That's quite a shift in style. The material released so far have a strong scent of Gojira. Really interesting. The last one was already great but felt a little bit too opportunistic regarding the strong similarities to Ghost Bath's Moonlover.

I love it. Probably one of my favourites albums of 2019.

Very much enjoying the Novembre and Summoning inspired vocals, and even melodies in some parts. At the same time, the album sounds incredibly fresh and unique.

It's perfect.

Well this is a great discovery, I've very much fallen in love with it.
Definitely in my top runner ups for 2019 AOTY!

What's this? A melodeath or prog album not in the #1 slot for the year?

Written by Auntie Sahar on 14.04.2019 at 10:47

What's this? A melodeath or prog album not in the #1 slot for the year?

Were not halfway through the year yet, dont get too excited now.

Reminds me a lot of Deafheaven. A great album outstanding production.

8.5/10 leaning towards an 8.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 14.04.2019 at 10:47

What's this? A melodeath or prog album not in the #1 slot for the year?

I listened to a few tracks, and this sounds way more like melodeath than black so don't get your hopes up

Written by nonZero on 16.04.2019 at 12:06

Reminds me a lot of Deafheaven.

...and The Eyes Of A Traitor

^band profile is not working. Must be the 'invisible' factor

Written by MetalManic on 16.04.2019 at 15:00

...and The Eyes Of A Traitor

^band profile is not working. Must be the 'invisible' factor

It was the lowercase characters, there I fixed it for ya

Gojira? Melodeath??
Not really...

My digipak sticker says "... represent a band that has established and evolved their post-black metal sound. For fans of Deafheaven, Wolves In The Throne Room, Agalloch" and even though this statement is obviously driven by selling strategies, I tend to agree.

Anyway, this is some great and intense stuff.
Absolute highlight for me so far: when 'Alone' merges into the title track. These two songs just belong together and shouldn't be heard separated from one another. Eleven minutes of goosebumps and anything you need.

The thing with black metal elements is that they're so sound dependent, as opposed to structure and songwriting oriented, that you can water something down to the nth degree and people will still slap a black metal label on it for the kudos and street cred. Then on the opposite side an album can be littered with all manner of harmonising clean vocals and soaring heavy metal melodicism and heavy metal or melodeath won't get a mention, it'll just get called post-black or prog black etc. Granted I didn't listen to much of this, but I would bet my left and valuable nut that this is so highly rated because it's so very unblack metal and contains so many traits that makes melodeath so highly rated on MS (which is why I haven't listened to much of this myself )

Might sound like I'm gatekeeping black metal, but I'm not. It's just funny the lengths people / labels will go to to shoehorn in the black metal factor these days, when often it's just an inconsequential amount.

Written by Mercurial on 17.04.2019 at 10:04

The thing with black metal elements is that they're so sound dependent, as opposed to structure and songwriting oriented, that you can water something down to the nth degree and people will still slap a black metal label on it for the kudos and street cred. Granted I didn't listen to much of this, but I would bet my left and valuable nut that this is so highly rated because it's so very unblack metal and contains so many traits that makes melodeath so highly rated on MS (which is why I haven't listened to much of this myself )

Might sound like I'm gatekeeping black metal, but I'm not. It's just funny the lengths people / labels will go to to shoehorn in the black metal factor these days, when often it's just an inconsequential amount.

Yeah, a lot of post-bm bands like Harakiri For The Sky or Vallendusk sound way closer to Insomnium than Altar Of Plagues

Written by RaduP on 17.04.2019 at 10:18

Yeah, a lot of post-bm bands like Harakiri For The Sky or Vallendusk sound way closer to Insomnium than Altar Of Plagues

What's that, your sludge band has some raspy vocals? Black fucking metal. Wait... Your death metal album has toilet production?

I don't personally mind that it happens, but it's amusing to see the level of appropriation that occurs.

Written by Mercurial on 17.04.2019 at 10:21

What's that, your sludge band has some raspy vocals? Black fucking metal. Wait... Your death metal album has toilet production?

Your speed metal has satanic themes?

Written by RaduP on 17.04.2019 at 10:22

Your speed metal has satanic themes?

Your daughter is called Melissa? Keep her away from the town church, heathen.

This may be very close to my aoty depending on the future outcome. It almost feels like they are trying to create a whole new genre, and succesfully doing so too!

Fuck genres, this album is great.

I just meant that their sound is very unique in my opinion. I can hear a lot of influences from other bands in different genres. Otherwise I agree. Genres, while they can give you a good direction searching for new music, it's also the topic of many toxic discussions.

Written by Reignstroem on 18.04.2019 at 12:12

I just meant that their sound is very unique in my opinion. I can hear a lot of influences from other bands in different genres. Otherwise I agree. Genres, while they can give you a good direction searching for new music, it's also the topic of many toxic discussions.

My comment wasn't directed to you specifically; in fact, I couldn't agree with you more. I was just making a point that it's better to enjoy the music than try to pigeonhole it.

Written by nikarg on 18.04.2019 at 13:05


My comment wasn't directed to you specifically; in fact, I couldn't agree with you more. I was just making a point that it's better to enjoy the music than try to pigeonhole it.

Ah, my bad then! It sure is better! I bet I have bands in my "Metal"-playlists that many wouldn't count as metal, but fuck it! They are all mine

Great stuff. Both intense and melodic, great short, softer tracks in-between the more energy-packed ones, and it gets better as it progresses, culminating in the title track Adore. It's great to see these "post" bands using clean vocals without losing any of the intensity, darkness and overall feeling of the album. The acoustic guitar gives a nice touch to it too.

Remember how much shit this band received for their previous album's cover?

Wow. Just WOW.

Yeah, this is great. One of the best albums of 2019.

What a pleasant sound. Nice melodies.
Some of the songs start out incredible! Although they lose their momentum quite a bit later on.

I didn't hear any Gojira in this (unfortunately) other than one or two riffs.
The album was mostly average but ''Horizon'' and "Portrait Of Pieces" were really good.

Written by Mehrad on 24.08.2021 at 23:43

The album was mostly average but ''Horizon'' and "Portrait Of Pieces" were really good.

If you don't feel the gripping intensity of "Alone" and "Adore", then you're already dead inside.
So don't be surprised when friends and relatives tell you that you smell funny. I'm sorry to say that, but it's the smell of decay.