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In my experience:

"Progressive" is a label from the 1970s. It means primarily bands that experiment with song structure and do so in a coherent way, both harmonically and melodically. Best examples are Yes, Camel, King Crimson and Jethro Tull (in which Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath played briefly).

"Technical" means difficult to play rhythmically.

For this reason, I'd qualify the following as progressive:

* Atheist
* Demilich
* Morbid Angel
* Incantation
* Obliveon
* Gorguts

And the following as technical:

* Opeth
* Meshuggah
* Necrophagist
* Obscura
* Origin
* Between the Buried and Me

This is a definition coming from a 70s prog rock fan who also has been way into death metal for years. Also worth noting is that many prog death bands made their music simpler on the later albums. Hope this message helps stimulate conversation.

I haven't written a journal in a few years so I'm curious to see what some of the changes are that have occurred since 07 Nov 2006 and since I first started at last.fm in 2005.

My charts are still mostly full of metal but they have taken a drastic shift towards death metal from the black metal that was dominant when I first joined. Here are the artists and some albums that have been with me along the way, roughly in chronological order:

Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
I got this album on a whim knowing only Fall From Grace, but hearing great things about this debut in particular. It was more than I bargained for; this album kicked my ass. This for me, and probably many others, was the starting point into extreme death metal (and a bit of Opeth, Obituary, Death and Possessed). This is probably the most-played CD I own.

Katharsis - VVorldVVithoutEnd
New black metal was looking grim until I found Katharsis. Im not a huge fan of their other albums and still haven't decided on Fourth Reich, but this one will always stick out in my mind. Rhythmically this album is intelligent, groovy, and more thought-out than most tremolo blast beat metal from around the same time. Vocally the performance is like Bruce Dickinson vs The Ramones, meaning you get a nice range of screams rather than syllabic static. Maybe its because they're German, but I sense a hint of Destruction influence here, especially on Wytchdance.

Dark Angel
I'm too young to preach about Dark Angel. They're really fast thrash metal, in the vein of Slayer but I find they have more replay value. Nothing agaisnt old Slayer but Dark Angel sounds new and refreshing every time I listen to the album Darkness Descends. Hell Awaits is good but gets old. This is something a little different and technically better. Time Does Not Heal is an amazing album, and I've force-listened enough times that the vocals almost don't bother me anymore. If only they hadn't switched vocalists it would surely be their best album.

Leftöver Crack
Yes, a punk band. Mixed with reggae. And what's this, the vocalist can screech like a banshee? I'm reminded of Chuck Shuldiner Death's screams when I listen to LoC. They take some extreme influence and make it something unique, that's good in my books.

Atheist
Awesome name. Awesome riffs around every corner. Leads that are full of character and meaning. Lyrics that actually mean something. This band rules.

Carcass
See description for Atheist, minus the lyrics part. I first heard the song Black Hole many years ago and it was alright at the time, but it didn't make me like Carcass. I later heard their earlier material, Necroticism, Heartwork, and Symphonies of Sickness, and thought "Oh, that's where all the good riffs are". Maybe they milked their own musical libido to the point of impotence?

Gorguts
Holy shit Canada why didn't you tell me sooner that we had the best fucking death metal band ever? Gorguts has the riffiness of Opeth that I crave, and the technicality of Paganini to push the boundaries of the genre. My favourite is The Erosion of Sanity, a perfect mix of the two. Obscura is like a mad science experiment gone terribly successful. "Let's just play whatever we want", and they did. They recently reformed, I will hopefully see them at Maryland Deathfest and have my dreams fulfilled.

Obliveon - From This Day Forward
Another Canadian great, and influence to Gorguts. The thing that struck me about Obliveon was the eerie quirkiness. Not in an annoying way like Voivod, but like they had actually been to the moon and seen shit nobody else could really understand. Death thrash in a pure crystallized form.

Cryptopsy - None So Vile
Yet another Canadian death metal band. You probably know of them already. You should definitely know of this album. Everything is so precise and on-point, it gives you a feeling of momentum every time Lord Worm does an "UGH" that echoes, like a giant fist plowing through a nursery. I still can't follow him even with the lyrics in front of me, but who cares? I understand the language in which the guitars speak - fluent shred. Oh yeah, the drums r good 2.

Spawn of Possession - Cabinet
These guys sound like they went insane when they heard Gorguts and studied The Erosion of Sanity beyond the point of perfection. I found them hard to follow at first but some time listening trained my ears to comprehend all that was going on and I realized it was all together the whole time, I was just too simple to process all the instruments at once.

Exodus - Bonded by Blood
Classic.

The Faceless - Planetary Duality
I thought the song An Autopsy from their first album was nice and catchy, I didn't think they could shred so well though! This album is a huge improvement and made a respectable name for them. Unearthly melodies and great production.

Sadus
Sadus are almost death metal, but they lean more towards the raw sound of thrash with more technical and progressive riffs rather than chugging. I recommend A Vision of Misery to any thrash fan who hasn't heard Sadus yet.

A Tribe Called Quest
A chance encounter with a reggae artist Whitey Don made me check out ATCQ (who he had collaborated with). I had never really looked deep into rap since it's a discouraging genre for a metal head to get into, so I didn't know there was more than just thug-life to hear about. Tribe puts intelligence and humour into their lyrics, the beats are jazzy, and most importantly they aren't simple and annoying.

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
I like this album for almost the opposite reason as the previous. It's brutal, in your face and relentless, a lot like metal. It's not so much about money as it is descriptive of the lifestyle and going-ons of being a gangster growing up poor. The beats are often piano driven. The melody gives it some depth not found in most else of what I've heard.

1. John Frusciante - The Will to Death

Ein Album, das mich ganz und gar durchdringt!

2. Clueso - Gute Musik

Gute Musik steht zwar drauf, aber drinnen wirds besser.

3. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

Bam bam bam!

4. Sigur Ros - Takk

Gefühlvoll, aufbrausend - einfach genial!

5. The Mars Volta - De-loused in the crematorium

Ein Geniestreich!

6. Muse - Absolution

Ein Album, bei dem es möglich ist sich fallen zu lassen aber auch derb zu zappeln.

7. The Album Leaf - In a safe Place

Wird nie langweilig, wunderschöne Sturkturen, die einen in eine andere Welt entführen.

8. Rosie Thomas - Friends of Mine

Aus wenig alles gemacht, Wahnsinn!

9. Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State

Synfonieartiges Singer-/ Songwriting, wobei dieser Begriff zu wenig ist.

10. Kings of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street

Man liebt es immer ein Stück mehr, nachdem man es gehört hat.

11. FK Allstars - En Directo

Wohl das beste Livealbum, das ich kenne.

12. Creed - Human Clay

Ehrliche, schöne und brilliante Rockmusik!

13. Donavon Frankenreiter - Pass it around

Wer hier nicht tanzt stinkt!

14. Opeth - Damnation

Düster, aber musikalisch das beste Album der letzten 10 Jahre.

15. Matt Costa - Songs we sing

Perfektes Singer-/ Songwriting!

16. Coldplay - Parachutes

Jedes Lied ein Kunstwerk.

17. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Knallt, rockt, schiebt!

18. Amos Lee - Amos Lee

Schöne jazzangehauchte Platte, die mein Herz erwärmt.

19. Deftones - Deftones

Das Album, wenn man mit dem Vorschlaghammer eine Wand einreißen will!

20. Beirut- The Flying Club Cup

Ein Album das leicht ist und glücklich macht.

1. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy ¹⁹⁸⁵
2. Neurosis - The Eye of Every Storm ²⁰⁰⁴
3. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights ²⁰⁰²
4. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band - Horses in the Sky ²⁰⁰⁵
5. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own ²⁰⁰³


6. Mr. Bungle - California ¹⁹⁹⁹
7. Red Sparowes - At the Soundless Dawn ²⁰⁰⁵
8. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico ¹⁹⁶⁷
9. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures ¹⁹⁷⁹
10. Tool - Lateralus ²⁰⁰¹


11. Acid Bath - Paegan Terrorism Tactics ¹⁹⁹⁶
12. Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South ²⁰⁰⁴
13. Cult of Luna - Salvation ²⁰⁰⁴
14. Pelican - Australasia ²⁰⁰³
15. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King ¹⁹⁶⁹


16. Oceansize - Effloresce ²⁰⁰³
17. Liars - Drum's Not Dead ²⁰⁰⁶
18. Soundgarden - Down on the Upside ¹⁹⁹⁶
19. Ulver - Perdition City ²⁰⁰⁰
20. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl ²⁰⁰⁵


21. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! ²⁰⁰⁰
22. The Knife - Silent Shout ²⁰⁰⁶
23. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation ¹⁹⁸⁸
24. Gregor Samsa - Rest ²⁰⁰⁸
25. Estradasphere - It's Understood ²⁰⁰⁰


26. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways ¹⁹⁹⁵
27. Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit ²⁰⁰¹
28. Pelican - Untitled ²⁰⁰³
29. Cave In - Perfect Pitch Black ²⁰⁰⁵
30. The God Machine - One Last Laugh in a Place of Dying ¹⁹⁹⁴


31. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea ¹⁹⁹⁸
32. Keelhaul - Subject to Change Without Notice ²⁰⁰⁴
33. maudlin of the Well - Leaving Your Body Map ²⁰⁰¹
34. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - f#a#∞ ¹⁹⁹⁸
35. The Blood Brothers - ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn ²⁰⁰³


36. Soundgarden - Superunknown ¹⁹⁹⁴
37. Joy Division - Closer ¹⁹⁸⁰
38. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma ¹⁹⁶⁹
39. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Fear Is On Our Side ²⁰⁰⁶
40. The Dillinger Escape Plan With Mike Patton - Irony is a Dead Scene ²⁰⁰²


41. Death From Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine ²⁰⁰⁴
42. My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise ¹⁹⁸⁸
43. maudlin of the Well - Bath ²⁰⁰¹
44. Motorpsycho - Phanerothyme ²⁰⁰¹
45. Animal Collective - Feels ²⁰⁰⁵


46. M83 - Saturdays=Youth ²⁰⁰⁸
47. Echo & The Bunnymen - Ocean Rain ¹⁹⁸⁴
48. Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum - Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum ²⁰⁰⁶
49. Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye ²⁰⁰³
50. King Crimson - Discipline ¹⁹⁸¹


51. The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeroes ²⁰⁰⁴
52. No-Man - Together We're Stranger ²⁰⁰³
53. Pelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw ²⁰⁰⁵
54. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun ²⁰⁰⁰
55. 16 Horsepower - Folklore ²⁰⁰²


56. Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Towards the Red Sun ²⁰⁰⁶
57. Thee Silver Mountain Reveries - Pretty Little Lightning Paw ²⁰⁰⁴
58. King Crimson - THRAK ¹⁹⁹⁵
59. Electric Wizard - Dopethrone ²⁰⁰⁰
60. Can - Monster Movie ¹⁹⁶⁹


61. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless ¹⁹⁹¹
62. Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life ²⁰⁰¹
63. Lou Reed - Transformer ¹⁹⁷²
64. Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness ²⁰⁰⁸
65. 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators ¹⁹⁶⁶


66. The Mars Volta - De -Loused in the Comatorium ²⁰⁰³
67. Stove Bredsky - The Black Ribbon Award ²⁰⁰⁸
68. Pink Floyd - Meddle ¹⁹⁷¹
69. Sunn O))) & Boris - Altar ²⁰⁰⁶
70. Caravan - If I Could Do it All Over Again I'd Do it All Over You ¹⁹⁷⁰


71. Pyramids - Pyramids ²⁰⁰⁸
72. Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh ²⁰⁰⁵
73. Tool - Ænima ¹⁹⁹⁶
74. Amplifier - Amplifier ²⁰⁰⁵
75. Brant Bjork - Jalamanta ¹⁹⁹⁹


76. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia ²⁰⁰²
77. Cave In - Jupiter ²⁰⁰⁰
78. The Residents - The Commercial Album ¹⁹⁸⁰
79. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors ²⁰⁰²
80. Ulver - Blood Inside ²⁰⁰⁵


81. Opeth - Blackwater Park ²⁰⁰¹
82. Mare - Mare ²⁰⁰⁴
83. Envy - A Dead Sinking Story ²⁰⁰³
84. Nick Drake - Pink Moon ¹⁹⁷²
85. Modeselektor - Happy Birthday! ²⁰⁰⁷


86. Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward ²⁰⁰⁸
87. Jesu - Jesu ²⁰⁰⁵
88. Isis - Panopticon ²⁰⁰⁴
89. Khanate - Khanate ²⁰⁰¹
90. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Continued ²⁰⁰⁸


91. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago ²⁰⁰⁷
92. The Gathering - Souvenirs ²⁰⁰³
93. These Arms Are Snakes - Oxeneers or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antilope Go Home ²⁰⁰⁴
94. The Residents - Animal Lover ²⁰⁰⁵
95. A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers ²⁰⁰⁸


96. The Arcade Fire - Funeral ²⁰⁰⁴
97. Women - Women ²⁰⁰⁸
98. The Black Angels - Passover ²⁰⁰⁶
99. Fugazi - The Argument ²⁰⁰¹
100. Sonic Youth - Washing Machine ¹⁹⁹⁵

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
1349

About (2x)
Aerosmith
Aeternus
Æthenor
After Forever (2x)
Agua de Annique
Akron/Family
All Shall Perish
Amazing Baby
Amenra (2x)
Amon Düül II
Amorphis
Anathema
Animal Alpha
Animal Collective
Anouk
Arcade Fire
Arch Enemy (2x)
Arctic Monkeys
Asphyx (2x)
Au Revoir Simone
Autumn
The Australian Pink Floyd Show

Babylon Circus
Baroness
Bat for Lashes
Battlelore
beehoover
Ben Folds
The Black Seeds
Black Sun Empire (2x)
Black to Comm
Blind Guardian
Blitzkrieg
Blood Red Shoes
Bohren und Der Club Of Gore (2x)
Bonne Aparte
Boris (Japan) (2x)
Brent Coughenour
Buck 65
Bumble Bees

Candlemass
Cannibal Corpse
capacocha
Carach Angren
Caribou
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Children of Bodom
Chrome Hoof
ChthoniC
Le Club Des Chats
Coldplay (2x)
Colour Haze
Cruachan

Danko Jones
Death Angel
Death Sentence: PANDA!
Deerhoof
Def Leppard
Delain
DéspairsRay
The Devil's Blood
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Dimmu Borgir
Dinosaur Jr.
Dir en grey
Dirge
Disillusion
Do Make Say Think (2x)
Do The Undo
Doddodo
The Dodos
Les Doigts de l'Homme
Dozer
Drive Like Maria (2x)
Drumcorps

Eagle Twin
Earth
Eats Tapes
Ed Cox
Electric Eel Shock (2x)
Electric Kettle
Electric Wizard
Emperor
Enablers
End Of Green
Enge Buren
Enslaved (2x)
Envy
The Ex

Fair to Midland
Falconer
Fear Falls Burning
Fear Factory
Fear My Thoughts
Final Fantasy
Finntroll (2x)
The Flaming Lips
Flesh Made Sin
The Fratellis
Freaky Age
The Freeks

Gabriel Rios
Genghis Tron
Getatchew Mekurya
God Dethroned
Gojira
Gotthard
Grails
Grave Digger
Growing (2x)

Haemorrhage
Haggard
handicapped terror
The Happiness Project
Harvestman
A Hawk and a Hacksaw (2x)
HEALTH
heidi mortenson
De Heideroosjes
Heidevolk
Helrunar
Hollenthon
Holy Moses
Hospital Bombers
Howlin' Rain
HṚṢṬA

Iced Earth
Immortal
In Extremo
In Flames
INXS
Isis

Jaune Toujours
Jesu
Jason Lytle
Journey
Justin Nozuka

Kap Bambino
Kansas
Kataklysm
Keep of Kalessin
De Kift
KISS
KK Null
Knifehandchop
Korpiklaani
Krakow
Krause

Late of the Pier
Leafcutter John
Legion of the Damned
Lenny Kravitz
Liars
Limewax
Linkin Park
Live
Lucky Dragons
Lucy Love

The Mad Trist
The Magic Numbers
Mahjongg
Mala Vita
Malkovich
Marduk
Maxïmo Park
Meindert Talma & The Negroes
Melechesh
Mêlée
Members of Marvelas
Meshuggah
Michael Gira
Mindless
Ministry
Minsk
Miss Montreal (2x)
MoHa!
The Moi Non Plus
Moke
Mono (Japan)
Moonsorrow (2x)
Moonspell (2x)
Motörhead
Motorpsycho (3x)
Mucky Pup
Municipal Waste
Mythlorian

Napalm Death
Neaera
Negură Bunget
Neurosis
New Killer Stars
Nifelheim
Nightmare (France)
Nisennenmondai
NoMeansNo

Obeah
Oceana Company
of Montreal
OM
Omega Massif
Opeth

Pelican
Peter Quistgard
Pivot (2x)
The Presets
Primal Fear
Primordial

Racoon
Radio Moscow (2x)
The Rapture
REO Speedwagon
Riders on the storm (2x)
Roger Hodgson
Roger Waters
Rose Kemp (2x)

Saint Vitus
Sat2D
Satyricon
Saxon
Scar 7
Scissor Sisters
Scorpions (2x)
Scott Kelly
Scout Niblett
Sennen (The Netherlands) (2x)
seven that spells
Shadowlord
Shining (Norway)
Shitmat
signe tollefsen
Six Feet Under
Six Organs of Admittance
Skullflower
Skyforger
Sleepy Sun
The Smashing Pumpkins (2x)
Snöleoparden
So So Modern
Sodom (2x)
Solo
Sonic Youth
Soulfly
Spinvis (2x)
De Staat
Stahlzeit
Starsailor
Stephan Matthieu
Steve Von Till
The Strange Death Of Liberal England
Subway to Sally
The Suicidal Birds
SuidAkrA
Sun Ra Arkestra
Sunn O))) (5x)
Supergrass

Tank 86
The Teenagers
Telemetrik
Temperatures
Tesla
Textures
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band
Therion
Thin Lizzy
This Leo Sunrise
Torche
Tribes of Neurot
Triggerfinger (3x)
Les Truttes
Turbonegro
Turisas
TV Buddhas
Twisted Sister
Two Gallants

Unleashed

Vandal X
The Vision Bleak (2x)
Vreid

Warbringer
Watain
We vs. Death
White Hills
White Lies
Whitesnake (2x)
WHY?
Wild Light
Wintersun
Wire
Witchcraft
Wolfmother
Wolves in the Throne Room
The Wooden Constructions
Woven Hand (2x)

Xavier Rudd
Xystus

Years
The Young Gods (2x)

Z'EV (2x)
Zu

Name your top 10 most played bands on Last.fm:

1 Katatonia
2 Opeth
3 In Flames
4 Sentenced
5 Amorphis
6 Evergrey
7 Fields of the Nephilim
8 Depeche Mode
9 Poisonblack
10Metallica


Now answer the questions according to the numbers:

What was the first song you ever heard by 6?
More Than Ever

What is your favourite album of 2?
Damnation (that's so not tr00 :evil:)

What is your favourite lyric that 4 has sung?
Quite a few, but probably Sun Won't Shine

With her love she feeds the fire in my heart
And in her eyes, oh the birth of stars

The sun won't shine on me without your love
...don't you know
The cold wind kills the flame in my heart
...by its blow

Simple but great :)

How many times have you seen 5 live?
Once and only once. *cry* come back soon?

What is your favorite song by 7?
That's impossible to pick; all of Elizium is perfection, perfectly polished, pure greatness - and that in turn, is all favorite.

What is a good memory you have involving the music of 10?
Intro to teh metal world by my brother at the tender age of 7. Thank you. \m/

Is there a song of 3 that makes you sad?
A couple. Didn't think I was going to reveal that now, did you?

What is your favorite lyric that 2 has sung?
I can't pick a favorite Opeth lyric.
I lied.
I guess I can.

There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn the trust in you
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do

What is your favorite song by 9?
The Darkest Lie, I think.

How did you get in to 3?
Accidentally. Actually, no. I hated them at first. They grew on me. Now I can't get rid off them :D

What was the first song you heard by 1?
Teargas, I believe.

What is your favorite song by 4?
Hmph. Tough choice. It'll have to be Cross My Heart And Hope To Die.

How many times have you seen 9 live?
I haven't. They won't come here. I'll have to go to them. Grr.

What is a good memory you have involving 2?
Mike's helluva guy. So many wonderful memories @ their concerts, bless them :))

Is there a song of 8 that makes you sad?
In Your Room. For a lot of reasons. And it's a masterpiece.

What is your favorite album of 5?
Elegy

What is your favorite lyric that 3 has sung?
Hell if I know. :)

What is your favorite song of 1?
That won't happen. Can't choose. No.

What is your favorite song of 10?
One

How many times have you seen 8 live?
Twice. Would have been 3x, but Dave got sick :S

What is your favorite album of 1?
Viva Emptiness

What is a great memory you have considering 9?
Can't say I've got one. Ville's a nut, I love his antics. :)

What was the first song you heard by 8?
Policy Of Truth way back when ^^

What is your favorite cover by 2?
Hmph, Opeth does great covers; probably Would? although I'm fond of Soldier of Fortune

Well well, where do we begin...

The expectation. I've been waiting for this album for at least two years. I'm sure the feeling was mutual for many others. And The Great Cold Distance is by no means an easy act to follow.

The hype. The album was built up, the down-loadable single, Forsaker, the mini-site, the eventual track-listing, Mikael Akerfeltd's comments....

The eventual goods? For my humble opinion, read on.

Night Is the New Day - Tracklist
1| Forsaker
2| The Longest Year
3| Idle Blood
4| Onward Into Battle
5| Liberation
6| The Promise of Deceit
7| Nephilim
8| New Night
9| Inheritance
10| Day and Then the Shade
11| Departer

Track One - Forsaker
This was the first hint of what Katatonia had created on this album. Dark, pulsating and lively, this song is like My Twin mixed with Dave Lombardo.
As we can expect from Katatonia, it's in one word 'majestic'. Great album opener, fantastic melody, melancholy, and really, what a great song! This song is right up there with other Katatonia album openers - Leaders, For My Demons and so on, and it shows Katatonia are again an evolving, and at this point, rather angry beast. 9.5/10

Track Two - The Longest Year
They don't let us down. The Longest Year keeps up the high standards of the opening track, and again reminds me of a mix of the TGCD style, and a more personal, metallic sound that seems constant throughout the album. The chorus and bridge here are first rate. The lyrics again are of such a high standard. One of the best songs on the album for me. Would highly recommend. 9/10

Track Three - Idle Blood
I may as well review the Damnation album by Opeth, because this is uncanny. Jonas sounds like his friend Mikael so much here I mistook them! Still, it's a pleasingly slow, melodic song, and it cools the album down after two fast (For Katatonia) and slick sounding songs. It's nice. 8/10

Track Four - Onward Into Battle
I'll start by saying a lot of songs on this album remind me of Unfurl. This is one of them, mainly because of Jonas's vocal delivery. That slow, saddened, thoughtful almost, voice is amazing. Some quite refreshing guitar riffs are present too. Great song, could well become a favourite. 7/10

Track Five - Liberation
Another early favourite. Starts with the urban-esque beat found in Unfurl (again) in the background, but soon emerges as one of the heavier tracks on the album. The song breaks into heavy chopping riffs, and a pick up in tempo, but again, recedes. Picks up later, with a real feel of Increase and The Itch, among other TGCD songs. The lyrics are delivered well, and quickly by Jonas. Solid song. 7.5/10

Track Six - The Promise of Deceit
Interesting intro to the song - Jonas sings in a removed, echo like voice, soon breaking into more melodic singing. The song builds and builds, and as Jonas sings 'When did you come to think...' the song gets heavier. A pleasing chorus follows, and the song calms down somewhat, then builds again after a pause. The lyrics here are direct, and provoking. Despite the dark subject matters, you'll sing along. 7.5/10

Track Seven - Nephilim
Possibly another early favourite. Nice intro, spellbinding vocals. Katatonia are really in their groove by now, and this is another hopeless, bleak, but amazing song. The chorus is delivered with a slow, crushing drum beat, with Jonas's long, emotive vocals soaring above the music. Interesting guitar as the end of the song nears keeps us in touch. 8/10

Track Eight - New Night
Very much similar to TGCD era songs here. The rhythmic beat of the drums, and sad, laid back guitar work is a welcome hail-back to songs like July. The song is very finished, with the flourish of a keyboard piece in the background adding to the sound. The song stops and starts, going between building and heavy. With fear of repetition of myself, great lyrics. A song to be deciphered, and that will grow on me. 7.5/10

Track Nine - Inheritance
Jonas is incredible here. His voice fades in and out of melancholic guitar, a slow beat played in the background by Liljekvist on the drums. The vocals pause for a small symphonic bridge, and the song is slightly faster as it moves on. Another pause, then the vocals rejoin us. A nice guitar riff is to be heard near the end too. A good calming pause as we leave several heavier, dynamic songs behind. 8/10

Track Ten - Day And Then The Shade
Another single in the making. Great melody here, the drums, guitar work and of course the vocals immediately grab our attention, with the tempo change after Inheritance obvious. As the chorus starts, the lyrics of the song 'Every waking hour...' are drilled into our minds. Overall, a fast, polished, very slick sounding song. And another one with very good delivery and lyrics. Great, great song. 9/10

Track Eleven - Departer
When I first heard it I thought - this is Unfurl part two, more so than ever before on this album. A slow, ambient intro for around 40 seconds leads to thoughtful, sad vocals, complemented nicely by pleasing keyboard work. The song gains momentum, but is all just a stage for Jonas's vocals. The tempo changes again, and as Krister Linder (guest vocals on this song) sings:

Brother
In your eyes I was the stronger

We realise we are being given such an emotional piece, and journey from this band. A fitting, introspective end to a fascinating album. A really fitting album closer. Perfect. 10/10.

-Remember to try bonus song Ashen -

All in all, this album is similar to The Great Cold Distance, but is not as well rounded, and does not contain the huge singles (July, My Twin...) of TGCD. This is rawer, but polished, and more refined. The album is hopeless, apathetic in places, but still has that unique, uplifting feel to it that, upon inspection, every Katatonia album has. To start with, try Forsaker or Day And Then The Shade. It will grow. Watch this space. This is a potentially huge album.

Overall, a good initial 88/100

Also read:
Katatonia: A Discography Review
Revised: Ulver, A Discography Review


KatatoniaMy Dying BrideUlverAnathemaAgallochDarkspaceDarkthroneParadise LostIron MaidenAnaal NathrakhOpethOctober TideSwallow the SunTestamentFenToolCult of LunaIsisNeurosisHead Control SystemDaathDark TranquillityIn FlamesSoilworkIron MaidenMetallicaSlayerDownDarkspaceDarkthroneNileDeicideSatyriconPanic CellVenomDeathspell OmegaDiametragonLifeloverEarthSunn O)))Shining

OLD

Planchapin's top albums (overall)
1. Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance (177) 2. Saturnus - Martyre (170) 3. Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands (165) 4. Mnemic - Passenger (142) 5. Novembre - Materia (133) 6. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors (130) 7. Katatonia - Live Consternation (129) 8. Amorphis - Silent Waters (128) 9. My Dying Bride - The Dreadful Hours (118) 10. Machine Head - The Blackening (114) 11. Nine Inch Nails - Still (114) 12. The Duskfall - The Dying Wonders Of The World (107) 13. Katatonia - Last Fair Deal Gone Down (106) 14. Trivium - The Crusade (105) 15. Machine Head - The More Things Change... (101) 16. Saturnus - Veronika Decides to Die (100) 17. In Flames - A Sense of Purpose (97) 18. Green Carnation - A Blessing in Disguise (96) 19. Green Carnation - The Quiet Offspring (94) 20. Draconian - Turning Season Within (93) 21. Machine Head - Burn My Eyes (90) 22. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (89) 23. My Dying Bride - Songs of Darkness, Words of Light (85) 24. Threshold - Dead Reckoning (80) 25. Cathedral - The Serpent's Gold (79) 26. Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden (75) 27. Tiamat - Amanethes (74) 28. Gojira - The Link Alive (74) 29. Communic - Waves of Visual Decay (72) 30. My Dying Bride - A Line Of Deathless Kings (71) 31. Gojira - From Mars to Sirius (71) 32. Annihilator - Metal (71) 33. The Old Dead Tree - The Perpetual Motion (70) 34. Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires (70) 35. Anathema - The Silent Enigma (65) 36. Paradise Lost - Paradise Lost (65) 37. Gorillaz - Demon Days (65) 38. Funeral - As The Light Does The Shadow (64) 39. Green Carnation - Journey to the End of the Night (63) 40. Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (62) 41. Opeth - Ghost Reveries (61) 42. Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh (60) 43. Amorphis - Eclipse (59) 44. Textures - Drawing Circles (59) 45. Elvenking - The Winter Wake (59) 46. The Moody Blues - The Collection [Disc 1] (58) 47. Estatic Fear - A Sombre Dance (58) 48. Jack Johnson - On & on (57) 49. In Flames - Come Clarity (57) 50. Paradise Lost - Draconian Times (57)





NEW

ACanonne's top albums (overall)
1. My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire (71) 2. Anathema - Judgement (69) 3. Antimatter - Live @ An Club (69) 4. Sordal - In Fort Knox With A Penny (68) 5. Funeral - From These Wounds (68) 6. Porcupine Tree - The Incident (63) 7. Cynic - Traced in Air (63) 8. Ahab - The Divinity of Oceans (61) 9. Isole - Silent Ruins (57) 10. Before the Dawn - Soundscape Of Silence (57) 11. Agalloch - The Mantle (53) 12. Isole - Bliss of Solitude (52) 13. Remembrance - Silencing The Moments... (51) 14. Saturnus - Veronika Decides to Die (51) 15. Orphaned Land - Mabool (The Story of the Three Sons of Seven) (50) 16. Warning - Watching From A Distance (50) 17. The Cure - Greatest Hits (50) 18. Nahemah - A New Constellation (48) 19. My Dying Bride - A Line Of Deathless Kings (47) 20. Saturnus - Martyre (47) 21. Carcass - Swansong (46) 22. Megadeth - Endgame (46) 23. The Old Dead Tree - The Water Fields (46) 24. Testament - The Formation of Damnation (44) 25. Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (44) 26. Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun (43) 27. Funeral - As The Light Does The Shadow (43) 28. Esoteric - The Maniacal Vale (43) 29. My Dying Bride - The Dreadful Hours (43) 30. Anathema - A Natural Disaster (43) 31. Anathema - Serenades (42) 32. Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre Monde (42) 33. Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands (42) 34. Luen-Ta - Parasited Evolution (42) 35. Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull (41) 36. Nevermore - Dead Heart, In A Dead World (40) 37. Green Carnation - A Blessing in Disguise (39) 38. The Old Dead Tree - The Nameless Disease (38) 39. Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today (38) 40. Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us (38) 41. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain (37) 42. Green Carnation - Acoustic Verses (37) 43. The Cure - 4:13 Dream (37) 44. Pantheist - Journey Through Lands Unknown (37) 45. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet (37) 46. Amorphis - Skyforger (35) 47. Communic - Payment of Existence (34) 48. Opeth - Watershed (34) 49. Caithness - Apostasy & The Sorrowful Child (33) 50. Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh (33)