I was going to give this album a write up when it finally came across my review table, but I would likely just parrot most of this review Vinny. The last record I remember listening to was Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa fifteen years ago. And I, like you, was surprised by the thrash/groove metal at the outset. I like the change of direction for the band, but I also found that The Screaming of the Valkyries peaks too early. It didn't have enough room for the patented cinematic songwriting to develop and leaves the back half just going through derivative motions. At least they salvaged the ending with "When Misery Was a Stranger", but it could have been so much more than that.
I feel the same about a lot of melodic death metal as well. If it gets on more of the progressive side, it tends to be more interesting (Amorphis, Fires in the Distance, etc.). But the recent outputs by Arch Enemy, In Flames and Katakalysm are quite stale as it attempts to stay hip with the hardcore kids.
It's kind of funny how we can both approach this album from two very different starting positions and still make the same assertion about it. After reading this, I feel like maybe I was too nice to this album!
I'm just sitting here picking up my face from the floor after listening to this album. I'm getting a lot of similar vibes from this to that 2018 Daughers album You Won't Get What You Want that was among one of the best albums of the year. This one feels a lot of concaving with very little room to breathe, but Frontierer do include brief moments that force you to savour them before the next assault. The glitchy and avant-garde stylings are far more enjoyable than traditional djent/mathcore like Mehuggah; one of this bands obvious influences. Riffs for days and an absolutely destructive low end; not much else I can add that you haven't already said.
I was going to give this album a write up when it finally came across my review table, but I would likely just parrot most of this review Vinny. The last record I remember listening to was Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa fifteen years ago. And I, like you, was surprised by the thrash/groove metal at the outset. I like the change of direction for the band, but I also found that The Screaming of the Valkyries peaks too early. It didn't have enough room for the patented cinematic songwriting to develop and leaves the back half just going through derivative motions. At least they salvaged the ending with "When Misery Was a Stranger", but it could have been so much more than that.
I feel the same about a lot of melodic death metal as well. If it gets on more of the progressive side, it tends to be more interesting (Amorphis, Fires in the Distance, etc.). But the recent outputs by Arch Enemy, In Flames and Katakalysm are quite stale as it attempts to stay hip with the hardcore kids.
It's kind of funny how we can both approach this album from two very different starting positions and still make the same assertion about it. After reading this, I feel like maybe I was too nice to this album!
I'm just sitting here picking up my face from the floor after listening to this album. I'm getting a lot of similar vibes from this to that 2018 Daughers album You Won't Get What You Want that was among one of the best albums of the year. This one feels a lot of concaving with very little room to breathe, but Frontierer do include brief moments that force you to savour them before the next assault. The glitchy and avant-garde stylings are far more enjoyable than traditional djent/mathcore like Mehuggah; one of this bands obvious influences. Riffs for days and an absolutely destructive low end; not much else I can add that you haven't already said.
What a find Xephyr!
I don't mind Summoning clones either. I just wished t sounded better. Have you given Saor a listen yet? I'm sure they would be right up your alley!