The Identity Matrix Presents: Listening Log 2017

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I don't even remember their logo, so probably not. All I know is they got fun songs.

Agreed, I would say they are a fun band overall. I wouldn't see them any other way really.

Trollheart · 05-09-2017, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Identity Matrix

I tend to enjoy Bad Religion quite a bit more than Green Day. Honestly it comes down to the vocals for me though. Bad Religion's output instrumentally, from what I have heard, is probably on par if not slightly better than Green Day. I don't care for Green Day mainly because Billie Joe's vocals are off putting.

Call it an intuition. The three songs released so far are so bad that nothing on that record could save it.

Of course that's me being extremely hypocritical. I apologize for jumping the gun. I never wish for an album to be bad. But I certainly do not have any high hopes for it.

In fairness, I'm an Asia fan and hated XXX so I had been very much dreading their next album (possibly their last now, with the passing of John Wetton) and to date have yet to listen to it. So I get where you're coming from.

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:29 PM

Artist: Linkin Park

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Meteora

Genre: Alternative Rock (Nu-Metal)

Year of Release: 2003

Track Listing:

Foreword/Don’t Stay: 8/10
Somewhere I belong: 8/10
Lying From You: 7/10
Hit the Floor: 7/10
Easier to Run: 7/10
Faint: 7/10
Figure.09: 8/10
Breaking the Habit: 7/10
From the Inside: 7/10
Nobody's Listening: 8/10
Session: 8/10
Numb: 8/10

Final Score: 7.5/10

Pros:
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, however I'm going to be a bit more honest with this one.

Cons:
Pretty mediocre on almost every level, but dammit I still like it

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0y13VbGddQ4azdVWakksAL

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:33 PM

Artist: Linkin Park

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Minutes to Midnight

Genre: Alternative Rock

Year of Release: 2007

Track Listing:

Wake: 7/10
Given Up: 7/10
Leave Out All The Rest: 8/10
Bleed It Out: 7/10
Shadow of the Day: 7/10
What I've Done: 7/10
Hands Held High: 7/10
No More Sorrow: 7/10
Valentine's Day: 7/10
In Between: 7/10
In Pieces: 6/10
The Little Things Give You Away: 8/10

Final Score: 7.1/10

Pros:
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, some decent vocal delivery

Cons:
Pretty mediocre on almost every level, but dammit I still like it

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2tlTBLz2w52rpGCLBGyGw6

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:36 PM

Artist: Linkin Park

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: A Thousand Suns

Genre: Alternative Rock

Year of Release: 2010

Track Listing:

The Requiem: 6/10
The Radiance: 5/10
Burning In the Skies: 7/10
Empty Spaces: 5/10
When They Come For Me: 7/10
Robot Boy: 6/10
Jornada Del Muerto: 5/10
Waiting For the End: 7/10
Blackout: 8/10
Wretches and Kings: 8/10
Wisdom, Justice, Love: 6/10
Iridescent: 8/10
Fallout: 6/10
The Catalyst: 7/10
The Messenger: 7/10

Final Score: 6.5/10

Pros:
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, some decent vocal delivery, I enjoyed some of the interludes

Cons:
Pretty mediocre on almost every level, but dammit I still like it, I hated most of the interludes

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5eg11Z64gD475AWBJf0l3G

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:38 PM

Artist: Linkin Park

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Living Things

Genre: Alternative Rock

Year of Release: 2012

Track Listing:

Lost In the Echo: 7/10
In My Remains: 7/10
Burn It Down: 6/10
Lies, Greed, Misery: 7/10
I'll Be Gone: 7/10
Castle of Glass: 7/10
Victimized: 6/10
Roads Untraveled: 7/10
Skin to Bones: 7/10
Until It Breaks: 7/10
Tinfoil: 7/10
Powerless: 8/10

Final Score: 6.9/10

Pros:
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, some decent vocal delivery, production improved

Cons:
Pretty mediocre on almost every level, but dammit I still like it, songwriting took a turn for the worse

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/4XHIjbhjRmqWlosjj5rqSI

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:41 PM

Artist: Linkin Park

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: The Hunting Party

Genre: Alternative Rock (Hard Rock)

Year of Release: 2014

Track Listing:

Keys To The Kingdom: 8/10
All For Nothing: 8/10
Guilty All The Same: 8/10
The Summoning: 6/10
War: 7/10
Wastelands: 7/10
Until It's Gone: 6/10
Rebellion: 7/10
Mark the Graves: 7/10
Drawbar: 6/10
Final Masquerade: 7/10
Line in the Sand: 9/10

Final Score: 7.2/10

Pros:
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, some decent vocal delivery, enjoyed the aggressive return

Cons:
Some try hard vocal passages that rub me the wrong way are prevalent

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3XB2yloP7l00tEUmaODtVi

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:42 PM

Alright done with LP.... moving back into reality.....

The Identity Matrix · 05-09-2017, 07:53 PM

Artist: Lycus

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Chasms

Genre: Doom Metal (Funeral)

Year of Release: 2016

Track Listing:

Solar Chamber: 8/10
Chasms: 8/10
Mirage: 8/10
Obsidian Eyes: 8/10

Final Score: 8/10

Pros:
Some chilling atmosphere, Solid funeral doom

Cons:
Kind of short, Some segments lack polish

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/25xSMb3S7qKq1gNuZCbSFH

The Identity Matrix · 05-10-2017, 12:07 PM

Artist: Mammoth Storm

Country of Origin: Sweden

Album Title: Fornjot

Genre: Doom Metal (Stoner)

Year of Release: 2015

Track Listing:

Augurs Echo: 8/10
Vultures Prey: 8/10
Sumerian Cry: 8/10
Fornjot: 8/10
Horns of Jura: 8/10
Hekla: 9/10
Ancient Apocalypse (Bonus Track): 8/10

Final Score: 8.2/10

Pros:
Solid stoner doom, Cool riffs

Cons:
Some boring sections sprinkled throughout

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3xAAHlE5rhZRDmH8wTIIlT