I endorse strange(r) stuff. Wish this album was more weird, actually. Still, a great listening experience.

Came across a very elegant review on RYM. Here's an excerpt I particularly liked.

Let’s start with the Vocals, because oh my fucking god it’s nails on a chalkboard, it’s like someone is actively trying to brainfuck me through my earhole with a rusty and molded Drill, I’d rather walk on fucking Legos for the rest of my life than dealing with this fucking vocals, whatever the hell M Shadows is trying to do in this shit is NOT working, the opening track has some really ass tier lyrics (which I will get to later) and M Shadows does the wimpiest, Shittiest, tired, nasally and processed screams I probably ever fucking heard, this makes Danzig in his current time look actually fucking amazing in comparison, this makes Vince Fucking Neil sounds almost audible, Almost is the keyword here, because the vocals gets progressively way fucking worse, M Shadows cannot hit any fucking right notes, nor the highs, nor the lows, no in between, nothing, they all sound forced and as if someone was kicked in the balls and let out the most desperate cry but with the voice of Lisa Simpson.

Definitely an elegant review that's for sure lmfao

Damn RYM is fucking trash fr fr.

It kinda pisses me off when people use 'nasally' to describe bad vocals, when it's actually a legitimate technique to good singing. Whenever a reviewer is scrambling for words they seem to go for 'nasal vocals'. It's clear that they're only using the word because it sounds right to them, but in reality, it's not an accurate use of the word.
Video if anyone cares - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpzZLNbAEAI
Not to mention M. Shadows doesn't sing a wrong note on the whole album. Some people don't even know what out of key means. Hint: it's not subjective.

As for the album, it's... very different. Good different though, I was worried I'd be sitting through an hour of avant-garde crap, but this album still has the A7X moments I know and love to cling onto. Tbh, I'll probably stick with City of Evil, Self-titled, and The Stage, but a great effort nonetheless.

Written by A Real Mönkey on 03.06.2023 at 00:31

Damn RYM is fucking trash fr fr.

tbf the album was going at 3.81 before I went to bed last night, 2 hours after its release. It had 300 raters at that point. So I mean it was only recently rating bombed by the normies lol

but the site indeed has trash opinions

I don't understand why people make such a big deal out of the vocals, especially with this kind of music. I think they're quite fitting.

Written by Jack_Torrance on 03.06.2023 at 14:45

I don't understand why people make such a big deal out of the vocals, especially with this kind of music. I think they're quite fitting.

I actually like way more then the annoying high pitch vocals of the other albums.

Yeah these vocals seem to bother some people but they weren’t really an issue for me. I think this was a very solid release from them.

I thought i was about to hear “Sons of Northern Darkness” when “We love you” hit my speakers 😂

Written by Boxcar Willy on 02.06.2023 at 21:53

Came across a very elegant review on RYM. Here's an excerpt I particularly liked.

Let’s start with the Vocals, because oh my fucking god it’s nails on a chalkboard, it’s like someone is actively trying to brainfuck me through my earhole with a rusty and molded Drill, I’d rather walk on fucking Legos for the rest of my life than dealing with this fucking vocals, whatever the hell M Shadows is trying to do in this shit is NOT working, the opening track has some really ass tier lyrics (which I will get to later) and M Shadows does the wimpiest, Shittiest, tired, nasally and processed screams I probably ever fucking heard, this makes Danzig in his current time look actually fucking amazing in comparison, this makes Vince Fucking Neil sounds almost audible, Almost is the keyword here, because the vocals gets progressively way fucking worse, M Shadows cannot hit any fucking right notes, nor the highs, nor the lows, no in between, nothing, they all sound forced and as if someone was kicked in the balls and let out the most desperate cry but with the voice of Lisa Simpson.

Is this person a well-known reviewer? This is some middle-school tier writing. It’s sad someone who holds these opinions probably has followers who vomit out the same drivel, as the writer clearly has no idea what well written music sounds like.

Is Shadows singing ‘exceptional’? No.
Is it bad? Not even remotely close. Listen to Virgin Steele 2023 for bad singing.

I’m not an A7X fanboy by any means, but these last 2 albums are legitimately interesting musically after years of just pure boredom. I wonder what the catalyst was to take this route?

I was really not expecting to become an fan of this band...I thought the last album was a one off, but here they go and push the boundary of their sound even further into a completely different realm. I got a little bored of the 3 tracks making up GOD (8-10), but I can appreciate it nonetheless. Here's hoping they continue to not give a s.... and create more excellent music.

I don't share people's enthusiasm with this release. I started watching this video with a youtuber putting this album in the same league as King Crimson's debut album calling it one of the best prog albums ever. That's when I stopped watching.

Listenable at best, it does not make me give it another listen any time soon.

Written by JoHn Doe on 05.06.2023 at 13:17

I started watching this video with a youtuber putting this album in the same league as King Crimson's debut album calling it one of the best prog albums ever

Yeah I saw Bradley Hall's video too, he definitely drooled over it, but then he is a big fan

Written by 24emd on 05.06.2023 at 14:01

Written by JoHn Doe on 05.06.2023 at 13:17

I started watching this video with a youtuber putting this album in the same league as King Crimson's debut album calling it one of the best prog albums ever

Yeah I saw Bradley Hall's video too, he definitely drooled over it, but then he is a big fan

Fan or not, that's a huge exaggeration.

I don't really like it either. It feels sloppy and, at the risk of receiving hurtful online backlash, the vocals sound terrible (and are mixed poorly).

Written by Boxcar Willy on 05.06.2023 at 15:09

I don't really like it either. It feels sloppy and, at the risk of receiving hurtful online backlash, the vocals sound terrible (and are mixed poorly).

Doubt this would be hurtful, but didn't you already imply all of this in your post further up? What did this band do to you?

Written by LeKiwi on 05.06.2023 at 20:04

Doubt this would be hurtful, but didn't you already imply all of this in your post further up? What did this band do to you?

No I just shared the review because I thought it was a little extreme/funny Whenever an album is released that's (even slightly) controversial I like to read around and see what people are saying. I made that comment before I had even listened to the album. I made the joke about it being hurtful because some users were taking that "review" a little too seriously.

The album is cool, and I don't hate the band at all, I just think the vocals/production are a big negative. I'd never have expected the band to release something like this, so it's cool to see them step out of their zone even if I personally don't like it that much.

Written by Boxcar Willy on 05.06.2023 at 20:51

Written by LeKiwi on 05.06.2023 at 20:04

Doubt this would be hurtful, but didn't you already imply all of this in your post further up? What did this band do to you?

No I just shared the review because I thought it was a little extreme/funny Whenever an album is released that's (even slightly) controversial I like to read around and see what people are saying. I made that comment before I had even listened to the album. I made the joke about it being hurtful because some users were taking that "review" a little too seriously.

The album is cool, and I don't hate the band at all, I just think the vocals/production are a big negative. I'd never have expected the band to release something like this, so it's cool to see them step out of their zone even if I personally don't like it that much.

Even then, there is nothing ‘technically’ wrong with Shadows vocals. As I said ^^^^up there, I’m not sure how you’re listening to this album, but the vocals (along with every other instrument) sound very well-produced.
Does the man sound like mindcrime-era Tate? Nope. But he’s a far cry from being bad.

Shadows is definitely overhated as a vocalist. He’s able to do multiple ranges, he’s consistent across the board and he’s got a nice distinct sound.

Hey, this is actually pretty neat

Edit: Nevermind, I got to "We Love You".

Edit2: Alright I'm warming up to it.

Written by RaduP on 06.06.2023 at 13:59

Hey, this is actually pretty neat

Edit: Nevermind, I got to "We Love You".

Really? That was one of my favourites from the album. It's so out there and I love how they don't give a damn with that song.

Written by LeKiwi on 06.06.2023 at 22:09

Really? That was one of my favourites from the album. It's so out there and I love how they don't give a damn with that song.

Yeah I love it too.
Third listen had me chanting along 'build... build... more... more...' like a damn robot.

Well, they tried to do something different... and failed miserably. But at least they tried.

Last time I looked this was at 7.4… Do we have Fantano drones here too? Just kidding.

Written by LeKiwi on 06.06.2023 at 22:09

Written by RaduP on 06.06.2023 at 13:59

Hey, this is actually pretty neat

Edit: Nevermind, I got to "We Love You".

Really? That was one of my favourites from the album. It's so out there and I love how they don't give a damn with that song.

I guess it's different, but I'm finding it to be incredibly irritating on every replay; I'm finding I enjoy the album quite a bit more on each replay from Cosmic onwards because of it

I think there's interesting ideas here and several songs I liked. I don't think it's good on average. That's ok. This is art; this is art that was not made for me.

This is growing on me. Like really growing on me. Some great stuff here. I especially like how despite M. Shadows going on and on about AI that this album actually sounds very organic. Sure there's the autotune, but at the end of "We Love You" you can actually hear the scraping of Syn's slide against the steel strings of his acoustic. And damn, the goosebumps in "Cosmic" when the solo ends and the tempo goes down into the ballad-ish bit.

A band trying new directions and experimenting with what they have inside them, should be applauded. But whether the results are anything near to the expectation of the listeners of that band, well, there lies the success. I don't mind experimenting within the walls of their genres, but treading to other vast areas is like Iron Maiden or Megadeth trying to come out with a hip hop or jazz album. I wouldn't say, they cannot do it, but then, our expectation is not that.
I liked a couple of songs.

I definitely respect this album based solely off the musicianship and creativity. They somehow mixed together swing music, EDM, prog rock/metal, grunge, 1900s classical music, 1960s psych rock, pop music and probably more. It's actually crazy.

Beautiful Morning gives me Alice in Chains and The Beatles vibes.
G gives me Rush and Dream Theatre with pop and psych rock vibes
Life Is but a Dream sounds like it was inspired by Debussy

Honestly wild what they put together on this album. That being said, I don't plan on re-listening to most of this album again.