09:39 - Jaeryd17 Are you kidding? I loved the ending to Mass Effect 3. I think everyone was just looking for a happy ending and threw a toddler-fit because they didn't get it. Also, Boxcar, have you played Fallout 1 or 2 yet?
06:45 - huascaman The EA sports NHL games are the best. \m/
06:29 - Unhealer Jaeryd17, agree Mass Effect is excellent. Also, I didn't mind the so-hated ending that much.
06:23 - BoxCar Willy I really only play Fallout. Ive beaten both at least 10 times, (new Vegas probably even more). They are just the best, they capture everything I love. They just need a metal soundtrack and dirtbikes. Lol.
06:20 - Jaeryd17 No best game series, I don't think... but Mass Effect comes incredibly close. Love me some Halo, Metroid, Zelda, Borderlands, Battlefield, and Elder Scrolls, though.
05:59 - psykometal I've done like dozens of playthroughs using the Oghma to level boost, to try out several different character builds (since there used to not be respec option), so I now I want to actually complete it, or come real close. :)
01. Beneath 02. Wrapped In Barbwire 03. Silhouette 04. Things Left Unsaid 05. (Won't Go) Home 06. Closure 07. Same Difference 08. Hours Of Simplicity 09. Wastelands 10. This Ever Ending Game 11. No Future 12. Of Silent Stares & Fire Lost
It's official: Amoral's death metal era is over. And thank God for that, am I right?!
After the release of the universally accepted and critically acclaimed Show Your Colors, Amoral let the world know just what they're capable of. No more of that drab, unoriginal melodic/technical death metal. No, they've moved on to bigger and better things. Melodic metal with hard rock elements. What is more original and exciting than that?!
Led by Finnish Karaoke Champion Ari Koivunen, Beneath just goes to show you how many unusual ideas this quintet have been sitting on throughout the years, ideas that sadly never came to be in the old days of aimless, ineffectual death metal. Koivunen's range and general high-pitched approach will instantly force you to forget completely about Niko Kalliojärvi, who never even considered himself a vocalist anyway. Which probably explains why he joined some generic flower power band as a guitarist earlier this year. Put it this way, you won't be missing him or the music he accompanied.
As the old adage goes, "haters gon' hate", but those close-minded people will be missing out on the brilliance that is modern-era Amoral. Gone are the formulaic songs that followed typical structures and focused too heavily on choruses to entice the listener. This is where it's at!
Okay, okay, that was a little over-the-top sarcastic, even for me. This album is awful. Think Nickelback gone power metal. Ya, that bad*. The simplistic hard rock approach and generic melodies are somewhat hidden due to Koivunen's blatant wailing, but there are moments when they come to the forefront and rival the likes of Metallica's banality on Lulu. I mean how tedious can you get? I know people initially attacked them for creating "radio rock", but even radio rock carries some weight in the songwriting department. This is just boring. Boring rock-laden power metal with useless solos. I'm not upset about the change in vocalists (old news anyway), or about the more mainstream rock direction. I'm upset that they didn't execute it well. And not only did they fail to execute it well, they completely failed in their attempt to make good rock music. Or power metal. Did they even know what they were going for with this? Because I sure don't.
* no Roadrunner Records executives were humored in the making of this review
Written on 10.11.2011 by Troy Killjoy
A Metal Storm Staff member and official reviewer since 2011, Troy is well-trained in the art of black metal and mockery.
Written by J. N. on 10.11.2011 at 21:51 Well, at least the performance and production is pretty good.
I think so. The music is incredibly bland and seemingly without direction but the band still knows what they're doing with their instruments and the album has an appropriately slick production.
Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2011 at 21:54 I think so. The music is incredibly bland and seemingly without direction but the band still knows what they're doing with their instruments and the album has an appropriately slick production.
So... We're trapped in a dilemma of what to think of the album?
Written by J. N. on 10.11.2011 at 22:01 So... We're trapped in a dilemma of what to think of the album?
Far from it. The album is just plain bad. I'm just saying it's a 4 instead of a 2 because the musicianship and production weren't as bad as the songwriting and originality.
Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2011 at 22:03 Far from it. The album is just plain bad. I'm just saying it's a 4 instead of a 2 because the musicianship and production weren't as bad as the songwriting and originality.
Written by malaikat on 11.11.2011 at 00:21 Then I remembered who Amoral is.
I won't be surprised if others have a similar reaction. I think most Amoral fans subconsciously forgot about Amoral as an active band after they released Show Your Colors. And some people might have actively went out of their way to forget them.
I'm still holding on to the slim chance they at least go back to writing more complex music. I know they won't return to their death metal form but they have the potential to release some good heavy metal at least.
Written by malaikat on 11.11.2011 at 00:21 Then I remembered who Amoral is.
I won't be surprised if others have a similar reaction. I think most Amoral fans subconsciously forgot about Amoral as an active band after they released Show Your Colors. And some people might have actively went out of their way to forget them.
I'm still holding on to the slim chance they at least go back to writing more complex music. I know they won't return to their death metal form but they have the potential to release some good heavy metal at least.
The sad thing is that that potential good heavy metal probably never will reach the degree of intensity displayed in their previous works. I would say Amoral is the next In Flames. :p
I gave their video for Silhouette a chance, but had to turn it off very quickly. It's a shame that the band has gone this way. Kick Mr. Koivunen out of the band and get a proper singer that fits the potential of the band that was present on their previous albums!
Written by evilwayz on 11.11.2011 at 10:42 Kick Mr. Koivunen out of the band and get a proper singer that fits the potential of the band that was present on their previous albums!
To be honest if they're going to keep with this sound, Koivunen is actually a very appropriate lead singer. I'm not saying he's good, but his style fits the music. The problem is the rest of the musicians are apparently fine with playing simplistic rock music without an ounce of creativity, and Koivunen's hung out to dry as a result.
Hahahaa somehow I missed this review so far. The album is good hard rock stuff somewhere about a rating of 7-8, but of course if you still expect a "Decrowning" you'll fall from very high... Also this Ari guy's voice is far too immature for this sort of music I think...
) 
somehow I missed this review so far. The album is good hard rock stuff somewhere about a rating of 7-8, but of course if you still expect a "Decrowning" you'll fall from very high... Also this Ari guy's voice is far too immature for this sort of music I think...
