This is my personal favorite. this album is unbelievably complicated, heavy and melodic. the musicianship is top-notch. i just wish that they could remastered it and re-release it someday.

Indeed it is a great album.

AWSOME BUT UNDERRATED.

Their latest album pushed me to go back and revisit their marvelous first three albums. Shame they haven't made anything worthwhile (in my opinion) since Natural Born Chaos, which was already a step down from their first three.

Written by Alex F on 15.12.2015 at 03:22

Their latest album pushed me to go back and revisit their marvelous first three albums. Shame they haven't made anything worthwhile (in my opinion) since Natural Born Chaos, which was already a step down from their first three.

A Predator's Portrait had its moments, but on the whole I first 3 records had very little going for them. Bad production, shaky songwriting etc. They didn't find themselves till NBC as far as I can see it.

Written by [user id=4365] on 15.12.2015 at 03:29

A Predator's Portrait had its moments, but on the whole I first 3 records had very little going for them. Bad production, shakey songwriting etc. They didn't find themselves till NBC as far as I can see it.

Damn, I'm surprised we disagree so strongly. Their later outputs used to really appeal to me, but at this point they just feel bland. The solo in Bulletbeast really sums up what I love about their early material. The same heaviness of real melodic death metal, but far catchier and a tad more accessible. I assume I'm in the minority though, as NBC seems to be what most fans gravitate towards

Written by Alex F on 15.12.2015 at 03:34

Damn, I'm surprised we disagree so strongly. Their later outputs used to really appeal to me, but at this point they just feel bland. The solo in Bulletbeast really sums up what I love about their early material. The same heaviness of real melodic death metal, but far catchier and a tad more accessible. I assume I'm in the minority though, as NBC seems to be what most fans gravitate towards

I always found their heavier bits forced and plain not very good. Melody and groove was where they always excelled I thought so I prefer them when they play to their strengths. I'd much rather listen to early Arch Enemy for great heavy / melody juxtaposition with a bit of an edge.

Written by [user id=4365] on 15.12.2015 at 03:41

Written by Alex F on 15.12.2015 at 03:34

Damn, I'm surprised we disagree so strongly. Their later outputs used to really appeal to me, but at this point they just feel bland. The solo in Bulletbeast really sums up what I love about their early material. The same heaviness of real melodic death metal, but far catchier and a tad more accessible. I assume I'm in the minority though, as NBC seems to be what most fans gravitate towards

I always found their heavier bits forced and plain not very good. Melody and groove was where they always excelled I thought so I prefer them when they play to their strengths. I'd much rather listen to early Arch Enemy for great heavy / melody juxtaposition with a bit of an edge.

For the most part, I agree w/ the latter poster. With their output that came soon after, take Figure Number Five - when the melody is on, they're ace. Stabbing the Drama improved the aggression to cover the writer's block that I saw comin from this... but the real depth, or saccharine fix depending on how you look at it, was in the nostalgic-Toto/Tears for Fears influence that's more apparent than ever now. From the underrated (IMO) The Panic Broadcast, I feel they better managed these polar diametric opposites, took a half-step back w/ the 2x-album The Living Infinite but advanced some in key ways, ways that led to The Ride Majestic being so brilliant (again, I feel I am in the minority there in stating that haha.) Somethin gives me the feeling a surge (resurgence?) in prog and/or avant-melodeath may be looming around the corner... (hi I'm prnzo lol-o-lels...)

Written by prnzokoshiroltra on 10.12.2016 at 14:16


For the most part, I agree w/ the latter poster. With their output that came soon after, take Figure Number Five - when the melody is on, they're ace. Stabbing the Drama improved the aggression to cover the writer's block that I saw comin from this... but the real depth, or saccharine fix depending on how you look at it, was in the nostalgic-Toto/Tears for Fears influence that's more apparent than ever now. From the underrated (IMO) The Panic Broadcast, I feel they better managed these polar diametric opposites, took a half-step back w/ the 2x-album The Living Infinite but advanced some in key ways, ways that led to The Ride Majestic being so brilliant (again, I feel I am in the minority there in stating that haha.) Somethin gives me the feeling a surge (resurgence?) in prog and/or avant-melodeath may be looming around the corner... (hi I'm prnzo lol-o-lels...)

I still can't get on with The Panic Broadcast; something about the drums and flow I can't deal with, but the rest I agree with. The newest one is such a fine album, I didn't think I could enjoy a melodeath album to that extent ever again. They definitely do melody exceptionally well.

A step forward comparing to their first record. Actually, I think this record is way underrated. It deserves a higher rating.

So many great songs on this record, I can´t really highlight just a few. Oh and they even included the absolute classic "ShadowChild" as a Japanese bonus, before being recycled in "A Predator´s Portrait".