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Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains



7.4 | 62 votes |
Release date: 9 October 2020
Style: Hard rock

Owners:

27 have it
2 want it


01. That Was Me
02. Box In My Head
03. Tainted Blood
04. Nightmare Epiphany
05. Edge Of The World
06. The Machine
07. Train True (Lennie's Song)
08. The Return Of St. Cecilia
09. Stand And Fight
10. Florida Man
11. The Alchemist
12. Secret Road
13. There's A Crime
14. Fight

Staff review by
RaduP
Rating:
7.0
Is it really a late-career album if you haven't released anything for the past almost 20 years?

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published 25.10.2020 | Comments (21)

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Comments

Comments: 18   Visited by: 170 users
28.08.2020 - 23:02
Rating: 6
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister


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My vision is augmented
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Album Release day (October 09, 2020)
10.10.2020 - 06:16
Rating: 7
Lord Slothrop
I need to spend more time with it, but with one listen I found it pretty damned good. More of a rocker than expected, although laden with some generic moments that drag an already lengthy running time. Perhaps it would have fared better had they tightened it to 10 songs. I dunno...
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12.10.2020 - 12:13
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I dont fear the reaper, I fear that music will be bad. same does reaper. Reaper likes good music.
Seems only Magnum and Uriah Heep can write good albums, if we talk about old bands.
First 2 songs was killer here, close to old radio hits, same The Machine and Secret Road
Other was not so good, simply rock, blues mixture. Not disappointed, not superied either, Can listen , but its way to long. Could do 40 minutes.
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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17.10.2020 - 12:41
Rating: 6
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
Has some good material and has some unnecessary material. And it was expected with the revealing of the tracklist; no way the band and whoever else was involved in their music would write 14 good songs at this point in the band's career. I listened all the songs a couple times to make sure that the first impression wasn't wrong, and afterwards nothing positive came out from these additional listens; most of songs simply aren't anything great and after hearing what the songs are like, I cannot justify myself listening to them further any more.

It sounds to me that the band has lost most of its nature on this album; this music doesn't sound as much as BÖC as it does sounds like generic mainstream rock with familiar vocals. What I would've liked see more on this album is more songs like "That Was Me", which is the only song that has the classic BÖC touch to it. Even if the album would've sucked that way, I'd still prefer it to a "better" album with the common songwriting approach. With only a couple noteworthy songs I cannot call this one better than just an ok album.
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My vision is augmented
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17.10.2020 - 17:34
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 17.10.2020 at 12:41

Has some good material and has some unnecessary material. And it was expected with the revealing of the tracklist; no way the band and whoever else was involved in their music would write 14 good songs at this point in the band's career. I listened all the songs a couple times to make sure that the first impression wasn't wrong, and afterwards nothing positive came out from these additional listens; most of songs simply aren't anything great and after hearing what the songs are like, I cannot justify myself listening to them further any more.

It sounds to me that the band has lost most of its nature on this album; this music doesn't sound as much as BÖC as it does sounds like generic mainstream rock with familiar vocals. What I would've liked see more on this album is more songs like "That Was Me", which is the only song that has the classic BÖC touch to it. Even if the album would've sucked that way, I'd still prefer it to a "better" album with the common songwriting approach. With only a couple noteworthy songs I cannot call this one better than just an ok album.

Only few bands as Rebellion - Tragedy Of Steel ,Manilla Road - Gates of Fire, Skid Row, GnR - UYI I n II are few, but not band whit so long carear can do it
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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22.10.2020 - 17:01
Rating: 9
The Symbol Reamins is a fantastic return for this band. It's one of the best albums I've heard lately. I'm a little surprised by the relatively low rating on this site, as the album received an excellent response from both fans and critics. But this is understandable, because only three songs on the album are really heavy and Metal Storm is a metal site, which means it favors the heavier side of the music. But really, it's the diversity of styles that makes this album so special.
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25.10.2020 - 11:28
Rating: 7
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Staff
Written by Metalstormich on 22.10.2020 at 17:01

The Symbol Remains is a fantastic return for this band. It's one of the best albums I've heard lately. I'm a little surprised by the relatively low rating on this site, as the album received an excellent response from both fans and critics. But this is understandable, because only three songs on the album are really heavy and Metal Storm is a metal site, which means it favors the heavier side of the music. But really, it's the diversity of styles that makes this album so special.

7 is not a low score.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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25.10.2020 - 19:22
Rating: 9
Written by RaduP on 25.10.2020 at 11:28

Written by Metalstormich on 22.10.2020 at 17:01

The Symbol Remains is a fantastic return for this band. It's one of the best albums I've heard lately. I'm a little surprised by the relatively low rating on this site, as the album received an excellent response from both fans and critics. But this is understandable, because only three songs on the album are really heavy and Metal Storm is a metal site, which means it favors the heavier side of the music. But really, it's the diversity of styles that makes this album so special.

7 is not a low score.

It is. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it's ranked much higher almost everywhere.
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25.10.2020 - 19:44
JoHn Doe
Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 19:22

Written by RaduP on 25.10.2020 at 11:28

Written by Metalstormich on 22.10.2020 at 17:01

The Symbol Remains is a fantastic return for this band. It's one of the best albums I've heard lately. I'm a little surprised by the relatively low rating on this site, as the album received an excellent response from both fans and critics. But this is understandable, because only three songs on the album are really heavy and Metal Storm is a metal site, which means it favors the heavier side of the music. But really, it's the diversity of styles that makes this album so special.

7 is not a low score.

It is. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it's ranked much higher almost everywhere.

7 means the album is good.

I would rate it even lower, but I won't.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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25.10.2020 - 20:07
Rating: 9
Written by JoHn Doe on 25.10.2020 at 19:44

7 means the album is good.

I would rate it even lower, but I won't.

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.
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25.10.2020 - 20:11
Rating: 7
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Staff
Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:07

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.

I can see the case for an 8, but no way in hell this deserves more than that.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
Loading...
25.10.2020 - 20:13
JoHn Doe
Quote:
Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:07

7 is not a low score.

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.

"Such a quality album" you say... That's your personal opinion. Curse of the Hidden Mirror was not that good either if you ask me.
Don't get upset when you see music you enjoy rated lower than you expect on the internet. If I did that, i'd probably go nuts.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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25.10.2020 - 20:23
Rating: 9
Quote:
Written by JoHn Doe on 25.10.2020 at 20:13

It is. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it's ranked much higher almost everywhere.

"Such a quality album" you say... That's your personal opinion. Curse of the Hidden Mirror was not that good either if you ask me.
Don't get upset when you see music you enjoy rated lower than you expect on the internet. If I did that, i'd probably go nuts.

The Curse of the Hidden Mirror is O.K. album, but the general opinion is that The Symbol remains is much better, so it is unusual that it is ranked lower here. Otherwise, you're probably right about the music you love and the internet.
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25.10.2020 - 20:28
JoHn Doe
Quote:
Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:23

7 means the album is good.

I would rate it even lower, but I won't.

The Curse of the Hidden Mirror is O.K. album, but the general opinion is that The Symbol remains is much better, so it is unusual that it is ranked lower here. Otherwise, you're probably right about the music you love and the internet.

I don't mean to be a jerk, but I've never cared about general opinion.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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25.10.2020 - 21:49
Rating: 6
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
Quote:
Written by JoHn Doe on 25.10.2020 at 20:13

Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:07

7 is not a low score.

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.

"Such a quality album" you say... That's your personal opinion. Curse of the Hidden Mirror was not that good either if you ask me.
Don't get upset when you see music you enjoy rated lower than you expect on the internet. If I did that, i'd probably go nuts.

At least CofHM is shorter and I find Eye Of The Hurricane better than anything on TSR
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My vision is augmented
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26.10.2020 - 06:45
Rating: 9
Quote:
Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 25.10.2020 at 21:49

Written by JoHn Doe on 25.10.2020 at 20:13

Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:07

7 is not a low score.

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.

"Such a quality album" you say... That's your personal opinion. Curse of the Hidden Mirror was not that good either if you ask me.
Don't get upset when you see music you enjoy rated lower than you expect on the internet. If I did that, i'd probably go nuts.

At least CofHM is shorter and I find Eye Of The Hurricane better than anything on TSR

Good song, but I personally prefer Old Gods Return, Stone of Love and Dance on Stilts. Great songs, but TSR is much more diverse and consistent, so there's nothing wrong with it being longer.
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26.10.2020 - 09:30
Rating: 6
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
Quote:
Written by Metalstormich on 26.10.2020 at 06:45

Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 25.10.2020 at 21:49

Written by JoHn Doe on 25.10.2020 at 20:13

Written by Metalstormich on 25.10.2020 at 20:07

7 is not a low score.

It's pretty low for such a quality album. Even its predecessor Curse of the Hidden Mirror is better ranked here, which is strange. I've read a lot of reviews of this album and it usually gets 8 or 9 stars almost everywhere.

"Such a quality album" you say... That's your personal opinion. Curse of the Hidden Mirror was not that good either if you ask me.
Don't get upset when you see music you enjoy rated lower than you expect on the internet. If I did that, i'd probably go nuts.

At least CofHM is shorter and I find Eye Of The Hurricane better than anything on TSR

Good song, but I personally prefer Old Gods Return, Stone of Love and Dance on Stilts. Great songs, but TSR is much more diverse and consistent, so there's nothing wrong with it being longer.

My preferences do differ on what songs are good on both of these albums from what people generally write about them. Sure I cannot prove that Curse Of The Hidden Mirror is the better album, because one part of its good-ness to me is that its preceding albums sounded disappointing to me in comparison, and CotHM sounds somewhat like a returning to the old BÖC sound that they seemed to leave behind at some point. And now with The Symbol Remains it has less of that style again. Objectively, of course, it's impossible to say which one is better, if the popular opinion is that The Symbol Remains is better, I cannot go with it, as I'm listening the albums for myself, not for the general public
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My vision is augmented
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01.11.2020 - 11:54
Rating: 8
Aries Rising
Really strong comeback in my opinion. A few songs fall flat to me (may change with repeat listens) but overall it is a solid album. 7.5
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