First of all, sorry for the delay, this round took forever because I've been really really busy last month. Also, I don't have time now either so I can't do writeups for Parama and Elite
I know if I just don't do this now, I probably wouldn't do it by Monday.
So, let's do it:
Train of Naught - home's EP1 & 2. Rivers of Nihil - Cancer / Moonspeak and The Silent Life
I knew from the start Rivers of Nihil would be something I'd dig. Can't decide if I like the heavy or jazzy bits better. It's rare (at least for me) to have song this heavy stuck in my head and it managed to do just that. I'm checking them out as soon as possible, The Silent Life is one of my favourite songs of the whole round.
3. The Haunted - Brute Force
The second track, Brute Force by The Haunted is similar to Rivers but a bit more straightforward and it's not really over before it gets tiring, sorry. It just doesn't have enough quality for me to distinct it from the openers. It's like I keep thinking of Rivers while this is playing.
4. Persefone - Prison Skin
Now, the Persephone is the band I heard alot about but never checked out. It's pretty much up my alley, noticeably more progressive than first 3 songs yet still heavy. Harsh vocals reminds me of Randy Blythe and I find him ok and powerful but I don't like his timbre that much. Cleans are great though and I like less heavy part of the song more. Good song, I will definitely check them out further.
5. Xerath - I Hunt for the Weak
I got Xerath on Discover Weekly on Spotify playlist last week and I hated that song, it was just bad. Fortunately, this one's a bit better. Verses are just ok, chorus is nice, I like cleans and atmosphere there. Solo is good as well, but nothing too memorable there.
6. Barren Earth - Zeal
I heard Barren Earth before, Luoto sent them in my first roulette. I didn't think I'd like them so I never heard anything else. Zeal is a bit different, intro sounds like intro to full blown power metal song
and it's also my favorite part of the song. I don't know, the rest of the song just falls flat compared to the intro. Actually, I like outro as well
7. Persefone - Stillness Is Timeless
At first I was like, what's so special about this? But then I heard it
Again, I think growls are just ok, I don't like them that much. And again, the part with cleans sounds better than growly part to me. One more less good thing is the guitar tone, it just sounds kinda thin, especially considering it's the genre od metal I expected to have better sounding guitars. The best part of the song starts at around 33:45, I'd like it if the song sounded more like it and less "balls to the wall" heavy.
This is of the best EPs I receive in these two roulettes in terms of structure and flow. Unfortunately, there are few songs I find kinda meh. But also, there are songs I want to listen again and again.
You sent some of the best stuff in this roulette: Eidola, Orphaned Land, Closure in Moscow and now Rivers of Nihil
home: A Wet Dream1. Nils Frahm - Ambre
This EP starts with Nils Frahm. I heard one album from him before and I din't get it, to be honest, it's just too minimalistic for me. However this songs works as opener of such chill album and it also has some nice melodies. I'm glad I had a chance to hear it in different context, I appreciate it more now, for sure.
2. 65daysofstatic - Heat Death Infinity Splitter
This song actually starts like static, like wtf
I have to say I like that a lot, massive, huge sound they have, it's the kind of post-rock I like. I couldn't believe when that melody started, I still don't know are those keys or guitar/bass with some effect but I know it's fire, man
It also reminds me of maybeshewill, the band I like a lot, with it's electronic tendencies.
3. & 4. Eefje de Visser - Naartoe and Scheef
Dutch language was weird at first but I got used to it. It's actually easy to get used to the language when the songs are good
I love those melodies, especially in Scheef, thet's really cool stuff. I usually don't like getting artists that don't sing in English (unless it's something growly) but this has growed one. Congrats on being brave
4. Caspian - Echo and Abyss
I don't think my love for riff contered post-rock like Russian Circles is a secret and Caspian sound just like them, with nice touch of atmosphere. The middle part with weird voices is very trippy and also creepy. It's one of those songs I want to listen to as loud as possible.
5. Nils Frahm - Unter
I'm not sure if I needed another Nils Frahm song here but ok, it doesn't bother me, it's nice and chill, and very short.
6. & 7. Foals - Spanish Sahara and Mountain At My Gates
Foals are a bit different than anything else on this EP but it works well. I heard of them before because my friend used to listen to them all the time but I don't think I heard any of their songs before. Spanish Sahara is great song, I love the buildup, his voice and all the layers in instrumental. The best song, though, is the closer. I don't think I can find the words to describe what I feel when I'm listening to it. For some reason, just listening those gorgeous melodies makes me want to smile and cry at the same time. It reminds me of Little Black Submarines by The Black Keys, one of my favorite rock songs. I'll just stop here because I can't do it justice. Can't wait to check them out further.
This EP needed some time to grow from ok to great but I liked every song from the start, there isn't anything remotely bad, I'd maybe throw out that second Nils Frahm song.
You sent goof stuff throughout the roulette as well. My favorites were The Family Crest, Arcane Roots and Foals.
If you read some of it, I think it's obvious that the winner is:
Congrats, man!
And thanks everyone for playing, next time I'll choose better time to run a roulette and make it more fun.