The album opens with a sonic pounding counterbalanced by the trademark passion of the vocals, things ebb down into a more depressive introspection as the rollercoaster of the album's dynamic sets in motion. Some interesting production choices in this often reverb-heavy recording are best played loudly through headphones to take this album in with maximum effect. "The Worst is Yet to Come" keeps on foot plant in driving guitars, where they dive deeper into morbid reflection on "In Disguise" which gives you a better taste of Cedric's voice.
If you had to describe this band to someone whose only context was mainstream music a fitting metaphor might be if A Perfect Circle was a metal band who was obsessed with the things that made them depressed. "Kowloon Lights" is the lead single off the album, which makes more sense in the context of the album, though it is a venture into the more post-punk side of rock n roll with great guitar atmospherics.."2AM Thoughts" features DOOL lending their voice to this brooding song. DOOL takes the second verse, which I did not notice when first saw the video for this song."Canvas" is a bleak ballad that builds in power as it churns forward.
"Neglect" finds things becoming even more introspective. as this ballad unfolds. A shoe-gazing quality hovers even as they build the song back up with the plodding chug of the guitars. "44YOD" answers the question of what would the Cure sound like if they were a metal band, while still holding fast to the more delay-drenched guitar tones to make shoe-gaze better than Pallbearers' most recent attempts.The question mark at the end of "Healed?" pretty much sums up this album's theme. All the urban images depicting the hopelessness of big cities, and the mental health of today's world, hit in a very real way thyat is heavier than just crunching chords. They continue to meet and exceed expectations. I will give this album a 10.Out on Nuclear Blast.
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