Jake's Short Reviews #16
Posted 03/20/2012 07:16AM by Jake Oliver as Article
Bleeding Through — The Great Fire
As this installation’s comeback kids, I thought I’d let Bleeding Through lead off the “Sweet Sixteen” I’ve assembled here. I’ll be honest; I really was not particularly enamored with their eponymously-titled previous effort. I had said in my review of that record that the gratuitous amount of keys submarined a lot of songs, basically turning them into Nightwish. Not good. This time out, though, the keys are not as much of a limiting factor, and the rest of the band’s significantly beefed-up chops produce some rather ferocious moments. Much better. Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Dimesland — Creepmoon
This was an interesting little ditty that grew on me over repeat listens. Would I go so far as to say that I loved it? Definitely not, as there were several sections that just didn’t work for me, but I was surprised to find that there was little excess to be had in Dimesland’s proggy formula. A tight, intriguing record that plays fast, even if things don’t hit the money every time. Rating: 3/5 Stars
Germ — Wish
I don’t know man, I just didn’t click with this one. There are some parts that I really quite enjoyed, particularly when Germ would go way out, or blacken some of the proceedings, but on the whole I couldn’t tell if these guys consider themselves to be a Gothic Pink Floyd, a black metal Sponge, or what the hell. I’m going to revisit Peste Noire with my rating for Wish. Rating: ???/5 Stars
Of Montreal — Paralytic Stalks
I can tell you for a fact that I did not like this one at all. I found it to be a preening, self-indulgent mess, and I’m actually not going to spend any more time on it. Rating: 1/5 Stars
Ministry — Relapse
I also found this record to be self-indulgent, and I also did not like it. Instead of wantonly flaunting indie cred, though, Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen chooses to incorporate as many dated rock star clichés as possible while flirting with nu-metal tropes. Yikes. I will say that on occasion—very occaisonally—the odd thrash moment would hold my attention, but otherwise Relapse is too bloated and too trite to warrant a positive rating. Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
Drudkh — Eternal Turn of the Wheel
While I spent most of my time with Bleeding Through above hemming and hawing about the quality of the synths, it should be noted that here the synth layers a really decent black metal record, and works in conjunction with the pastoral sound effects to Eternal Turn of the Wheel’s clear benefit without overwhelming the listener. On The Great Fire, even when the keys were strengthening the songs, they tended to be too prominent in the mix, and that is not the case with Drudkh. Whether that’s due to black metal’s production aesthetics, (though this album is actually quite crisp by black metal standards) and whether any of this even matters, as in an apples-to-oranges discussion, is probably another matter entirely. Whatever, grab Eternal Turn of the Wheel if you’re a black metal fan. It’s good. Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Tonight Alive — What Are You So Scared Of?
There’s actually not too much to say about What Are You So Scared Of? It’s your basic pop-rock scenario with Hayley Williams-esque vocals and some catchy choruses. Nothing to hate, nothing to really grab on to, either. Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Formloff — Spyhorelandet
This is another one I’m having a difficult time getting in to. I think the biggest thing is that a lot of the tracks run on too long, but I also don’t find the vocals to be particularly strong, nor the song-writing enough to break free from the well-worn black metal path. Notable exceptions include the title track with its savage crunch and lo-fi punk straining against the established template, and some weird, dissonant passages that clanged against the blasts and blackened malevolence. On the whole, though, Spyhorelandet just didn’t do it for me. Rating: 2/5 Stars
Pretender — Selflessness
If you miss the Changes iteration of For the Fallen Dreams, then I’ve got just the thing for you: Pretender’s Selflessness. The Russian band crushes skulls with the best of them, but perhaps even more importantly, their melodies are absolutely sublime. Seriously, check these guys out, they’re one of my favorite recent discoveries (along with Don Broco, who sound nothing like Pretender but whom I also urge you to seek out immediately). Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Dam Brino — Dam Brino
Who knew Miss Mississippi had a set of pipes? Not really my thing, but I do find the intersection of what I guess I would call old-school country and neo-pop at times engaging. Yeah, and she can sing. Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Comments
Fishers, Indiana
hahaha. Love how hard you dissed OM.
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Baton Rouge
I never understood how even the hipsters were so high on that band. Nothing happening.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Minnesota
Yeah, Of Montreal baffle me. I don't understand how anyone can be into them. Their music seems so completely sterile.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Columbus, OH
I gave Of Montreal's previous EP to my friend who is undoubtedly an indie kid, and of course she loved it. They had some decent albums a while ago, but now it's getting ridiculous.
Currently Listening To:
Lo!- Monstrorum Historia
HeavyArms- Burning Crowds
Shining- One One One
I was going to say... I've heard an Of Montreal song or two that I like from a few years back (never a whole album)... and there were two I liked on the previous release... but couldn't really get into beyond that... have been able to listen to this new one for probably a month now & just can't even bring myself to bother with it. They should do an album with Mars Volta and see if it causes a black hole or some other crazy scientific occurrence.
"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against
West Haven, CT
From what I've heard Via-Myspace, the new Of Montreal sounds pretty 70s psychedelic. The first track kind of had a Bee Gees/David Bowie flow to it.
Fuckings Greatest Hits: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Baton Rouge
The Bee Gees reference made me have to swallow some vomit.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
West Haven, CT
See "Dour Percentage".
Fuckings Greatest Hits: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Baton Rouge
You are right. Though, I only got through about thirty-five seconds of the song.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Columbus, OH
The picture for these reviews reminds me once again that Michael Bay is about to fuck with TMNT. FUUUUUUUUUUUU
Currently Listening To:
Lo!- Monstrorum Historia
HeavyArms- Burning Crowds
Shining- One One One
West Haven, CT
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news..
I kind of like this song.
Fuckings Greatest Hits: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008