Be'lakor is one of the most highly-praised and widely-beloved bands on Metal Storm, and I guess now we know which album is going to sweep our melodeath category come awards season; but before you storm away in a petulant huff complaining about popularity contests and unfair competition, allow me to explain why Vessels will be the album leading its buddies by 600 votes next February.
"Vessels" is our first concept album. As such, the lyrics form a cohesive story. The album follows energy, as light from the Sun, through various lifeforms on Earth. We follow the struggles of the lifeforms - or vessels - through which the energy passes. Towards the end of the album we are able to also explore what happens when this energy finds itself in a human. At that point, it can reflect on itself, and become aware of its place in the universe - which is both immense and at the same time utterly insignificant and fleeting. The album therefore tells a story about life's vastness and also about its interconnectedness.
The first Be'lakor album that hasn't impressed me...
It's likely not my favourite Be'lakor album, but still a quality work. The run from Whelm to Grasping Light was a bit rough at first because it's definitely expansive compared to their mostly instantly memorable back catalog.
Also, if you don't find Withering Strands or The Smoke of Many Fires impressive, you need a break from anything melodeath related The former actually made Roots to Sever a better song for me thanks to preceding it on the album.
YES! AWESOME first time i pre-orders sth., and so far, i don't regret it! its really different from the older albums, yet still Be'lakor! such a nice development of those guys
and the lyrics, omg, they are so good! and the little booklet as well!
EDIT: i listened to it abaout 40 times now, and it just keeps getting better and better easily the best album so far!
Its solid at the best - yet they are trying so hard. The singer is trying to change his growls sometimes in more creative way (which is imho the most positive change), and I can find some progressive- like efforts to take the maximum out of the melodeath genre. The keyboards and drums are just to dull and uninspired, but the riffs are still great and thankfully less staccato... Yeah it is solid effort, but didnt blow my mind as two previous releases.
An Embers Arc is the best song i would say with some interesting (I wont say Opeth-like!) changes throughout the song. the other ones tryes this to, but i cant say they do the trick as succesfully.
And have you noticed that roots to sewer starts like this? Cannot unhear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvS351QKFV4
I listen to them a lot already, but I rarely spend a afternoon and one album only. That's what I just did with Vessels. It doesn't get annoying at any point, actually, it's even better at each listen.
One of my albums of the year for sure.
Metalstorm sure has a hard-on for melodeath. Can't believe this album is averaging a 9 - easily the highest score of any album this year to date - after almost 150 people have reviewed it. It's not even the best Be'lakor album, much less better than the stuff Vektor and Moonsorrow have released in '16.
Same thing happened last year with Insomnium.
I'm really not trying to bash these bands. Both albums are decent enough, but I wouldn't call either of them special. It's all subjective... I guess i'm just not quite on the same page.