I documented my thoughts on the album in real time and went back for a select few moments to get my thoughts together.
My real time review of each song
The Narrative - Love the synth sounding filter on the lead at the beginning, the main riff is alright. I like the synth/choir melody in the back of the chorus. This reminds of the first step at the end of R&R. The big breakdown's too simple to enjoy somehow. Last riff sounds kinda wack when sustaining the chords like that, normally I like the slidiness but it immediately sounded like it became thin. Strong start though!
Bones - Eh, it's okay for the whole thing. Dustin sounds the same as he ever does with the few lines he gets every other song in the same style of high screams. Not a fan of bands that suddenly swap a chord in a minor scale type of song to one from the major equivalent. This chorus is rough for me lol Jake's pitch screams don't fit the chorus, imo. The song got stale for me lol I'll say this here though, Matt's drumming? Never disappoints, he just gets better and better, no matter how the rest of the music is composed.
Paramount - Loving the beginning. Also, JB's trademark leads are in full effect, and boy, he's perfected his sound for melodies. Messengers vibes in that one riff, you know the one. The breakdown after? Bland. Don't like the choir. Messengers breakdown, this one's good though. The odd time riff by itself, eh. With that lead? Great. The solo sure sounds like a solo. It's alright. The chorus sounded better at the beginning without the pitch screaming.
Defender - The song's.. fine, I guess. But it has the amazing moment of "There is no judge, I am the jury and the defendant. The gavel has no hand. Who will DELIVER THE SENTENCE?" The breakdown at the end coulda workED, but the buildup was lacking so it feels kinda unearned.
Lighthouse - The most melodic the vocals have sounded, AND it fits in this song. That's what I wanted earlier in Bones lol the next part's formulaic. Riff followed by halftime riff, but not quite a breakdown. Then it goes into a plain breakdown, which develops into something nice with the switch of the low chord and the addition of the lead. Not sure if I like JB soloing under Jake going off. This slow part slaps lol and now.. Spirit Breaker slow part. Hm, fine, but it's obvious where the influence came from, and that's not gucci of them. Ends pretty alright.
Dismembered Memory - Gotta say.. These inverted power chords were cool the first time, but now they're just as used as the normal power chords, so.. breakdowns using 'em don't have that edge anymore lol anyways, like the breakdown where they switch the downbeats and upbeats. The tiny major chords before the next bland breakdown sounded cool. JB haunting me with a tiny lead part omg and that fast riff after is great! The breakdown after that.. eh. Back to fast and it's good? YASSSS. I forgive the next breakdown for JB. Christ, how many breakdowns you wanna put in one song?? No, I'm sick of it, damn. But that lead thoooo
Ties That Bind - This specific intro's been done before multiple times by them now. Eh.. nearly two minutes in probably the least impressive song so far. JB's lead sounded good in that breakdown until he repeated the thing like 8 times in a row. Next bits are fine. This buildup KILLS, and.. the breakdown doesn't deliver. Skipped through and found a fade out, didn't miss much there.
Bloodletter - Damn, take me to dinner first. Section at 1:30 questionable at first. JB delivers on a solo again. Buildup gonna destroy my room fffff and the breakdown is nearly there lol YEAH KILL THE LEAD FOR THIS- THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T SLAP HARD ENOUGH. Yeah, no one hates this one, for sure. Shoulda ended on this song
Extinct by Instinct - Back to THIS, after THAT?? Nah, that's wack. 2 minutes in, it's more of the same. And now a sudden major chord, again. This slow bit has nothing going for it. I was ready for a nice clean lead, and nah. Another breakdown after, yeah yeah. Nothing of interest after that, overall most disappointing. Coulda been cut
Empty Heaven - This one was actually recommended to me after I told someone I wasn't that big a fan anymore. And the beginning slays. The pitch scream is back, and it sounds really thin here, why??? Double time riff, yay, and it's kinda weak on drums. Oh, there it is lol ARE YOU KI- ANOTHER BREAKDOWN?? This section's fine could use a lead. JB coming in clutch. Stank face on that vibrato. Solo's amazing. Hm.. oooh the synth is nice. A left and right breakdown? Okay, this one passes. YEAAAHHHH and the sung chorus brought the moment from a 9 to a 7.
Three Fountains - Ah, the emotional ending song, okay. I hope it stays instrumental! Well, alright, nevermind then. So far, so good though. Ooh picking up the pace. DAMN, that's the fastest the album's been. Hopefully the last breakdown I have to hear... Sorry JB, you can't save this one. Back to slow! Digging the lead and bass. Another pretty lead part, very sparkly. Loud again, alright. Eh, it's closing out on a very.. safe note. I'm actually not satisfied with this ending wow
It's basically a weak 6/10 from me, but somehow not as bad as I was expecting. Also, I completely forgot that Dustin plays just as much lead guitar these days, so.. what I may have said about JB could've also been about Dustin. I also didn't say anything about Brent. He is just.. kinda there lol
Now.. I go back to this one
