Needles & Grooves

Oh honey, we have System of a Down and Mr. Bungle at home.

You’re one in a million
And you know it shows
And we love you
Unto the mud

Yeah but @Rip_City you don’t play them at the same time do you?

I’ve definitely heard worse this year. These are for sure the worst lyrics though.

Three songs in and omfg the songs get progressively longer in the first half

To be continued…. Also seems there is some Stockholm syndrome in repeated listens: Review: AVENGED SEVENFOLD's 'Life Is but a Dream...' is totally bonkers, totally brilliant

You forgot and more batshit!

@Lee Newman I admire the band going completely different from what people expect and can see the obvious influences on it. I haven't listened as close as you have it seems but I don't think it's terrible. I also am a fan of the band so I'm coming from a place of wanting to like it.

I think it’s brave for sure and reading the Revolver article, that seems to be their mo. Like I said, I’ve heard worst this year but the singer dude is all over the place (unless there are multiple singer dudes) and the lyrics are laughable especially given the fact that they are prominently placed in the mix.

I agree, @Lee Newman. Surprisingly not among the worst of the worst this year (though it certainly isn't good at the halfway point so far). A few more comments:

Yeah the lead singer apparently has been trying to change how he sounds so it's healthier for him. This album has more screaming than the last few and I think it's because he can do it in a more healthy way now

1) These snare hits are some of the most nasty (not in a good way) I've heard in a metal-adjacent record.
2) When you mix metal with electronics ("Mattel") or robotic vocals ("Cosmic"), you're gonna have a bad time.
3) Vocally interesting at times, but as you said @Lee Newman the lyrics are a turnoff.

OK, the instrumental on "(O)rdinary" is gross.

@Rip_City their drummer is Brooks Wackerman lol

Alright, done with this one. The last leg of the album with the segues (the stretch from "G" to "(D)eath") was like a budget version of something Between the Buried and Me would have done in their prime, but without the compelling musicianship.
Not awful, but certainly not good. Probably throw this in the "" tier for tomorrow's weekly roundup.

JFC... I'm on break at work and come back to 36 comments on my status. I enjoyed the play-by-play. I may be slightly more harsh than @Rip_City , this one goes in the "Awful" bin for me..

After reading this thread I'm convinced the album is a masterpiece

Ol’ melon didn’t even bother to give it a score.

@Lee Newman surely one of my most agreed with reviews from melon

I have only listened to the first half or so but I really do not get the hate. I like it, and it reminds me of Mr Bungle but focused around their references (80s and 90s metal) instead of Bungle's jazz references.