"It's not as grave as I'm making it out to be, but there's a distance between the music I listen to and the music I genuinely feel like it has a place in me.".
On point.
Been waiting for this one!
Awesome review!

Congratulations on hitting 500 reviews. Next top: overtaking Jeff. MS would be up a paddle without a creek if you weren't around.

This is a hell of a way to mark that milestone, too. This is one of those pieces of writing that demonstrates how reviewing is in its own way another act of artistic creation. It's one of your best, easily.

I've always been aware of Emma Ruth Rundle in the background and I've casually enjoyed her albums once or twice when it comes time to do the yearly retrospective; that's about the extent of my involvement with her music, so I will undoubtedly find Engine of Hell "a pretty fine singer/songwriter record." I think I can empathize with the feelings you are communicating, however, and damned if I'm not impressed by how well you've managed to capture a lot of rough emotions in a few paragraphs. This review is probably heavier than the album itself. Even if my experience with the album will be a lot different, I think that you have successfully conveyed what your experience has been, and it's well worth reading.

And I, too, want to highlight this line: "there's a distance between the music I listen to and the music I genuinely feel like it has a place in me." You're a lot more prolific than me, but I think we run in the same tracks as far as our listening habits/responsibilities are concerned, and it's such a different feeling when something truly sticks with me now than it used to be when I still had everything to learn.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15

Congratulations on hitting 500 reviews. Next top: overtaking Jeff. MS would be up a paddle without a creek if you weren't around.

This is a hell of a way to mark that milestone, too. This is one of those pieces of writing that demonstrates how reviewing is in its own way another act of artistic creation. It's one of your best, easily.

I think radu kan do it, not this year , but maybe to end of next year he might get 2000 .... but then Jeff comes back and publish 1000 new written revievs ....

To me such artists as Emma, Chelsea , even Ammerlie Brunn, somehow in early days can deliver good music, later somehow influences takes over and all is ruined, I did like her adn CW in beginning, latest albums are disapoinment

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15
It's one of your best, easily.

...and an intimate review. Thank you.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15

Congratulations on hitting 500 reviews. Next top: overtaking Jeff. MS would be up a paddle without a creek if you weren't around.

Thanks! I checked and I have to take over Undercraft's 688 reviews first.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15

This is a hell of a way to mark that milestone, too. This is one of those pieces of writing that demonstrates how reviewing is in its own way another act of artistic creation. It's one of your best, easily.

Also thanks! Not sure how much I agree with the sentiment. I do feel that sometimes a lot of the reviews I write are just finding some new buzzwords for the music or just trying to state what genres the band blends in. I do also fear, in the opposite direction, that I might make a review too much about me. The truth is that I still don't feel like I have any idea about what I want from a review, nor what others would want from mine. But if I had to choose, this would be my favorite of my reviews.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15

I've always been aware of Emma Ruth Rundle in the background and I've casually enjoyed her albums once or twice when it comes time to do the yearly retrospective; that's about the extent of my involvement with her music, so I will undoubtedly find Engine of Hell "a pretty fine singer/songwriter record." I think I can empathize with the feelings you are communicating, however, and damned if I'm not impressed by how well you've managed to capture a lot of rough emotions in a few paragraphs. This review is probably heavier than the album itself. Even if my experience with the album will be a lot different, I think that you have successfully conveyed what your experience has been, and it's well worth reading.

I don't think you need to listen to more than 10 seconds into the intro of "Run Forever" to see why I say that she has a mastery over textures and melodies. The lyrics of "Protection" are probably the most heavy hitting, but it's the way it washes you in guitars right after the chorus that is one of the most cathartic musical moments I've felt. And "Light Song" is probably the comfiest song I know.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 03.11.2021 at 19:15

And I, too, want to highlight this line: "there's a distance between the music I listen to and the music I genuinely feel like it has a place in me." You're a lot more prolific than me, but I think we run in the same tracks as far as our listening habits/responsibilities are concerned, and it's such a different feeling when something truly sticks with me now than it used to be when I still had everything to learn.

I'm just gonna say it. There's too much music being made. And the even worse part is that most of it is good. So it's even harder to pick out the really great stuff. I don't need any other OSDM, melodeath, blackened thrash, sympho power or stoner rock (for example) album in my life and I wouldn't mind if none was made henceforth. But I still enjoy pretty much most of what I listen to in those genres.

So how the fuck am I supposed to have a healthy listening habit when every Friday a dozen albums are released, each pretty worthwhile, and each of them feeling like something I feel compelled to review. And by the time I'm done picking something to review, reviewing it, another batch comes. And that's just the metal albums. And just the new releases.

If you wanna start a new band, don't.

Written by RaduP on 04.11.2021 at 14:13

I'm just gonna say it. There's too much music being made. And the even worse part is that most of it is good. So it's even harder to pick out the really great stuff. I don't need any other OSDM, melodeath, blackened thrash, sympho power or stoner rock (for example) album in my life and I wouldn't mind if none was made henceforth. But I still enjoy pretty much most of what I listen to in those genres.
So how the fuck am I supposed to have a healthy listening habit when every Friday a dozen albums are released, each pretty worthwhile, and each of them feeling like something I feel compelled to review. And by the time I'm done picking something to review, reviewing it, another batch comes. And that's just the metal albums. And just the new releases.

Man, this is crazy and it sounds like a real nightmare. But it explains why you seem to have such an incredibly broad musical taste. In my opinion, 95% of all new releases are garbage, and yet there's more than enough good new music to discover every week. If there were more, I'd probably go nuts from oversaturation and sensory overload. And I would be impoverished within a few months.

Congrats on your 0.5K! I'm glad you found an album by an artist you feel such a personal connection with to mark this milestone. And maybe that's also the answer to your question about what readers expect from your reviews. Because any review without a personal touch is just empty words loosely strung together.

I am so happy you are here, Radu.

The only other person that I can imagine singing "Return" is Beth Gibbons. And I have no higher praise for a female singer.

This album is just devastating, in such a good way. She's one of my last favorite bands/artists that I've yet to be able to catch live. Would be super interesting to see her do this stripped down approach to some of her older material too. I love the band element but it would be a cool one-off thing.

Update: two minutes in and I've decided to buy this on Bandcamp. Thanks for such a convincing review.

Congrats Radu, keep it up ! i will check the album just because of the review...

Hm, i did listen to it, and found it very intimate, at times reminding me of the first albums of Tori Amos.... mood dependent..as hell.

Written by DarkWingedSoul on 07.11.2021 at 09:27

Hm, i did listen to it, and found it very intimate, at times reminding me of the first albums of Tori Amos.... mood dependent..as hell.

Those were quoted as a direct influence, if I remember correctly, which probably means I should listen to them.

Please do so, and let me know if u liked them.

Written by RaduP on 07.11.2021 at 09:42

Written by DarkWingedSoul on 07.11.2021 at 09:27

Hm, i did listen to it, and found it very intimate, at times reminding me of the first albums of Tori Amos.... mood dependent..as hell.

Those were quoted as a direct influence, if I remember correctly, which probably means I should listen to them.

how have you not listened to Tori Amos, you've listened to everything

Written by musclassia on 07.11.2021 at 19:11

how have you not listened to Tori Amos, you've listened to everything

Some gaps do remain, I just keep them secret

Written by RaduP on 07.11.2021 at 09:42

Those were quoted as a direct influence, if I remember correctly, which probably means I should listen to them.

The first four albums are pretty much as good as singer-songwriter stuff gets. The debut is the typical recommendation, Boys for Pele is maybe the magnum opus, but I'd actually recommend starting with From the Choirgirl Hotel. It's her most balanced album, and has the sort of sleek, cool darkness that has crossover appeal. (That said, the few bits that remind me of Tori on Engline of Hell are mostly the vocal melodies on Return and Dancing Man, and you'll find them on any of the early albums. The Body is also a clear tribute.)

Thank you for this review. Engine of Hell was already in my top 10 for 2021, but this review has added to my experience of it. Also, in sharing your experience as a fan of Emma Ruth Rundle, you have beautifully captured how our relationship with new music can be complex and even bittersweet(?) while still being so worthy of exploration.

Engine of Hell sent me back to rediscover Tori Amos albums from the 90s so it’s really cool to see her discussed here (I’m keen to know your experience of TA if you check her out!)

Very late to this, but I really liked this album. It was very stripped, as Emma likes doing, but more piano-driven and lovely tbh. I saw her on tour for this album and it was the most intimate show I ever witnessed. I almost felt uncomfortable because it was so intimate. It was in a smaller venue and we were very close to her.

Great review btw!

Written by BloodTears on 27.04.2026 at 17:43

Very late to this, but I really liked this album. It was very stripped, as Emma likes doing, but more piano-driven and lovely tbh. I saw her on tour for this album and it was the most intimate show I ever witnessed. I almost felt uncomfortable because it was so intimate. It was in a smaller venue and we were very close to her.

Great review btw!

Thank you!

I have seen Emma on tour for this album exactly twice in two different contexts: one was on the main stage of Roadburn, which was the quietest I've ever heard a crowd be and felt very intimate despite being in such a large venue. The second was at a smaller stage of an open air festival where you could hear EDM from one of the other stages making it a bizarre and awkward experience.

Written by RaduP on 28.04.2026 at 09:09

Written by BloodTears on 27.04.2026 at 17:43

Very late to this, but I really liked this album. It was very stripped, as Emma likes doing, but more piano-driven and lovely tbh. I saw her on tour for this album and it was the most intimate show I ever witnessed. I almost felt uncomfortable because it was so intimate. It was in a smaller venue and we were very close to her.

Great review btw!

Thank you!

I have seen Emma on tour for this album exactly twice in two different contexts: one was on the main stage of Roadburn, which was the quietest I've ever heard a crowd be and felt very intimate despite being in such a large venue. The second was at a smaller stage of an open air festival where you could hear EDM from one of the other stages making it a bizarre and awkward experience.

That Roadburn show must've been special then, but the EDM one sounds awful

Has she ever played in Romania?

Written by BloodTears on 29.04.2026 at 12:04

That Roadburn show must've been special then, but the EDM one sounds awful

Has she ever played in Romania?

The only time she played in Romania was at that festival, Electric Castle 2023, which was otherwise one of the best festivals I've attended in Romania with Sigur Rós and Iggy Pop and Brutus and Morcheeba. It was that specific Emma Ruth Rundle set that felt awkward because of how quiet it was.