Trollheart

Although I love the bones off Epicloud and have heard this before, in “Love or Hate?” I have yet to listen to a full Devin album other than those two. Through playlists, I've heard a lot of his stuff (from Ki, Devlab, Synchestera, Ghost, Transcendence etc) and oddly, more often than not I've found myself hitting the fast-forward key. Devin can be very bloated and overblown, and I can see why some people hate him, but I'm sure there's plenty there to discover once I get the chance to properly listen to his material.

As for this album, I've heard it five times now and while I like it, I can't say I really love it. Much of it doesn't remain in my brain and when I play it again it's almost like I'm hearing it for the first time, which I have to say is not a good thing. It's also very long. But to my thoughts:

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Didn't like the speech but once “Seventh wave” got going it was powerful, punchy prog metal with a real epic touch and I certainly dug it.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Good opener. Dev has a very powerful voice, almost abrasive at times, and there's power and passion in this first track. Sucks you right in.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Also great, kept the quality high.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
Mostly I like Devin's voice, though it can be a little rough at times. I certainly don't agree that he can't sing though. People who say that are just, what's the technical term? Oh yeah: idiots.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Yeah. Very powerful, very epic, very sweeping. A real wall (wave?) of sound.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Mostly better. It dipped a little towards the end but I believe recoverd well.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
The way Devin sings sometimes I find it a little hard to pick out the words – they're kind of drowned in a wave of production, so I don't know basically.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Mostly, though there were a few I wasn't mad about. “Sister” being a good example.

9. What did you think of the production?
Very overpowering, but for this album I feel that's a good thing. The music certainly washes over you, so mission accomplished there then.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Yes. Ki had been raving about him and Batty had spoken of him too. I loved Epicloud and I knew that I had heard this album once before, so I more or less expected to like it, especially after some of the previous albums here which had not been an enjoyable experience for me. I was looking forward to it.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Very much so. I likes my prog metal, and I likes my prog metal epic.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Improved with every new listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
“Seventh wave”, “Life”, “Night”, “Funeral”, “Bastard”

14. And the one(s) you liked least?
“Sister”, “The death of music”

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Yeah. I think I'll really like most of his stuff once I get a chance to listen to it.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Not really.

18. Did the album end well?
I could have lived without that ****ing scream at the end (why?) but given how epic and heavy most of the album is, the ballad was an interesting way to end it.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I'd have cut out a few tracks. It is very long. “The death of music” is a hard sell. “Sister” is also very annoying. I'd cut that.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Hung together very well for me.

**** you haters. This gets a solid 8/10 from me.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018