Just heard it for the first time... Quite shocked, never expected something like that. Anyway, faboulos album.
Highlights after the first listen:
- Requiem / Radiance (should have been one track though) Completely mindblowing intros
- Waiting For The End
- Blackout (wow )
- The Messenger
More later, have to listen to it a few more times
The Requiem: One of the best intros I have ever heard. They did an awesome job in engineering Mike’s voice. Really mystic, love it! 9/10
The Radiance: Couldn’t hear a break between these two songs that should be one. The drum beat is pretty nice and the speech fits perfectly. 9/10
Burning In The Skies: Hated the 30 seconds sample but this song turned out really great, it gives me chills every time I listen to it. Love it when Chester starts singing “I’m swimming in the smoke”. Great guitar – solo as well. 8/10
Empty Spaces: Well, yeah… these bombs sound pretty cool but that’s it. Shouldn’t have been a track 4/10
When They Come For Me: First highlight for me. I’m in love with these drums, Mike’s rapping sounds really good, especially over the beat. Chrous and ending remind me of Indian – Music. Can’t wait to hear this live, full band singing? Chester’s vocals in the bridge are sick! 9/10
Robot Boy: Well, least favourite track on the record. Sounds really boring and lame =/ Love how it fades directly into the next interlude… 5/10
Jornada Del Muerto: Really interesting and great that Mike’s singing Japanese on this one. Like this one. 7/10
Waiting For The End: Chester’s vocals right after Mike’s rapping are incredible. Then, the beat is kicking back in again and this “ooooooh” in the background is starting soon after that. Wow, chorus and ending are so damn good. One of the best vocal performances I’ve ever heard by Chester. 9,5/10
Blackout: Favourite song on the record. The LPTV episode got me really pumped but this is just epic! Chester’s “rapping” and screaming over the beat (twice!), followed by this heavy electronic distortion alone are completely mind – blowing. But then we have this breakdown which might be my favourite moment on the whole record. Love Mike’s voice here. Incredible! 10/10
Wretches and Kings: Heavy beat, heavy rap parts, heavy chorus. Reminds me of Nobody’s Listening. Great track, especially Mike’s bridge before the speec fades in the second time. 9/10
Wisdom, Justice and Love: Speech makes me sad. Awesome how they manipulated the voice again, piano in the background fits perfectly. Good one although the ending is a bit weird. 7/10
Iridescent: Yeah, this is good. The choir in the middle is incredible but I miss the guitar – solo they were talking about in the LPTV – episode?! =( Could be a really good single and a killer in the live set. Hopefully they’ll play this one instead of Shadow Of The Day. 8/10
Fallout: Yay for using Burning In The Skies lyrics. Great transition into the next track. 7/10
The Catalyst: Already wrote too much about this song. Intro is sick, love Chester’s powerful vocals and the ending with Chester/Mike singing together is really good. 8,5/10
The Messenger: What a way to end this album. Never expected to hear something like this, this is like a dream became true. Chester hits some really high and awesome notes, this sounds so good. Love it. 9,5/10
8,5/10 =) Really good record with some amazing lyircs, love this journey…. Booklet is great too =)