Trollheart's Listening List 2015/2016

**Frownland** · 12-28-2015, 02:09 PM

Suuuuure

The Batlord · 12-28-2015, 02:22 PM

I started losing interest in Baroness with the Blue Album. Red had a cool mix of sludge, classic rock, and post-metal that I'd never heard before (though it isn't aging as well with me as I'd like) but after that they dropped a lot of the more meandering instrumental things that made them interesting, and just turned into a lightweight sludge/alt metal band with ever-decreasing returns.

I listened to a bit of Purple, but wasn't really blown away. Will give it more of a shot later, but Yellow and Green went largely ignored by me for much the same reason I'm not entirely feeling their newest. I feel like they're coming dangerously close to post-grunge territory. It also doesn't help that John Dyer Baizely's vocals were always the weak link in the band, and now that their music is becoming more and more vocal-centric he's just bringing the band down more and more.

Trollheart · 12-31-2015, 06:03 AM

Title: Nightmare Ending
Artiste: Eluvium
Year 2013
Nationality: American
Rank: Noob
Genre: Ambient
7

Expectations: Again, given that YD was so taken with it, I expect to be mightily impressed. Given also that his own music is so good, and that he seethes with envy at the beauty of this music, well, let's just say it needs to be something really special.

(Caveat 1: Of course, he may be appreciating this more from a musician's point of view, which I may not be able to see)
(Caveat 2: My usual problem with instrumental albums may prevail and work against me).

Note: I'm deliberately staying away from Yorke's review, so as not to colour my own. Later I may refer to it, in the light of what I hear and decide myself.

1. Don't get any closer: A slowly rising synth or organ joined by a simple slow piano line, sort of reminds me of the sort of thing Plainview might play. Very nice, very relaxing, very soft and gentle. Sort of detect a note of sadness in some of the melody, though that could just be me. The piece runs for just over nine minutes, and for three it is so far very simple and somewhat basic, but enjoyable certainly. Organ rising now (shut up) as we move from the fourth into the fifth, the piano falling away for the moment, still stately and sedate. Some sort of choral synth or something kind of howling softly in the background, kind of like an angelic mourning or something. Very nice start. I wouldn't be Blueing it though, but definitely gets a Green.
2. Warm: Nice soft orchestral feel to the opening of this. Could be violin, could be synth. I actually like this better than the opener. It's a little shorter (seven minutes) but kind of has more of a flow to it, I feel.
3. By the rails: I guess that would be tapes bringing this in, then maybe a feedback guitar, something fuzzy anyway. Harder sound. Yeah, wasn't mad about that one to be honest. Quite short too.
4. Unknown variation: Yeah, this is really nice, very ambient with a lot of sounds (think I hear surf, seagulls, trains) ... YD can obviously describe this a lot better than I can, but it's very relaxing.
5. Carolling: This is alright but it's kind of basic piano and a little boring.
6. Sleeping: More piano, but softer, backed with some lush synth and strings. Another one with more than a hint of sadness about it, despite the title.
7. Envenom mettle: Again, harder with a sort of rolling, almost marching drumbeat. Gets a little odd in the last two minutes.
8. Chime: Back to that harder, almost metallic feel which I'm not crazy about.
9. Rain gently: This comes in very slowly and gently, like I guess the rain in the title, though the melody sounds really, really familiar when it gets going. I know: you hate it when I do that, don't you?
10. Impromptu (For the procession): Nice little piano tune. Nothing terribly special though I feel.
11. Covered in writing: Another one that fades in very slowly and quietly. It runs for nine minutes though so I wonder where it will go? Kind of stays mostly the same, ethereal, abstract almost. Very nice.
12. Entendre: Nice little simple piano melody on this one. Much shorter too.
13. Strange arrivals: This one's quite short and again it's more about tapes and sound effects than what I would necessarily call a melody, at least compared to most of the other tracks. It's okay I guess.
14. Happiness: The only vocal track, with Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan providing the singing. Must say, the vocal is very low-key and if this was another instrumental track, for most of it you wouldn't even notice him. Nice little tune with what sounds like a bassoon or something and flowing piano and some beautiful strings around the midpoint.

Final result: The album was certainly enjoyable, very little in it that I didn't like, but again I don't see the hero-worship YorkeDaddy ascribes to it. Could be, as I say, that he's looking at it from a different angle, that of a composer and musician, so it means more to him, and if so, fair play to him. To me, it was just a nice ambient album, but nothing I'd be running out telling everyone they should listen to. Reading back over YD's review now and again it's not quite a case of what album were you listening to, but on the basis of the praise he lavished upon this album, I'm slightly disappointed. I've certainly heard better, though it is good. It's not, for me, however, as Yorke claims, the holy grail of ambient music.

Rating:

Trollheart · 12-31-2015, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It's their eighth album. Are you really expecting them to still be on top of their game? Go do some actual research and find out what albums are most worth checking out, you lazy ****. It's called "RYM".

fixed

YorkeDaddy · 12-31-2015, 03:37 PM

Very interesting Eluvium review, I definitely wouldn't expect you to love it as much as me but I also would've expected a blue or two to pop up. I also figured you'd like the piano-fronted tracks more than you did. Obviously there's a big difference in how we feel about ambient music though so not all that surprising overall.

Trollheart · 12-31-2015, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

Very interesting Eluvium review, I definitely wouldn't expect you to love it as much as me but I also would've expected a blue or two to pop up. I also figured you'd like the piano-fronted tracks more than you did. Obviously there's a big difference in how we feel about ambient music though so not all that surprising overall.

I think if I had heard it on its own merits it might have impressed me more. As it was, I was kind of set up to expect something amazing (rather like the Baroness album) and I just didn't see it. Enjoyed it yes, but your comments in your review made me think I was going to fall in love with this, and I didn't.

Be interested to see what you think of the Steve Roach album coming up soon.

Trollheart · 01-02-2016, 06:29 AM

Title: Spirit
Artiste: Comedy of Errors
Year 2015
Nationality: British
Genre: Progressive Rock
Rank: Noob
3

Expectations: I have no idea, but given that the band has been around since 1984, broke up in 1989 without releasing really a single album (a few demos) and then reformed in 2011, putting out three albums since then, I'm intrigued...

1. My grief lies all within: A powerful start, Yes/Spock's Beard-like, with stop/start guitar and keys, then the vocal when it comes in is a little vocoderish, eventually turning into again, a pretty Andersonesque one, the song moving at a much slower, almost morose pace. Yeah it's okay I guess, pretty derivative If I'm honest.
2. Infinite wisdom?: This one is very short and seems almost a continuation of the previous track. Is this a concept album? Wouldn't that be a first?

3. Spirit shines/Spirit: Nice organ driving this. Not sure why a four-and-a-half minute track needs to be split into two separate parts, but anyway. Nice synthesised brass and also piano or vibes or something, something tinkly anyway. Okay, well when it gets into the second part it's really quite moving. Love the melody here.
4. Can this be happening?: I guess it must be a concept album, as all the tracks seem to be segueing from one to the other. This seems like it might be an instru – no. There's the vocal coming in rather strongly now. Reminds me a little of Arena around the Contagion era. Decent busy synth near the end.
5. In darkness let me dwell: This is like a hymn or a lament, starting off with acapella singing but then rather surprisingly picking up on a bouncy keys and guitar combo, which works really well within the context of the song. This is going Green.
6. I call and cry to thee: Kind of similar really to the opening of the previous track, with choral vocals in a hymnal style, then some nice organ and then expressive keyboard with a bouncing little bassline changes the whole tone of the piece. Slightly incongruous; gives, to me anyway, the feeling that these guys are not quite sure what they're trying to do. They probably are, but the song goes all over the place and it's hard to pin down any underlying pattern. Gets a little into early Gabriel territory near the end.
7. Set your spirit free/Goodbye my love until we meet again: Finally, something that gets a Blue. This is a beautiful, stately, moving instrumental that, for all the six/seven minutes of the previous tracks, kicks the crap out of them. Seems to be just a simple rising synth line, but utterly gorgeous. YorkeDaddy, you'd probably love this track. Maybe not the rest of the album but certainly this one.
8. Ascension / Et Resurrextit / Auferstehen / Arise In Love Sublime, Arise / Spirit : Now we have a seven-minute track broken up into no less than five sections. Really, is that necessary? It opens with a kind of reprise of, or ending to, the previous track, adding in a few more effects and changing the melody up slightly, turning a little less melancholy and reflective and becoming grand and almost triumphant, with a sound like bells coming in on one of the synths. You know, I may have to revise my opinion of this track: it's turning out almost as good as the one before it, so far. Again, it's mostly simple layered synths with no percussion, I don't think any guitar (though it could be the thing making the ringing sounds) and now the drums kick in halfway through and the thing takes off in another, but still similar, direction. Vocals come in too. Yeah, I think this deserves a Blue too. I see the vocalist dropping the overt Anderson influence now, and he's much better for it.
9. Into the light: I wonder if it's jsut coincidence that this track sounds like Spock's Beard and also namechecks one of their albums? Very lively keyboard but vocalist is back to being Jon Anderson II, which is a pity; thought he was breaking away from that. Decent song, but not a patch on the previous two at all. This is way too Yes in the end section and SB in the opening.
10. Above the hills: Getting back to the really good stuff now, with a very catchy and memorable melody on this song. Great guitar solo too; haven't quite heard as much of the guitar as I would have liked. Very keyboard driven, as you would expect I guess. And they're back for the powerful, anthemic ending. Though the guitar gets its licks in too. Overall pretty fine. I wouldn't quite go Blue on it, but if there was such thing as a “high” Green, this would probably get it.
11. Epilogue: This is how it has to be: Sort of like an angelic choir (sample vocal chorus I guess) brings this in, then a really sweet guitar takes the tune, which I'm going to guess is an instrumental, though it is quite long, almost six minutes. We're through two of those so far and no vocals. Acoustic guitar coming in on the fourth minute, attended by sprightly organ. Nice piece, but I kind of question the point. The album had ended well enough already, so where was the need for a closing instrumental? Good enough I guess, if slightly bewildering.

Final result: It's a good prog album, nothing wrong with it but then I listen to so much prog (you didn't know? Really?) that for something to grab me it really has to stand out, and this just doesn't. The really good tracks are really good, but they're sort of surrounded, not quite by mediocrity, but let's just say they stand out while the others don't. There's also too much derivativity throughout much of the album. It's well played, well composed, there are some very good tracks on it but they're kind of few and far between, and I couldn't honestly say I'd be too interested in hearing the rest of their material.

Rating:

(Sorry but all YouTubes from this album are blocked)

Trollheart · 01-03-2016, 06:09 PM

Title: There's No Beginning
Artiste: Cynara
Year 2015
Nationality: Argentinian
Genre: Metalcore/Alt-Metal/Hardcore
Rank: Noob
1

Expectations:Dunno. It's one of these Bandcamp-ony releases, so could be great, could be terrible. I imagine one thing it will be is loud and abrasive. How did I ever end up buying this?

1. Pain through the words: Heavy, almost doom metal opening, then it kicks up with speed, I'd say a kind of more alt-metal or even punk vocal, with a growly one behind it. Some nice vocal harmonies. Not quite sure what makes metalcore what it is, but the bits I've heard don't sound like this. This is quite tame in comparison to them. I hear more progressive metal really overall. Not bad.
2. Lapiketi: Definitely a more biting guitar in this; the growler gets to contribute more than he did on the previous track. Not that much more enamoured of this than I was of that though. It's okay.
3. Benighted: Sort of sounding too generic now. Nothing's really standing out. That's a nice riff there all right, but again it's a case of having too dig too deep to get at the good stuff, if there is any. Decent solo, but that's not going to save this album if it doesn't get a bit more interesting.
4. Hollow crow: There's a decent melody going through this one at least, but I'm finding it harder and harder to care. It edges Orange, just about.
5. Church of addictions: It's sad, cos I sense these guys are really trying, but it just is not engaging me. Some very good guitar work here and it's powerful and enthusiastic, but sort of, so what?
6. Why save this for tomorrow: All right, I can kind of get into this one. It has a good beat and I found myself tapping my fingers, so maybe that's worth a Green? No, I don't think so, unfortunately.
7. Obscure breath: Some nice unexpectedly relaxed guitar in this. Not bad. But again no Green. Sorry. I'm just not feeling it. New acronym: IJNFI. I'll give it an Orange, but that's as far as I'll go.
8. All the things he said: All right, at the end they managed it. This is a surprisingly gentle acoustic ballad, and it's great.

Final result: Nevertheless, it's one track out of eight and in general, though this closer shows Cynara are capable of quite powerful and moving music, the rest of the album is just pretty basic and generic. It might be worth revisiting, but for now I don't get the greatest impression from it at all.

Rating:

YorkeDaddy · 01-04-2016, 11:27 AM

Quote:

7. Set your spirit free/Goodbye my love until we meet again: Finally, something that gets a Blue. This is a beautiful, stately, moving instrumental that, for all the six/seven minutes of the previous tracks, kicks the crap out of them. Seems to be just a simple rising synth line, but utterly gorgeous. YorkeDaddy, you'd probably love this track. Maybe not the rest of the album but certainly this one.

Gave this one a listen. Can confirm, this was an awesome track

Trollheart · 01-04-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

Gave this one a listen. Can confirm, this was an awesome track

Yeah, I thought that would be right about in your wheelhouse.

12-28-2015, 02:09 PM	#101 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Suuuuure __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-31-2015, 06:03 AM	#103 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Title: Nightmare Ending Artiste: Eluvium Year 2013 Nationality: American Rank: Noob Genre: Ambient 7 Expectations: Again, given that YD was so taken with it, I expect to be mightily impressed. Given also that his own music is so good, and that he seethes with envy at the beauty of this music, well, let's just say it needs to be something really special. (Caveat 1: Of course, he may be appreciating this more from a musician's point of view, which I may not be able to see) (Caveat 2: My usual problem with instrumental albums may prevail and work against me). Note: I'm deliberately staying away from Yorke's review, so as not to colour my own. Later I may refer to it, in the light of what I hear and decide myself. 1. Don't get any closer: A slowly rising synth or organ joined by a simple slow piano line, sort of reminds me of the sort of thing Plainview might play. Very nice, very relaxing, very soft and gentle. Sort of detect a note of sadness in some of the melody, though that could just be me. The piece runs for just over nine minutes, and for three it is so far very simple and somewhat basic, but enjoyable certainly. Organ rising now (shut up) as we move from the fourth into the fifth, the piano falling away for the moment, still stately and sedate. Some sort of choral synth or something kind of howling softly in the background, kind of like an angelic mourning or something. Very nice start. I wouldn't be Blueing it though, but definitely gets a Green. 2. Warm: Nice soft orchestral feel to the opening of this. Could be violin, could be synth. I actually like this better than the opener. It's a little shorter (seven minutes) but kind of has more of a flow to it, I feel. 3. By the rails: I guess that would be tapes bringing this in, then maybe a feedback guitar, something fuzzy anyway. Harder sound. Yeah, wasn't mad about that one to be honest. Quite short too. 4. Unknown variation: Yeah, this is really nice, very ambient with a lot of sounds (think I hear surf, seagulls, trains) ... YD can obviously describe this a lot better than I can, but it's very relaxing. 5. Carolling: This is alright but it's kind of basic piano and a little boring. 6. Sleeping: More piano, but softer, backed with some lush synth and strings. Another one with more than a hint of sadness about it, despite the title. 7. Envenom mettle: Again, harder with a sort of rolling, almost marching drumbeat. Gets a little odd in the last two minutes. 8. Chime: Back to that harder, almost metallic feel which I'm not crazy about. 9. Rain gently: This comes in very slowly and gently, like I guess the rain in the title, though the melody sounds really, really familiar when it gets going. I know: you hate it when I do that, don't you? 10. Impromptu (For the procession): Nice little piano tune. Nothing terribly special though I feel. 11. Covered in writing: Another one that fades in very slowly and quietly. It runs for nine minutes though so I wonder where it will go? Kind of stays mostly the same, ethereal, abstract almost. Very nice. 12. Entendre: Nice little simple piano melody on this one. Much shorter too. 13. Strange arrivals: This one's quite short and again it's more about tapes and sound effects than what I would necessarily call a melody, at least compared to most of the other tracks. It's okay I guess. 14. Happiness: The only vocal track, with Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan providing the singing. Must say, the vocal is very low-key and if this was another instrumental track, for most of it you wouldn't even notice him. Nice little tune with what sounds like a bassoon or something and flowing piano and some beautiful strings around the midpoint. Final result: The album was certainly enjoyable, very little in it that I didn't like, but again I don't see the hero-worship YorkeDaddy ascribes to it. Could be, as I say, that he's looking at it from a different angle, that of a composer and musician, so it means more to him, and if so, fair play to him. To me, it was just a nice ambient album, but nothing I'd be running out telling everyone they should listen to. Reading back over YD's review now and again it's not quite a case of what album were you listening to, but on the basis of the praise he lavished upon this album, I'm slightly disappointed. I've certainly heard better, though it is good. It's not, for me, however, as Yorke claims, the holy grail of ambient music. Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 12-31-2015 at 02:19 PM.

01-02-2016, 06:29 AM	#107 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Title: Spirit Artiste: Comedy of Errors Year 2015 Nationality: British Genre: Progressive Rock Rank: Noob 3 Expectations: I have no idea, but given that the band has been around since 1984, broke up in 1989 without releasing really a single album (a few demos) and then reformed in 2011, putting out three albums since then, I'm intrigued... 1. My grief lies all within: A powerful start, Yes/Spock's Beard-like, with stop/start guitar and keys, then the vocal when it comes in is a little vocoderish, eventually turning into again, a pretty Andersonesque one, the song moving at a much slower, almost morose pace. Yeah it's okay I guess, pretty derivative If I'm honest. 2. Infinite wisdom?: This one is very short and seems almost a continuation of the previous track. Is this a concept album? Wouldn't that be a first? 3. Spirit shines/Spirit: Nice organ driving this. Not sure why a four-and-a-half minute track needs to be split into two separate parts, but anyway. Nice synthesised brass and also piano or vibes or something, something tinkly anyway. Okay, well when it gets into the second part it's really quite moving. Love the melody here. 4. Can this be happening?: I guess it must be a concept album, as all the tracks seem to be segueing from one to the other. This seems like it might be an instru – no. There's the vocal coming in rather strongly now. Reminds me a little of Arena around the Contagion era. Decent busy synth near the end. 5. In darkness let me dwell: This is like a hymn or a lament, starting off with acapella singing but then rather surprisingly picking up on a bouncy keys and guitar combo, which works really well within the context of the song. This is going Green. 6. I call and cry to thee: Kind of similar really to the opening of the previous track, with choral vocals in a hymnal style, then some nice organ and then expressive keyboard with a bouncing little bassline changes the whole tone of the piece. Slightly incongruous; gives, to me anyway, the feeling that these guys are not quite sure what they're trying to do. They probably are, but the song goes all over the place and it's hard to pin down any underlying pattern. Gets a little into early Gabriel territory near the end. 7. Set your spirit free/Goodbye my love until we meet again: Finally, something that gets a Blue. This is a beautiful, stately, moving instrumental that, for all the six/seven minutes of the previous tracks, kicks the crap out of them. Seems to be just a simple rising synth line, but utterly gorgeous. YorkeDaddy, you'd probably love this track. Maybe not the rest of the album but certainly this one. 8. Ascension / Et Resurrextit / Auferstehen / Arise In Love Sublime, Arise / Spirit : Now we have a seven-minute track broken up into no less than five sections. Really, is that necessary? It opens with a kind of reprise of, or ending to, the previous track, adding in a few more effects and changing the melody up slightly, turning a little less melancholy and reflective and becoming grand and almost triumphant, with a sound like bells coming in on one of the synths. You know, I may have to revise my opinion of this track: it's turning out almost as good as the one before it, so far. Again, it's mostly simple layered synths with no percussion, I don't think any guitar (though it could be the thing making the ringing sounds) and now the drums kick in halfway through and the thing takes off in another, but still similar, direction. Vocals come in too. Yeah, I think this deserves a Blue too. I see the vocalist dropping the overt Anderson influence now, and he's much better for it. 9. Into the light: I wonder if it's jsut coincidence that this track sounds like Spock's Beard and also namechecks one of their albums? Very lively keyboard but vocalist is back to being Jon Anderson II, which is a pity; thought he was breaking away from that. Decent song, but not a patch on the previous two at all. This is way too Yes in the end section and SB in the opening. 10. Above the hills: Getting back to the really good stuff now, with a very catchy and memorable melody on this song. Great guitar solo too; haven't quite heard as much of the guitar as I would have liked. Very keyboard driven, as you would expect I guess. And they're back for the powerful, anthemic ending. Though the guitar gets its licks in too. Overall pretty fine. I wouldn't quite go Blue on it, but if there was such thing as a “high” Green, this would probably get it. 11. Epilogue: This is how it has to be: Sort of like an angelic choir (sample vocal chorus I guess) brings this in, then a really sweet guitar takes the tune, which I'm going to guess is an instrumental, though it is quite long, almost six minutes. We're through two of those so far and no vocals. Acoustic guitar coming in on the fourth minute, attended by sprightly organ. Nice piece, but I kind of question the point. The album had ended well enough already, so where was the need for a closing instrumental? Good enough I guess, if slightly bewildering. Final result: It's a good prog album, nothing wrong with it but then I listen to so much prog (you didn't know? Really?) that for something to grab me it really has to stand out, and this just doesn't. The really good tracks are really good, but they're sort of surrounded, not quite by mediocrity, but let's just say they stand out while the others don't. There's also too much derivativity throughout much of the album. It's well played, well composed, there are some very good tracks on it but they're kind of few and far between, and I couldn't honestly say I'd be too interested in hearing the rest of their material. Rating: *(Sorry but all YouTubes from this album are blocked)* __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-03-2016, 06:09 PM	#108 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Title: There's No Beginning Artiste: Cynara Year 2015 Nationality: Argentinian Genre: Metalcore/Alt-Metal/Hardcore Rank: Noob 1 Expectations:Dunno. It's one of these Bandcamp-ony releases, so could be great, could be terrible. I imagine one thing it will be is loud and abrasive. How did I ever end up buying this? 1. Pain through the words: Heavy, almost doom metal opening, then it kicks up with speed, I'd say a kind of more alt-metal or even punk vocal, with a growly one behind it. Some nice vocal harmonies. Not quite sure what makes metalcore what it is, but the bits I've heard don't sound like this. This is quite tame in comparison to them. I hear more progressive metal really overall. Not bad. 2. Lapiketi: Definitely a more biting guitar in this; the growler gets to contribute more than he did on the previous track. Not that much more enamoured of this than I was of that though. It's okay. 3. Benighted: Sort of sounding too generic now. Nothing's really standing out. That's a nice riff there all right, but again it's a case of having too dig too deep to get at the good stuff, if there is any. Decent solo, but that's not going to save this album if it doesn't get a bit more interesting. 4. Hollow crow: There's a decent melody going through this one at least, but I'm finding it harder and harder to care. It edges Orange, just about. 5. Church of addictions: It's sad, cos I sense these guys are really trying, but it just is not engaging me. Some very good guitar work here and it's powerful and enthusiastic, but sort of, so what? 6. Why save this for tomorrow: All right, I can kind of get into this one. It has a good beat and I found myself tapping my fingers, so maybe that's worth a Green? No, I don't think so, unfortunately. 7. Obscure breath: Some nice unexpectedly relaxed guitar in this. Not bad. But again no Green. Sorry. I'm just not feeling it. New acronym: IJNFI. I'll give it an Orange, but that's as far as I'll go. 8. All the things he said: All right, at the end they managed it. This is a surprisingly gentle acoustic ballad, and it's great. Final result: Nevertheless, it's one track out of eight and in general, though this closer shows Cynara are capable of quite powerful and moving music, the rest of the album is just pretty basic and generic. It might be worth revisiting, but for now I don't get the greatest impression from it at all. Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018