The Identity Matrix Presents: Listening Log 2017
 

So I am totally stealing Trollheart's stolen idea for a thread. I have recieved some flack for my listening log that I have in my sig. Well I decided to put a little score on this thread so that you all can have a quick glimpse of what I think of the albums I have listened to. I'll include all of the meta data as well a few pros and cons for each record. I'll probably go alphabetical to what I have in my database for right now but It will stop once I have caught up. No YT vids though. If you want to hear the album I will include a spotify link. I will still be using my 100 point system from my journal so If anyone needs a refresher...

9.1-10 A fantastic record that I would recommend to anyone regardless of preference for genres

8.1-9.0 A great record that has few to quite a few nit picky details that turn me off but otherwise a rec to anyone into the genre or band

7.1-8.0 a good record that has something glaring at me and saying "I'm not perfect" it may be a specific song or two or an overarching issue that hurts all the songs just a little bit

6.1-7.0 an ok record that failed to hit a home run. Very few standout tracks but filled with passable to mediocre ones. A skip for most people but not a waste of time.

5.1-6.0 an average record that feels like it had some potential but wasted it on a few bad tracks. Maybe deserves a listen if you are curious but other than that I wouldn't recommend it.

4.1-5.0 a bad record that is a waste of time. It might have one or two good tracks to pick out but otherwise leave it where it lies.

3.1-4.0 a terrible record that may have one to two passable tracks but that's it. Not worth a full listen ever.

2.1-3.0 a horrible record that makes my ears bleed or causes me to throw up. Take your pick. It won't matter because this album is just bad.

1.1-2.0 just no. Don't even bother asking me why I didn't like it because I'll be too busy trying to forget about the whole thing.

0.0-1.0 I don't think I will ever reach rock bottom, but if I do, this is it. Lock it in a box and throw it into a volcano.

Alright time to get started...

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Artist: ACME

Country of Origin: Germany

Album Title: ....To Reduce the Choir To One Soloist

Genre: Metalcore (Sludge)

Year of Release: 1996

Track Listing:

Blind: 8/10
Attempt: 9/10
Injection: 9/10
Ordinary: 8/10
Cathode: 9/10
Basterdiser: 8/10
Repress: 8/10
Attempt: 9/10
Repress: 8/10

Final Score: 8.4/10

Pros:
Good pace, an absolute wrecker at some points.

Cons:
Not much substance from the lyrics, but that is kind of being nit picky.

No spotify link so here is a youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MFbmMXQik

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Artist: Agalloch

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Ashes Against the Grain

Genre: Doom Metal (Atmospheric/Black)

Year of Release: 2006

Track Listing:

Limbs: 9/10
Falling Snow: 10/10
This White Mountain On Which You Will Die: 8/10
Fire Above, Ice Below: 10/10
Not Unlike the Waves: 10/10
Our Fortress Is Burning... I: 8/10
Our Fortress Is Burning... II - Bloodbirds: 9/10
Our Fortress Is Burning... III - The Grain: 8/10

Final Score: 9.3/10

Pros:
Beautiful composition, Great flow, Excellent lyrics

Cons:
Loses a small bit of edge towards the end.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2PIBrpGRMIcmYtt4aiN4xv

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Artist: Ahab

Country of Origin: Germany

Album Title: The Giant

Genre: Doom Metal (Funeral)

Year of Release: 2012

Track Listing:

Further South: 10/10
Aeons Elapse: 8/10
Deliverance (Shouting at the Dead): 9/10
Antarctica the Polymorphess: 10/10
Fathoms Deep Below: 9/10
The Giant: 10/10
Time's Like Molten Lead (Bonus Track): 8/10

Final Score: 9.3/10

Pros:
Excellent instrumentals, Good mix of clean and harsh vocals, fantastic storytelling

Cons:
Tough to digest if not aware of the story.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/06GJe8J0qJZcX2B8ILsddH

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Artist: Alcest

Country of Origin: France

Album Title: Kodama

Genre: Post Rock (Blackgaze)

Year of Release: 2016

Track Listing:

Kodama: 9/10
Eclosion: 9/10
Je Suis d'ailleurs: 9/10
Untouched: 8/10
Oiseaux de proie: 10/10
Onyx: 9/10

Final Score: 9.0/10

Pros:
Great melodies, beautiful atmosphere, surprising amount of precision

Cons:
Songs can drag here and there.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/1nWcB3qwsbx0nimMZH6sCw

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Artist: Amorphis

Country of Origin: Finland

Album Title: Under the Red Cloud

Genre: Death Metal (Melodic)

Year of Release: 2015

Track Listing:

Under the Red Cloud: 10/10
The Four Wise Ones: 9/10
Bad Blood: 9/10
The Skull: 8/10
Death of a King: 8/10
Sacrifice: 10/10
Dark Path: 10/10
Enemy at the Gates: 9/10
Tree of Ages: 10/10
White Night: 10/10
Come the Spring (Bonus Track): 8/10
Winter's Sleep (Bonus Track): 10/10


Final Score: 9.3/10

Pros:
Killer instrumentation, awesome vocal delivery

Cons:
Grandiose style can be a little over the top.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0rDSF5cI1DIUQA0GMPhhmM

Acme are definitely a metalcore band,

My bad, fixed.

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Artist: Anthrax

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Among the Living

Genre: Thrash Metal

Year of Release: 1987

Track Listing:

Among the Living: 9/10
Caught in a Mosh: 9/10
I Am the Law: 8/10
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.): 8/10
A Skeleton in the Closet: 9/10
Indians: 9/10
One World: 8/10
A.D.I. / Horror of It All: 8/10
Imitation of Life: 9/10

Final Score: 8.6/10

Pros:
High speed, quality thrash metal, a staple of the genre.

Cons:
A little too dumbed down though.... Some lines are pretty bad.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/4Y2jEzU70sLpTCMCl6JE0t

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Artist: Arch Enemy

Country of Origin: Sweden

Album Title: Black Earth

Genre: Death Metal (Melodic)

Year of Release: 1996

Track Listing:

Bury Me an Angel: 8/10
Dark Insanity: 8/10
Eureka: 8/10
Idolatress: 8/10
Cosmic Retribution: 8/10
Demoniality: 8/10
Transmigration Macabre: 9/10
Time Capsule: 8/10
Fields of Desolation: 9/10
Losing Faith (Bonus Track): 8/10
Ides of March (Iron Maiden Cover Bonus Track): 8/10
Aces High (Iron Maiden Cover Bonus Track): 8/10

Final Score: 8.2/10

Pros:
Solid vocal delivery, Interesting melodies, Great consistency

Cons:
Some parts can drag a little, lyrics can be bad.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Q1XKMSek378vynqnjE5g4