The Identity Matrix Presents: Listening Log 2017

The Identity Matrix · 05-01-2017, 07:28 PM

Artist: Cynic

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: Focus

Genre: Progressive Metal (Death)

Year of Release: 1993

Track Listing:

Veil of Maya: 8/10
Celestial Voyage: 8/10
The Eagle Nature: 7/10
Sentiment: 7/10
I'm But a Wave to…: 8/10
Uroboric Forms: 9/10
Textures: 8/10
How Could I: 8/10

Final Score: 7.9/10

Pros:
Interesting use of vocoder for the vocals, Love some of these guitars.

Cons:
A little overrated, expectations were a little high.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/549e0F39N284sxDE7sqGi3

The Identity Matrix · 05-01-2017, 07:32 PM

Artist: Dark Tranquility

Country of Origin: Sweden

Album Title: Atoma

Genre: Death Metal (Melodic)

Year of Release: 2016

Track Listing:

Encircled: 8/10
Atoma: 9/10
Forward Momentum: 7/10
Neutrality: 9/10
Force of Hand: 7/10
Faithless by Default: 7/10
The Pitiless: 6/10
Our Proof of Life: 8/10
Clearing Skies: 9/10
When the World Screams: 6/10
Merciless Fate: 6/10
Caves and Embers: 7/10

Final Score: 7.4/10

Pros:
Love some of the melodies. Dig the vocals on plenty of tracks.

Cons:
A lot of these ideas are pretty tired.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3N5vYy8vIFgpvtrIbFtvvG

The Identity Matrix · 05-01-2017, 07:40 PM

Artist: Deep Purple

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Album Title: Machine Head

Genre: Hard Rock (Early Heavy Metal)

Year of Release: 1971

Track Listing:

Highway Star: 10/10
Maybe I'm a Leo: 8/10
Pictures of Home: 8/10
Never Before: 9/10
Smoke on the Water: 10/10
Lazy: 8/10
Space Truckin': 9/10

Final Score: 8.8/10

Pros:
Superb songwriting, raw and strong.

Cons:
Lyrics are all over the place in terms of quality.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3vf9XhG5wL3J0kVZhCEumf

The Identity Matrix · 05-01-2017, 07:44 PM

Artist: Deftones

Country of Origin: United States

Album Title: White Pony

Genre: Alternative Rock (Nu Metal)

Year of Release: 2000

Track Listing:

Back To School - Mini Maggit: 7/10
Feiticeira: 8/10
Digital Bath: 8/10
Elite: 9/10
Rx Queen: 8/10
Street Carp: 7/10
Teenager: 6/10
Knife Prty: 8/10
Korea: 8/10
Passenger: 9/10
Change (In the House of Flies): 8/10
Pink Maggit: 7/10

Final Score: 7.8/10

Pros:
Dig the aggression, some interesting concepts

Cons:
Some generic moments here and there, Vocals are hit or miss

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5LEXck3kfixFaA3CqVE7bC

The Batlord · 05-01-2017, 08:03 PM

If you're gonna listen to Dark Tranquility then check out actual good stuff.

The Identity Matrix · 05-02-2017, 11:04 PM

Artist: Depeche Mode

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Album Title: Some Great Reward

Genre: Pop (Synth/Electronic)

Year of Release: 1984

Track Listing:

Something to Do: 7/10
Lie to Me: 7/10
People are People: 7/10
It Doesn't Matter: 7/10
Stories of Old: 7/10
Somebody: 9/10
Master and Servant: 8/10
If You Want: 7/10
Blasphemous Rumors: 9/10

Final Score: 7.6/10

Pros:
Interesting lyrics, Decent melodies, I dig the vocals

Cons:
Some generic stuff here and there.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/7DbpWj9i5uZ1UggeGRo1LZ

The Identity Matrix · 05-02-2017, 11:24 PM

Artist: Devin Townsend Project

Country of Origin: Canada

Album Title: Transcendence

Genre: Progressive Rock

Year of Release: 2016

Track Listing:

Truth: 6/10
Stormbending: 7/10
Failure: 7/10
Secret Sciences: 5/10
Higher: 6/10
Stars: 6/10
Trancendence: 6/10
Offer Your Light: 7/10
From the Heart: 6/10
Transdermal Celebration (Ween Cover): 5/10

Final Score: 6.1/10

Pros:
Great production, some interesting moments here and there. Vocals are good

Cons:
Pretty boring to be honest, Lyrics are not good, Nothing really stands out.

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3C3x7g8DmzmnXd6Busxugp

The Identity Matrix · 05-02-2017, 11:27 PM

Artist: Dire Straits

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Album Title: Brothers in Arms

Genre: Rock (New Wave/Blues)

Year of Release: 1985

Track Listing:

So Far Away: 9/10
Money for Nothing: 10/10
Walk of Life: 10/10
Your Latest Trick: 9/10
Why Worry?: 9/10
Ride Across the River: 9/10
The Man's Too Strong: 10/10
One World: 9/10
Brothers in Arms: 9/10

Final Score: 9.3/10

Pros:
Classic, catchy songwriting. Love the vocals and instrumentation.

Cons:
Not to much to complain about

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/15J400U0rEpgE64UQgtvLs

The Identity Matrix · 05-02-2017, 11:31 PM

Artist: Disarmonia Mundi

Country of Origin: Italy

Album Title: Cold Inferno

Genre: Death Metal (Melodic)

Year of Release: 2015

Track Listing:

Creation Dirge: 8/10
Stormghost: 8/10
Behind Closed Doors: 7/10
Coffin: 7/10
Oddities From the Ravishing Chasm: 7/10
Slaves to the Illusion of Life: 8/10
Blessing From Below: 8/10
Magma Diver: 8/10
Clay of Hate: 8/10
Toys of Acceleration: 8/10

Final Score: 7.7/10

Pros:
Solid slab of melodic death metal, Solid guitar work

Cons:
Bad lyrics, not great production

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6bHykFzxQSacJoIx6Nj8Yr

The Identity Matrix · 05-02-2017, 11:34 PM

Artist: Dismember

Country of Origin: Sweden

Album Title: Like An Everflowing Stream

Genre: Death Metal

Year of Release: 1991

Track Listing:

Overide of the Overture: 9/10
Soon To Be Dead: 8/10
Bleed For Me: 8/10
And So Is Life: 9/10
Dismembered: 9/10
Skin Her Alive: 9/10
Sickening Art: 8/10
In Death's Sleep: 10/10
Deathevocation (Bonus Track): 10/10
Defective Decay (Bonus Track): 9/10
Torn Apart (Bonus Track): 9/10
Justifiable Homocide (Bonus Track): 9/10

Final Score: 8.8/10

Pros:
Great instrumentation, Vocals are fantastic

Cons:
I feel the flow of the record is somewhat lacking

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/4i9cuK7MNbTVvezlFujln7