Amaranthe - Maximalism (2016)Release ID: 5495
So I guess this album is where the heaviness of Amaranthe starts going downhill a bit, with the trance/pop influences taking up more space in some songs. Of course this is still an enjoyable metal album with heavy songs, but the more poppy direction is starting to take place after being hinted in a few songs from their previous album Massive Addictive. But let's see if they still have what I like...
Metalheads were already p*ssed off with the previous album's "Drop Dead Cynical" that has emphasized the pop in pop metal. For this album, Maximalism, it's about contrasts. This means that one half of the album unleashes a bigger pop experience, while the other half has heavier innovation. So this is still a half-great album!
Things start well with "Maximize", a fantastic synth-rocker with some of the best vocals from Elize Ryd while varying with the other two vocalists. Then in comes the second track "Boomerang", which sounds uncomfortably closer to synthpop, even ripping off Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round" in the chorus. Even "That Song" rips off Queen's "We Will Rock You" by taking their trademarked "stomp-stomp-clap" beat. I'm sorry, but even with that attempted tribute, it's still the lowest point of the album and in the metal world. I'm sure people in the metal community would call it "that song you gotta avoid at all costs". Next one, "21" also sounds unoriginal, just taking elements from the lowest point of Maximum Addictive, "Drop Dead Cynical".
After 3 head-scratching weaknesses, "On the Rocks" is a slightly easier song to follow, though Elize Ryd sounds too entertainingly like Kesha there. Also, LMFAO called, they want their synths back for their party rock anthems! However, Elize and Jake E. do their best vocals in "Limitless", a gorgeous electro-power ballad. It's a perfect duet, though not as perfect as the song that gained my full attention to the band, the self-titled debut's "Amaranthine". Midway-through this album, the blasting "Fury" displays Henrik Englund charging like a raging bull with vocal venom, actually sounding like Blood Stain Child-esque melodeath for the first 40 seconds, until it gets ruined by Elize Ryd trying to impersonate Rihanna. What a joke! "Faster" is another faster song, but a great example of Jake and Elize's harmonies being pushed to the foreground of the mix. One of the better songs that keep the album at its 4-star rating!
"Break Down and Cry" flashbacks to The Nexus with some of the best heaviness of the album. The softer parts would make cry with joy, while the heavier breakdowns are worth good headbanging. "Supersonic" is the most impressive track of the album with supersonic up-tempo synth-metal instrumentation blended with choir vocals that tribute to Queen much better than "That Song". Next one, "Fireball" safely reminds you that there's something from Amaranthe you can never hate. "Endlessly" is a beautiful ending track with Elize Ryd singing solo sounding like Celine Dion or Mandy Moore singing a Disney ballad. Seriously, that has to be in a Disney Princess film soundtrack!
Maximalism can cause quite a dent in the Amaranthe fanbase while still remaining fairly successful and worth the band playing these songs on tour. Regardless of what comes from the studio, when it comes to life in live shows, the haters would be in the back wall. If only the band didn't add too much pop to their metal sound....
Favorites: "Maximise", "Limitless", "Faster", "Break Down and Cry", "Supersonic", "Fireball"
