Melophile Living With Melophobia

And the meek shall inherit the earth...

[kimmokristian84]

40 Watt Sun - Wider Than the Sky (2016)

Slowcore

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Stages ***** Beyond You ***** Pictures

40 Watt Sun came to life after one of the most highly renowned Doom Metal bands Warning disbanded in 2009. Vocalist and guitarist Patrick Walker created from the ashes of Warning an new band and it was called 40 Watt Sun. Like Warning back in the day 40 Watt Sun hasn't given to its fans a lot of material through the years. Wider Than the Sky is only the second release in almost 10 years. Like the saying says some things are worth waiting...This defines 40 Watt Sun well. Material is extremely well crafted and structured. And the sound world has evolved through these years, not beginning to repeat itself. Wider Than the Sky doesn't sound like straightforward Doom Metal anymore. Doom is only one element in the sound pallet. Downbeat melodies, slower tempos and minimalist arrangements of the album means that the band has shifted into making Slowcore. Some might be wondering that if the album is downbeat, slow and even minimalistic, then it must be an drag experience to listen. I can say that it isn't. Its more likely an beautiful experience. Like I mentioned earlier that Doom is only one element in the huge sound pallet. They've also added Post-Rock(y) soundscapes, which really adds airiness and texture. Besides that Patrick Walker´s almost folk-ish singing is gloriously beautiful. Without a doubt 40 Watt Sun has created one of the highlight albums of the year. (October 29, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Riverside - Eye of the Soundscape (2016)

Ambient

3.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Rapid Eye Movement (2016 mix) ***** Night Session - Part Two ***** Rainbow Trip" (2016 mix)

On February 21, 2016 a part of me, and a part of thousands of other fans all around the world, disappeared and vanished into thin air in a fractions of a second. During that dark day the founding member of Riverside Piotr Grudziński past away into an eternity. Eye of the Soundscape is an compilation album, where the band puts together several previously released instrumental Ambient pieces. First side features two-part Night Sessions from Shrine of New Generation Slaves and side two five-part "Day Sessions" from Love, Fear and the Time Machine. Songs Where the River Flows, Shine, Sleepwalkers and Eye of the Soundscape are new and only posthumous tracks, which been released after Piotr´s death. They do have heartbreaking and heart wrenching effect when thinking about everything what has happened to the band. Highlight during these never-before-released songs happens in the final seconds of Where the River Flows, when Mariusz begins to sing hauntingly and eerily beautiful vocal harmonies. The most pleasant experiences are the 2016 mixes of Rapid Eye Movement and Rainbow Trip, both tracks are songs from Rapid Eye Movement´s bonus disc. They've been mixed and given a fresh new look and they sound amazing. All in all this is an beautiful homage to sadly lost bandmate. Riverside has been a major influence in my life, especially during my bad moments of misery and self loathing. The bands music has never allowed me to fall, it has raised me up every single time. Piotr´s death still hurts, but life goes on. The band continues as a trio, like Piotr probably would've wanted. It will be interesting to follow what the future will bring. Theres been rumours that the band will renew their sound once again. No matter what happens I will always be amongst the first ones to listen whatever they come up...cant wait. (October 22, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä (2016)

Psychedelic Rock, Black Metal

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Saturaatio ***** Vasemman Käden Hierarkia ***** Valveavaruus

Värähtelijä "meaning oscillator" is the 4th full-length studio album from Oranssi Pazuzu and finally they made an album which hits the right spot in every possible way. Their previous albums have been a bit too straightforward for my likings. This is playful and diverse with the right kind of moodiness and emotion. To my disappointed unfortunately rare bands who play extremely and regularly heavy music use Psychedelic elements in the correct way in their music. Many bands say that they use Psychedelia in their sound, but the truth is that you can't hear absolutely anything which even slightly reminds from Psychedelic Rock. Many people think and confuse that if you only use space-themed effects and samples then it makes the music psychedelic...it doesn't. Oranssi Pazuzu is one of those rare bands who actually does use psychedelic elements and you can even hear them from their music. Especially in Värähtelijä, there are several trippy almost mind altering moments in pretty much every track. Also one factor which makes me enjoy this album enormously is the whiff of Atmospheric Sludge Metal, I haven't heard them use structures from Post-Metal before. Vocals are pretty much standard when it comes to Oranssi Pazuzu. They do creep on your spine with its fierceness and rawness. And the thing which excites me the most is that Värähtelijä is Black Metal without blast beat. They are actually trying to create Black Metal without overly used and cliched elements. (January 21, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Mythic Sunship - Ouroboros (2016)

Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Ophidian Rising ***** Year of the Serpent

I cannot even comprehend that it impresses me more and more each time, when I hear how intriguing and captivating Psychedelic music Jutes aka Danes are making. If you are trying to find music which will get your mind tripping far away from this reality, you do have to check out the discography by Danish record label called El Paraiso Records. Mythic Sunship is a band which I haven't heard before, even though Ouroboros is already their 4th album. Ouroboros consists of 3 lengthy songs which all of them are extremely energetic and cosmic jam sessions in the vein of Earthless. Ophidian Rising is the shortest track, "only 10 minutes long", but its the most hooking and grooviest jam music I've heard in awhile. When I more think about it, only Earthless has topped this track with few of their colossal musical endeavours. When an album nails me to the seat from the first seconds to the last, I know its going to be on top of my years best albums. Im sure Mythic Sunship will stay high on my list when the 2016 will be on its last moments. Podium places 1 and 2 for Jutes! When the year started I didn't expect that in the middle of May it would be like that. (May 14, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Dark Suns - Everchild (2016)

Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Escape with the Sun ***** Monster ***** Everchild ***** Torn Wings

In an ideal world every band would have the sort of progression Dark Suns is having. They've improved within every single album they've released. Their progression is also evident stylistically. In the olden days these Germans made rather dreary Death Doom Metal, which really didn't impress anyone. While the time has gone by also Dark Suns has slowly shifted more into making artsy Progressive Rock with awesome jazzy outbursts. Sound world is so deep and multidimensional, song writing as the style has improved immensely while the size of the band has increased. In the late 90s Dark Suns started as a quartet, but through the years they've added horns and others. Song structures really do remind me from almost everything what Steven Wilson has done. Thats never a bad thing. Only negative comment comes from the slightly uneven middle section. Their happened a teeny tiny fall where I lost my interest for a second or two, but it really wasn't long. If the album had just a minor failing, in turn Everchild is full of highlight moment which do give me chills...and the good kind. (June 15, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Causa Sui - Return to Sky (2016)

Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Dust Meridian ***** The Source ***** Dawn Passage

Ive always had a soft spot for Danish Psychedelic Rock and especially toward acts who play like a Jam Band. Causa Sui is probably the biggest one for me but not far behind comes such bands like Papir and Øresund Space Collective. In 2013 Causa Sui released one of my absolute favourite releases of that year called Euporie Tide. It was such an sunny, warm and upbeat experience to listen, that it hit my soul immediately. Its one of those rare albums you should listen while hanging on the beach somewhere. And that is quite rare for Psychedelic music or any style of music which I like. Return to Sky continues with the same structures and style. But while Euporie Tide had some segments with faster tempo, this one relies much more heavily on mellow and spacey soundscapes. All these 3 Danish bands I've mentioned are able to play music which sounds genuinely real and authentic. Ive never gotten any fake or plasticky feels or sensations whenever I've listened any of their albums even though I most likely haven't liked all the material they've released. Especially in Return to Sky you can sense that they play from their hearts with a lot of sincerity. It is so beautiful. Causa Sui is without a doubt a forerunner band and these guys are visionaries in modern Instrumental Psychedelic Jam Rock. Just listen a song Dawn Passage and you will get my point. There is no fake in that song, what you hear is what you get and that is beautiful. For inner hippie like me this is the thing. (March 25, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Insomnium - Winter's Gate (2016)

Melodic Death Metal

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Winter´s Gate Pt. 2 ***** Winter´s Gate Pt. 4 ***** Winter´s Gate Pt. 6

The list is almost endless when it comes to Finnish Melodic Death Metal bands. Several bands have tried, but most of them failed to produce good or somewhat listenable material. Melodeath isn't my favourite sub-genres of metal, too often its just emotionless but fierce grind onwards without any sort of proper destination or meaning. Even the melodic sides doesn't give a lot texture or depth to the sound, just making it slightly accessible. Imsomnium´s latest titled Winter´s Gate is a nice breathe of fresh air. It is able to bring some content and variety to the genre. Its not an groundbreaking album, but what it does well it does extremely entertainingly. Their are the dragging melodeath grind moments, but occasionally the album lifts into new and completely different spheres. You can definitely hear the touch of Dan Swanö, who was involved in the making of the release. Definitely worth checking out. Its Insomnium´s best work thus far. Beauty and anger is combined very creatively. Winter´s Gate deserves a spot in the most accomplished Melodeath albums. (October 1, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Wolverine - Machina Viva (2016)

Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal

4.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** The Bedlam Overture ***** Our Last Goodbye ***** When the Night Comes ***** Nemesis

2016 is starting to be a good year for Progressive Metal also. Several high quality releases have been published already and as crown jewels there are Dark Suns and now Swedish Wolverine. In the last few years Progressive Metal bands trusted way too heavily on technical achievements rather than good and solid songwriting, so most of the albums released in the genre began to sound like who can play the most notes and emotion was forgotten. Dark Suns Everchild and Machina Viva showcases how awesome Metal music can be when its done with emotion and style. Wolverine hasn't released any music in the last 5 years. Has it really been 5 years since the awesome Communication Lost? Vocals have always been the most shiniest part of Wolverine. Stefan Zell doesn't disappoint in Machina Viva either. This could be very closely one of the greatest vocal performances ever in Progressive Metal. I know its a lot said, but Zell´s soft but deep and soulful voice sounds incredible. Although vocals are in the forefront through out the entire record, instruments do not drag behind either. Even the few short but noticeable jazz segments add character to the overall sound pallet. (June 5, 2016)  

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

If These Trees Could Talk - The Bones of a Dying World (2016)

Post-Rock

4.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Solstice ***** Earth Crawler ***** Iron Glacier ***** The Giving Tree ***** Berlin

I honestly thought that If These Trees Could Talk doesn't exist anymore as a band. It made me unhappy cause I truly enjoyed and sincerely loved their previous release Red Forest. In my opinion its a masterpiece when it comes to instrumental, atmospheric, landscaping and also heavy-in-places Post-Rock. Already after the first listen of Red Forest I became a fan and an admirer of the band. So as you might expect my ecstatic state of mind, which almost led to hyperventilation, when I heard that 2016 will give us new material from If These Trees Could Talk. How would I compare this to Red Forest? Stylistically very similar. Awesome and emotional atmosphere with heavenly instrumental build-ups leading to ear-gasmicly powerful finishes. Some haters of the genre or otherwise ignorant people might say that this yet again another aimless crescendo-core act, but to my ears this is just the right stuff with an evident and clear purpose and objective in mind. Which is to kick the listeners backside with some powerful, emotional and multi-layered music. Structurally The Bones of a Dying World is even better than Red Forest. While the quality of the material in the previous release slightly drops toward the end of the album, this one does holds its grip all the way through. I haven't had any difficulties listening this one from start to finish. It even makes me want to listen it again and again...Beautiful music played by extremely talented musicians. What more you want? (June 3, 2016)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_albums_of_2016___and_worst/

[kimmokristian84]

Katatonia - The Fall of Hearts (2016)

Alternative Metal, Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock

4.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Takeover ***** Serein ***** Old Heart Falls ***** Shifts

I like this...I like it a lot. Swedish Katatonia is one of the greatest bands, when it comes to depressive, melancholic and extremely heart-wrenching music. Katatonia´s music has always forced the listener to go into the dark depths of every soul and do some serious and in-depth soul-searching. They first started as a Death Doom Metal band, but through the years they've slowly began to shift more into direction of Alternative Metal with heavily Gothic vibes. Their discography is full of pretty good to awesome releases. Maybe their golden age happen somewhere in the early 2000s with the albums Last Fair Deal Gone Down to The Great Cold Distance. Unfortunately after The Great Gold Distance they haven't been able to produce music which would raise my awareness into a new level. But The Fall of Hearts is definitely something which I do enjoy. Already their singles Serein and Old Heart Falls raised my expectations toward this upcoming album immensely. This is not the deepest music Katatonia has ever made. Not even close, but it has an awesome atmosphere and the melodies are super captivating and even quite catchy. I don't think they've ever sounded so Progressive Metal like they do now. Maybe in Dead End Kings they began to develop this sort of sound more but this is much more creative. Mellow folk-ish elements adds a nice touch. Comparison to Opeth is clear and evident especially in song like Serac. I don't think Jonas Renkse has sounded this good in years. (May 20, 2016)

[kimmokristian84]

Throes of Dawn - Our Voices Shall Remain (2016)

Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal

4.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Mesmerized ***** Lifelines ***** The Understanding ***** One of Us Is Missing ***** The Black Wreath of Mind

WOW! Now I can say that I'm speechless. This one came completely out of the bloom. Throes of Dawn has released good albums before, but nothing comes even close to what they were able to do this time. If you are a fan of guitar. You will enjoy Our Voices Shall Remain immensely. It is so lush, ethereal and atmospheric. To me it sounds like they've been hiding young David Gilmour somewhere in the closet of their practise facilities. And they waited five albums to let him loose. If I would have to explain the sound to anyone in only three words, I would probably say something like "Gothic Pink Floyd". And that wouldn't be farfetched. Only minor little foible in otherwise masterpiece of an album is the occasionally dreary and stuffy vocals. Well it is probably the Gothic Metal heritage of Throes of Dawn, which shows its head especially in the vocals. Definitely worth checking out, if you've ever shared the same ideas about music with me. (August 26, 2016)

[kimmokristian84]

Sata kaskelottia - Sata kaskelottia (2015)

Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal

3.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Kyntö ***** Merimies

Sata kaskelottia is one of those brand new Finnish bands which push Finnish music scene few steps forwards. S/T album is the bands debut album. This Helsinki-based band plays energetic, aggressive and powerful Sludge Metal with a lot of groovy Progressive Metal elements incorporated to an heavily guitar driven sound. Vocals are fierce and traditional in a Sludge metallic way, but the good thing is that they sing in Finnish. I haven't heard a lot of Sludge Metal being sang in Finnish before. The album has a primitive sound which I do enjoy. It doesn't sound overproduced. Especially the vocals have a rather unique and echoey sound. (July 22, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/

[kimmokristian84]

Tim Bowness - Stupid Things That Mean the World (2015)

Art Rock, Progressive Rock

3.5 / 5

Highlights: ***** Sing to Me ***** Know That You Were Loved

Tim Bowness, an English singer, is mainly known as the singer for one of Steven Wilson´s side-projects called No-Man. Ive never been the biggest fan of Tim´s voice. Its a bit too soft for my taste. Stupid Things That Mean the World continues pretty much were Abandoned Dancehall Dreams left off in 2014. It reminds musically, atmospherically and thematically extremely noticeably the preceding release. Even the artwork has a similar look. Abandoned Dancehall Dreams was a positive surprise. I rather enjoyed its melancholic and beautiful sound so I do appreciate this newer release also. If you liked the last years album then you will like this one also, but if not then I'm almost positive that you won't fell in love with this new release either. (July 18, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/

[kimmokristian84]

Abnormal Thought Patterns - Altered States of Consciousness (2015)

Progressive Metal

3.5 / 5

Very rarely I've enjoyed extremely technical instrumentation as much as I did while listening Abnormal Thoughts Patterns debut album Manipulation Under Anesthesia in 2013. It was like balancing in a balance beam. During each second of its entire running time I was holding my breath and thinking when its going to fall in to the abyss of wankery, but it never did...at least not very badly. It was actually quite emotional and "subtle", which was surprising considering that in the end the album was Technical Progressive Jazz Fusion Metal. When I heard that Abnormal Thought Patterns will release new material this year. I started to recapture the same doubts like I had before the first album. Maybe this time it will sound like cheesy wankery I thought? It didn't, but Altered States of Consciousness is not as diverse or inventive. Repetition started to annoy quite badly rather quickly. Pleasant and refreshing thing was the vocals in Nocturnal Haven by Thomas Giles from Between the Buried and Me. (July 14, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/

[kimmokristian84]

Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Yield to Despair (2015)

Post-Rock

4 / 5

Highlights: ***** Shaking Off Futility ***** Downbeat

Australian Tangled Thoughts of Leaving was one of those new bands, which I've been really eagerly wanting to listen for a long time. Ive read so many good things about this band. They've been said to bring something new to the world of Post-Rock. I have to admit that before beginning to listen Yield to Despair I had high expectations for experiencing something completely new and original. First of all I've got to say that yes it does sound different than most of the traditional Post-Rock bands out there. If you're not a fan of the conventional Post-Rock with huge tremolos and building crescendos, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving might be something for you to check out. Their style resembles more Progressive Rock with some piano-led jazzy moods and it even has segments with Noise Rock. Was this a new and original breed of Post-Rock then? Probably not, but definitely an good album. I still want to experience their previous album Deaden the Fields very badly. (July 10, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/

[kimmokristian84]

Red Apollo - Altruist (2015)

Atmospheric Sludge Metal, Post-Hardcore

3 / 5

Red Apollo is a German Post-Metal/Hardcore band and Altruist is my first encounter with their music. They've only released one album before, back in 2012, which was called Marche Funèbre. Sound is mainly a typical and traditional mixture of Atmospheric Sludge Metal and Post-Hardcore with some influences from Black Metal. Entertaining to listen but at any point it won't stand out from the mass in anyway. Their are bands in the genre who've made this sort of music a lot more exceptionally. I would recommend Red Apollo and Altruist for the fans of Post-Metal who want to widen their knowledge of different bands in the genre. (July 8, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/

[kimmokristian84]

High on Fire - Luminiferous (2015)

Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal

3 / 5

Highlights: ***** Dark Side of the Compass

High on Fire is one of those high-energy Stoner Metal bands, which I've never been the biggest fan. They've got huge amount of talent and the music is energetic and riff-oriented "hammering". In my opinion their biggest achilles heel is that occasionally they do sound a bit too polished and generic. Luminiferous is probably their most diverse album in years. It has a mixture of songs which are either Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal or Thrash Metal. Especially the thrash(y) tracks like Slave the Hive and Luminiferous were in my opinion quite bad and pointless. Or maybe its just me and my personal attitude toward Thrash Metal. Im not a fan of Thrash. One of the most interesting tracks were The Cave. Entertaining album but I got ambivalent feelings while listening it. (June 6, 2015)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/kimmokristian84/my_top_to_worst_albums_of_2015/