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Artist: Queensrÿche

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Queensrÿche

Genre: Heavy Metal

Year of Release: 2013

Track Listing:

Where Dreams Go To Die: 8/10
Spore: 8/10
In This Light: 8/10
Redemption: 8/10
Vindication: 8/10
Midnight Lullaby: 7/10
A World Without: 8/10
Don't Look Back: 7/10
Fallout: 8/10
Open Road: 7/10

Final Score: 7.7/10

Pros:
Concise and to the point, excellent vocals, solid instrumentals

Cons:
Really weak lyrically

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6g3NlaLsTfM5zEygZr5G9c

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Artist: Symphony X

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Underworld

Genre: Progressive Metal

Year of Release: 2015

Track Listing:

Overture: 7/10
Nevermore: 7/10
Underworld: 8/10
Without You: 7/10
Kiss of Fire: 8/10
Charon: 7/10
To Hell and Back: 7/10
In My Darkest Hour: 7/10
Run With The Devil: 7/10
Swansong: 7/10
Legend: 6/10

Final Score: 7.1/10

Pros:
Some decent production, solid instrumentation

Cons:
Vocals are meh, lyrics are garbage

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

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Artist: Whispered

Country of Origin: Finland

Album Title: Metsutan - Songs of the Void

Genre: Death Metal (Melodic/Folk)

Year of Release: 2016

Track Listing:

Chi No Odori: 8/10
Strike!: 9/10
Exile of the Floating World: 9/10
Sakura Omen: 9/10
Kensei: 9/10
Our Voice Shall Be Heard: 9/10
Tsukiakari: 9/10
Warriors of Yama: 9/10
Victory Grounds Nothing: 9/10
Bloodred Shores of Enoshima: 9/10

Final Score: 8.9/10

Pros:
Varied, aggressive, not a dull moment, love the vocals and atmosphere

Cons:
Some weak lyrical moments

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5OXs7L0F9kvc8lepyEQ8os

I see you bring up lyrics a lot and was kind of curious about how much that can affect your rating and if it varies between genres.

This may just be a coincidence with these three albums. But lyrics I tend to value heavily in almost all genres. I get it when an album's point is to be cheesy (see most EUPM releases) and I can adjust my rating accordingly, but lyrics are a big part of my rating process (Did I connect, do they tell a story well, do they discuss interesting ideas, are they being shocking just for the sake of being shocking.) Maybe I over value lyrics but it's just my way of rating music.

Right on, wanted to get a better understanding for your reviews here. Does your emphasis on lyrics extend to music in foreign languages?

I am definitely more forgiving of some genres than others when it comes to lyrics, or maybe I'm too harsh on the genres where lyrics can play heavily into my rating. It's usually when the vocals are the focus that I come to expect something from the lyrics, but even then if the singer is doing something musically incredible I can let it slide more.

Mostly I just view lyrics as a compensating factor in regards to the overall record. If they're good, it's the cherry on top of whatever else the album has going for it. If they are to ****ty to ignore, then it can definitely take away from the album or song. Often times with genres like metal, jazz, or rock it's secondary to the music. Almost tertiary.

I get you, I can adjust my rating when the music outshines average lyrics enough. Mostly that is seen in the genres you mentioned though. Obviously rap and hip hop records have massive emphasis on lyrics so they probably play a much larger role than on electronic records from like Boards of Canada or something. It depends on the genre, like you said.

And foreign language stuff can be a little iffy for me... I look up translations but if they flow with the music then I can let weird translation stuff slide.

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Artist: Elder

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Reflections of a Floating World

Genre: Doom Metal (Stoner)

Year of Release: 2017

Track Listing:

Sanctuary: 9/10
The Falling Veil: 9/10
Staving Off Truth: 8/10
Blind: 8/10
Sonntag: 7/10
Thousand Hands: 8/10

Final Score: 8.2/10

Pros:
Solid slab of Stoner Doom, good vocals, great atmosphere

Cons:
Some really lackluster passages in a couple tracks

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3KHAbIF4DHori5AW2nWdUA

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Artist: Brand New

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Deja Entendu

Genre: Alternative Rock (Emo)

Year of Release: 2003

Track Listing:

Tautou: 7/10
Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades: 7/10
I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light: 8/10
Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't: 7/10
The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows: 7/10
The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot: 7/10
Jaws Theme Swimming: 7/10
Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis: 7/10
Guernica: 7/10
Good To Know That If I Ever Need Attention: 8/10
Play Crack the Skye: 6/10

Final Score: 7.1/10

Pros:
Some decent production, solid instrumentation

Cons:
Weak in the vocals department

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6vDiMhyfSnTn18OY99BSQX

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Artist: Thank You Scientist

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Maps of Non-Existent Places

Genre: Progressive Rock

Year of Release: 2012

Track Listing:

Prelude: 8/10
A Salesman's Guide to Non-Existence: 9/10
Feed the Horses: 9/10
Blood on the Radio: 8/10
Absentee: 7/10
Suspicious Waveforms: 8/10
Carnival: 8/10
Concrete Swan Dive: 7/10
In the Company of Worms: 9/10
My Famed Dissapearing Act: 9/10

Final Score: 8.2/10

Pros:
Interesting, manic, light as a feather, yet strong as bull

Cons:
Some dull moments peppered throughout

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3e0QZg478r71EiIcDSaR0v