The Album Club 2017

**Frownland** · 05-10-2017, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

The overall atmosphere he's going for: New Age zen colliding with the hookiness of a good 90's alt rock, some Def Leppard touches here and there, the theatrics of progressive rock and bands like King's X plus the industrial underpinnings that he obviously loved about Fear Factory and Skinny Puppy (who are an influence on him). There are so many different sounds and ideas colliding all over Ocean Machine that it's hard to believe he was barely into his 20's when he put it together.

I can respect that. I definitely caught onto the variety of the influences, maybe with a lot less new age and glam metal I coulda liked this album.

Also age doesn't mean anything imo. I blended free jazz, black metal, modern classical, psychedelic rock, and punk at age 19 (with a similarly divisive end result to Biomech).

Quote:

He wanted to create an album that could be heavy but at the same time wash over you.

I don't think he pulled it off on the heaviness because it sounded so tacked on to me.

The Batlord · 05-10-2017, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

The overall atmosphere he's going for: New Age zen colliding with the hookiness of a good 90's alt rock, some Def Leppard touches here and there, the theatrics of progressive rock and bands like King's X plus the industrial underpinnings that he obviously loved about Fear Factory and Skinny Puppy (who are an influence on him). There are so many different sounds and ideas colliding all over Ocean Machine that it's hard to believe he was barely into his 20's when he put it together.

He wanted to create an album that could be heavy but at the same time wash over you. That's not gonna appeal to everyone, but that's part of the Townsend's charm and he puts an insane amount of work into what he does. The fact he recorded both this and City (another classic) in the same time period should be something that's appreciated instead of dismissed.

To me, this album is a useful measuring stick of sorts because it polarizes people and creates discussion due to its uncompromising nature. Going back earlier in this club, Batlord's Patsy Cline album brought about a good discussion for the very same reason.

Polarize deez nuts.

TechnicLePanther · 05-10-2017, 01:02 PM

This is a good album, despite to me feeling more like prog rock than prog metal. Still, the production on this album is gorgeous and luscious, not much like many other metal albums. And the songwriting is also pretty good. The whole album does quite give off the feel of having the ocean washing over you. It may be a pretty standard prog metal album, but to me it serves its purpose admirably. If you're the kind of person who likes prog metal, you'll enjoy it a lot. If not, well... I happen to be a member of the former group, so I have to rate it highly. 8/10

**Frownland** · 05-10-2017, 01:41 PM

I love me some progressive rock, and more often than not I love metal that is genuinely progressive, but "progressive metal" as its own thing is not for me.

innerspaceboy · 05-10-2017, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

...he obviously loved about Fear Factory and Skinny Puppy (who are an influence on him).

Holy ****, I'd forgotten all about Fear Factory. I need to dig out my copy of Demanufacture right now.

Man, that's gonna take me back. Thanks!

**Frownland** · 05-10-2017, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Holy ****, I'd forgotten all about Fear Factory. I need to dig out my copy of Demanufacture right now.

Man, that's gonna take me back. Thanks!

I remember back in the day when Obselete was the heaviest album I knew of.

Anteater · 05-10-2017, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

This album sounds like it's gonna be hot garbage

I bet if you really put your mind to it, you could bring yourself to enjoy some aspect of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Holy ****, I'd forgotten all about Fear Factory. I need to dig out my copy of Demanufacture right now.

Man, that's gonna take me back. Thanks!

Fear Factory were ahead of the curve: I love their earlier stuff a lot more these days than I did as a teen.

The Batlord · 05-10-2017, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Holy ****, I'd forgotten all about Fear Factory. I need to dig out my copy of Demanufacture right now.

Man, that's gonna take me back. Thanks!

WTF you like Fear Factory? There is clearly so much metal you need to get into.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

This album sounds like it's gonna be hot garbage

Oh you'll hate it. You'll hate it so much. You'll want to strap C4 to your ears just to have something interesting to listen to.

Anteater · 05-10-2017, 03:50 PM

If Batty and elph hate something that should automatically warrant a 10/10 score without question. Or at least a solid 8.33333!

**Frownland** · 05-10-2017, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

If Batty and elph hate something that should automatically warrant a 10/10 score without question. Or at least a solid 8.33333!

Nah, bad combo. Elphenor is a certified hater and that brings down the curve.

05-10-2017, 01:02 PM	#813 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	This is a good album, despite to me feeling more like prog rock than prog metal. Still, the production on this album is gorgeous and luscious, not much like many other metal albums. And the songwriting is also pretty good. The whole album does quite give off the feel of having the ocean washing over you. It may be a pretty standard prog metal album, but to me it serves its purpose admirably. If you're the kind of person who likes prog metal, you'll enjoy it a lot. If not, well... I happen to be a member of the former group, so I have to rate it highly. 8/10 __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

05-10-2017, 01:41 PM	#814 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I love me some progressive rock, and more often than not I love metal that is genuinely progressive, but "progressive metal" as its own thing is not for me. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x