The Identity Matrix Presents: Listening Log 2017

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Number of the Beast has some great tunes, but it also clearly has some not so great ones. "Children of the Damned" is kinda dull, "The Prisoner" feels like a highly decent next-to-last-step to their signature sound with Bruce Dickinson, "22 Acacia Avenue"'s charm wears off once you've heard the lyrics more than five times, and I honestly don't even remember what "Gangland" and "Total Eclipse" sound like. I feel like the chorus to "Gangland" is on the tip of my tongue though.

Everything else is metal royalty though, and nothing is truly bad by any stretch of the imagination, but NOTB was definitely a transition album.

Piece of Mind was pretty much the exact same thing, but with much better consistency, and Powerslave was much the same again (excepting "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner"), but on some next level asskicking.

I really enjoy all of their work from debut to Seventh Son, only after that do they kind of drop off for me. But they do come back a few times. NoTB was my first maiden record, so it holds a special place for me. I really enjoy every track immensely, but I see where you are coming from.

The Batlord · 05-15-2017, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Identity Matrix

I really enjoy all of their work from debut to Seventh Son, only after that do they kind of drop off for me. But they do come back a few times. NoTB was my first maiden record, so it holds a special place for me. I really enjoy every track immensely, but I see where you are coming from.

It was my first Maiden album too, but time kind of hasn't been kind to Maiden in general for me, and especially to NOTB. At this point I think Brave New World might end up being my go to Maiden album.

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 11:53 AM

Artist: Gigan

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Multi-Dimensional Fractal-Sorcery and Super Science

Genre: Death Metal (Technical/Progressive)

Year of Release: 2013

Track Listing:

Beneath the Sea of Tranquility: 6/10
Influence Through Ritualistic Projection: 6/10
Electro-Stimulated Hallucinatory Response: 6/10
Mother of Toads: 6/10
Obsidian Sun: 6/10
Cosmic Triangular Communications: 6/10
Gibbering Hordes of Zemiath: 6/10
Bio-Engineered Molecular Abnormalities: 6/10

Final Score: 6/10

Pros:
Interesting aesthetic, technically proficient

Cons:
While I dig the instrumentation the production really feels lifeless on the record

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ARmfMJ3Z86iI6eVcBrqF7

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It was my first Maiden album too, but time kind of hasn't been kind to Maiden in general for me, and especially to NOTB. At this point I think Brave New World might end up being my go to Maiden album.

I never really "got" Brave New World. It just sounded off to me. That was a couple years ago though, since I am going through all my favorites why not the whole discography...

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 12:01 PM

Artist: Lightning Bolt

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Wonderful Rainbow

Genre: Noise Rock

Year of Release: 2003

Track Listing:

Hello Morning: 7/10
Assassins: 8/10
Dracula Mountain: 8/10
2 Towers: 9/10
On Fire: 8/10
Crown of Storms: 9/10
Longstockings: 8/10
Wonderful Rainbow: 9/10
30,000 Monkies: 9/10
Duel in the Deep: 9/10

Final Score: 8.4/10

Pros:
Noisy, energetic, love the instrumentation

Cons:
Some tracks lack an identity

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0cGaQUOlAm0smFXWUB8KIL

**Exo** · 05-15-2017, 09:44 PM

Ride the Skies by Lightning Bolt is still their best album in my opinion. They're still on the top of my list of bands I still have to see live. I've been trying since high school.

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

Ride the Skies by Lightning Bolt is still their best album in my opinion. They're still on the top of my list of bands I still have to see live. I've been trying since high school.

I really enjoy that record as well. Wonderful Rainbow, Ride the Skies, and Fantasy Empire are the only albums I have listened to by them though. Love the track Dream Genie from Fantasy Empire.

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 10:21 PM

Artist: John Frum

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: A Stirring in the Noos

Genre: Death Metal

Year of Release: 2017

Track Listing:

Presage of Emptiness: 7/10
Pining Light: 8/10
Memory Palace: 8/10
Through Sand and Spirit: 7/10
Lacustrine Divination: 8/10
He Come: 8/10
Assumption of Form: 8/10
Wasting Subtle Body: 9/10

Final Score: 7.9/10

Pros:
Interesting instrumentation, solid vocals, decent production

Cons:
Can feel a little bland at times

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5bUrDMjsjOSLJI5OZCy7oR

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 10:24 PM

Artist: Full of Hell

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Trumpeting Ecstasy

Genre: Grindcore

Year of Release: 2017

Track Listing:

Deluminate: 7/10
Branches of Yew: 6/10
Bound Sphinx: 8/10
The Cosmic Vein: 8/10
Digital Prison: 7/10
Crawling Back to God: 8/10
Flawed Quartz: 7/10
Gnawed Flesh: 8/10
Ash Mesh: 8/10
Trumpeting Ecstasy: 9/10
At the Cauldron's Bottom: 6/10

Final Score: 7.5/10

Pros:
Hits hard and quick, agile production mixed with heavy instrumentation

Cons:
Some tracks drag their feet, doesn't start or finish well

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/1CICQQAxvXbayxDF5jJETJ

The Identity Matrix · 05-15-2017, 10:27 PM

Artist: Converge

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Jane Doe

Genre: Metalcore

Year of Release: 2001

Track Listing:

Concubine: 9/10
Fault and Fracture: 9/10
Distance and Meaning: 8/10
Hell to Pay: 9/10
Homewrecker: 9/10
The Broken Vow: 9/10
Bitter and Then Some: 9/10
Heaven In Her Arms: 9/10
Phoenix in Flight: 9/10
Phoenix in Flames: 9/10
Thaw: 9/10
Jane Doe: 10/10

Final Score: 8.9/10

Pros:
Full of emotive vocals and heavy instrumentation, Excellent composition.

Cons:
Some songs sound a little too similar.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2gtM4m6sglJDrX3toJWZO6

05-15-2017, 09:44 PM	#366 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	Ride the Skies by Lightning Bolt is still their best album in my opinion. They're still on the top of my list of bands I still have to see live. I've been trying since high school. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE