My problems with this album are many. At this point, I don't think MP and DS and their behavior are contributing to my feelings on it anymore. It's always possible that there is something in there subconsciously. More likely, I think I just feel more free to express my dislike than I would have if they hadn't turned me off by their behavior.
I really disliked Adrenaline Mob, but when it came out, I still felt very loyal to MP. I didn't like some of the things he had said online, but I chalked it up to him having made a really big mistake that he regretted, and though he wasn't handling it well, I felt for him. I wanted to support him. I wasn't on his forum then, but in my online comments elsewhere, I held back about describing my dislike. And I went to see Adrenaline Mob live, because I liked Mike and wanted to support him.
Now, my feelings towards Mike are all over the place really. I'm very disappointed by what's been going on lately, but I think that just like I supported Adrenaline Mob even though I didn't like it, if I really liked this album, I would have acknowledged that I liked it even though I didn't plan on supporting it. I would lament that such great music was tainted.
But I truly do not like this. I agree with Tac about JSS. I've heard vocals by him that were really strong and that I like a lot, but here it seems so lifeless. And the songs, I really just don't think it's good stuff. I agree with that one review that talked about the lack of originality. It's one thing if a song reminds you of another band here or there, or if there are a couple moments on an album that sound really close to something else. But with this album, it's all over the place. Every song, multiple times in each song, to where barely any time goes by that something doesn't just scream at me with it's similarities to specific parts or riffs or melodies. It's all too much, and at the end of the day I just don't find much to enjoy. It doesn't seem to have much in the way of dynamics either. I know there's heavy parts, there's a ballad, there's simple and complex but none of it makes me feel anything other than "isn't this over yet?"