. They even do some cool vocal things throughout and these are probably the best on the whole album.
Speaking of vocals though, they are inconsistent at times and I don't particularly like the singers tone sometimes, but he is technically skilled and some of the high notes he hits are ridiculous. I mean you cant have power metal without some 'balls in a vice' high notes (ie All I Am). The occasional harsh vocals that show up were a bit surprising and similar to the Voyager album don't really fit to me. I was also surprised an album you sent had any harsh vocals at all. The fast drumming and blazing guitar solos more than make up for any tiny quibbles I have with the vocals. The other thing that's super enjoyable and keeps the album interesting is the variety of riffs used. Each song has it's own identity riff-wise, even though most songs follow a similar blueprint. Basically all the riffs here are head bang worthy. I also like that the keyboards aren't super in your face and work almost like a back drop to provide more depth to the music. The violin that showed up in Erased from Existence was a cool addition.
I really think you are hitting your stride in regards to knowing my music tastes. Maybe it will bring you a roulette win this time........who knows? I'm sure TAC would say 'don't count on it'.
Favorite Songs - Healing the Scars, Reverse
Least Favorite - If I had to pick, maybe Mind to Decipher or Endless
8.3/10
Hyperomm - From Nothing to Eternity
TACMelodic Death Metal
RussiaFirst Impression - This band takes a lot of inspiration from the original Melodic Death Metal bands, but adds their own twists and flair.Really embracing the harsh vocals lately, eh? This is very much rooted in the early MeloDeath style, similar to early Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, and At the Gates. Basically the pioneers of Melodic Death Metal. Where this differentiates itself is in the use and deployment of keyboards. They are very out front and at times leading the charge. There's even some unison runs with the lead guitars that sound really cool. It gives the old school Melodeath a bit of a fresh perspective and life, as well as some atmosphere. The Melodeath purists would probably say it's terrible, but I really like it. It also helps that the majority of the riffs are really solid. That riff in Invictus is super heavy and brutal and just plain awesome. This song just makes you want to bang your head all the way through.
In doing research on this band (as I do all bands that are sent to me) I noticed this is all just one guy. I always find it fascinating how these guys can write, play, and record all these instruments by themselves. And this guy is younger than I am. Makes me wonder what I'm doing with my life. All I can do is play the drums.....and the bass....sort of...Anyway, guys like this are impressive.
What brought the score down is the vocals mostly. It's very much rooted in the early Melodeath sound, to a fault. This guy doesn't have the most enjoyable screams. Also the album loses a bit of steam near the end and When Rising from the Bed of Death isn't the greatest track.
Favorite Songs - A Great Hope Fell, Invictus
Least Favorite - When Rising from the Bed of Death
7.6/10
The Derek Trucks Band - The Derek Trucks Band
IndisciplineJazz Rock
United StatesFirst Impression - Some impressive stuff, seems to get a little samey in the second half though.Indiscipline, I seriously thought you were trolling me with this album when I first hit play. I was thinking, "this is your first time participating in one of my roulette's and you are trolling me in the first round with Harsh Noise? Didn't I band Merzbow?" Here's what happened. I loaded up the copy of the album that's on Google Play Music and it was just this distorted wall of noise. At first I thought maybe the band was only doing this for the first track, since it was only 35 seconds long, but then the next track was more of the same. I quickly sampled every track and the were all the same......Turns out the copy that is on Google Play Music is corrupted. I quickly sourced the album elsewhere.
The first of 3 Jazzy albums that were sent to me in this round. This is the one I enjoyed the least, but that isn't to say it's a bad album. I still enjoyed it quite a bit. Mostly the first half and then Evil Clown. The first 3 proper tracks (Mr. PC, 555 Lake, D Minor Blues) help set the tone perfectly and are all stellar tracks! 555 Lake made me wish there were more vocals throughout the album. Which was part of the issue I had with the second half of the album. I felt they weren't doing enough instrumentally towards the end to keep my interest. They could have done more to add more variety. I think once I get to Naima, I feel like I've already heard all this before earlier in the album and better.
There are some really cool Jam sections spread (there were times it reminded me of some of Dave Mathews Band live jam sections) around the album and Derek Trucks is a gifted guitarist, and he's only 17 here. I mean he's no Stevie Ray Vaughan or anything, but still good. Actually everyone on this album plays their instrument of choice very well. I really like the recurring guitar groove in Evil Clown for some reason. It's such a simple groove, but it always gets stuck in my head.
Overall this album is enjoyable to a point. It just lacks variety in the second half.
Favorite Songs - Mr. PC, 555 Lake, Evil Clown
Least Favorite - Naima, So What
7.5/10
Band of Horses - Why Are You OK
StadlerIndie Rock
United States(bonus point band)
First Impression - Pretty much what I expected from this bandSome random thoughts that went through my head while listening to this: Beautiful/relaxing, sounds like the Beatles, now it sounds like the Beach Boys, poppy (in a good), HEY! it's J Mascis, kind of inconsistent, mellow.
That first track is so good. I think I may be my favorite on the album, so it's only downhill from here
. The song Hag has an awesome melody, as do most of the songs here. There is quite a bit of variety for an Indie rock band. They throw in lots of elements of Folk and country, especially in the second half of the album. I like a lot of the Beatles-esque and Beach Boy-like sounds, even though some of those songs have some annoying bits in them too. Thought it was cool they got J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr as a guest vocalist. The album ends on a somber note with Even Still. It's a pretty good low-key song.
Overall the album didn't wow me and I feel it's not quite as good as the other Band of Horses album I've heard (Cease to Begin), but there's still some strong stuff here and some songs that I will definitely revisit. The album actually started out with a much lower rating after my first couple listens. So it's definitely a grower and may get better after more listens in the future.
Favorite songs - Dull Times/The Moon, Hag
Least favorite - Whatever Whenever, Throw My Mess
7.4/10 (-1) = 6.4/10 final score