Many “fans” were scared with the last album, “amo”, because of how they sort of veered away from heavy music, and they did in many respects.

The Cliche What-“amo”-Should’ve-Been?

I didn’t have any problems with it in particular, but being a heavy music fan, if presented with this album or “amo”, I’d choose this one. No hate, just after what feels great to listen to.

Texture wise, this album is punchy, it’s airy, it’s heavy, and it’s heavenly. Almost the same way “amo” was “textured” but this feels more cohesive. It just comes together in a way that that you can put your finger on it.

The marriage between heavy guitars, heavily-compressed live drums, dark, atmospheric electronic stuff and production gymnastics work well that, since I’m not a “musicologist”, I’m convinced that they have (probably once again) defined a sound of an era.

It’s probably safe to call it from my point-of-view.

New Sound of Metal Defined — Finally?

I’ve been talking about radio metal for quite sometime in my Facebook timeline and have had a list of bands shifting to a certain sound that combines the 1.) accessible rhythmic and melodic formula of pop music, 2.) the eccentricity of some kind of electronic music I’m sure is out there for that “spiciness”, and 3.) the drive of “classic modern” metal with the high-gain guitars and tightly compressed drum sounds.

Put that together and you’ll get a heavier, more emotional, more dynamic, louder, and yet softer; familiar and yet very progressive… Linkin’ Park? Nah. Nope.

I tried establishing a comparison but it’s different. It’s weird because today’s metal comes closer to Evanescence at times if I’m hearing sounds in my head correctly. I have the hook of “Bring Me To Life” in mind but way heavier in terms of arrangement and production.

It Sounds Like… Bring Me The Horizon in 2020.

I guess it’s safe to say that as many enthusiasts have been pointing out since the anthem “True Friends” picked-up wind along with the rest of “That’s The Spirit”. It’s starting to feel like some people from Sheffield might have realized they tripped on a formula that works — and they just ran with it since.

We’ve probably reached another milestone for an iteration of a genre here.

Give the new album a listen on Spotify and probably everywhere else there’s music.

Press photo on the article cover.