Yosif

CB (cripple bastards) *
besides being a worthy mirror **
I saw on your profile *
damn edit!

The impression is this: the review comes across as VERY bigoted. The fact that it censors the title 'God' is just crap and left me puzzled, as well as other passages. As for the aforementioned track, I understand tastes (I’m not a fan of the genre either, nor of the other genres you mentioned, although I do appreciate SOME things), but questioning the realistic and truthful lyrics of this gem is not a good thing; it’s untouchable, as are many of the lyrics by the CP, which I find brilliant, authentic, and a worthy reflection of today’s society... or should we always talk about sun, heart, love, 'don't leave me,' etc., etc.? :D I see you follow some great singer-songwriters; obviously, the comparison with the Crippled doesn't hold, but you have to admit that 'God is just crap' is pure poetry, crystal-clear truth. Sure, considering nihilistic and misanthropic themes, there have been better albums and groups than the Crippled, but they still hold their own, at least regarding themes, since from a musical perspective, this album, aside from a few isolated episodes, is pure garbage. If you were an atheist, you wouldn’t question these lyrics, precisely because, as mentioned, they are untouchable and objectively truthful 100%. Of course, if one is predisposed to think in a certain way or to adopt MORE OR LESS bigoted lines of thought, that’s another thing.

Metalheads are the saddest and most standardized thing that could exist on the face of the earth.

I almost forgot, the album is super boring, it feels like you’re always listening to the same track. :D

Listening, a special mention goes to the excellent cover :D
But from your review, I expected more; the album is pure crap.

the howling *

Good album, 7.5, far from the grandeur of the earlier works (FIRST AND FOREMOST MH), but still a valid record! 5 stars are exaggerated; I’ve noticed you often tend to give out 5 stars. For this album (though excellent), 5 stars are relatively out of place. It starts excellently, loses a bit of steam in the middle section, and closes more than decently with "forgiven" (a true masterpiece, in my opinion the best along with "frozen," where Sharon showcases her vocal abilities that had diminished halfway through the album). Strangely enough, the title track turns out to be the weakest chapter of the platter! Regarding the first part, "the bowling" is a very strong piece, definitely one of the highest points; the duet with K. Caputo is perfectly avoidable, a bit of a cheap shot. "our solemn hour" may be the best vocal interpretation of "the heart of everything," and what follows, excluding "all I need," is a succession of merely adequate tracks. In my opinion, it’s a good job, but I can’t give it 4 due to some dead spots encountered while listening; ideally, it would be a 3.5, but since this middle ground doesn’t exist, I find myself awarding 3 stars. It’s worth mentioning that Within have maintained a dignified level compared to genre peers who have suffered various drops in style over the years. The review is good, but the entire initial introduction could have been avoided; you could have elaborated more on some tracks that you described superficially. I fully agree in considering SHARON the best voice in the scene, obviously followed closely by Liv Kristine.

Good album, a 7.5, far from the majesty of the early works, but still a valid record! It starts excellently, loses its way a bit in the middle, and closes more than decently with "Forgiven" (a true masterpiece that you have described excellently; in my opinion, it's the best along with "Frozen," where Sharon demonstrates her vocal abilities that had diminished halfway through the album). The title track strangely turns out to be the weakest chapter of the platter!
As for the first part, "The Howling" is a very strong piece, definitely one of the highest peaks; the duet with K. Caputo is perfectly avoidable, a bit of a cliché piece. "Our Solemn Hour" is perhaps the best vocal performance of "The Heart of Everything"; what follows, excluding "All I Need," is a series of just passable tracks.
In my opinion, it's a good work; I don't feel like giving it 4 stars due to some dead points encountered during the listening. Ideally, it would be a 3.5, but since this middle ground doesn't exist, I find myself giving it 3 stars. It should be noted that Within Temptation have managed to maintain a dignified level, compared to genre colleagues who have faced various declines in style over the years. The review is good and descriptive. Well done.

a track by track overview:
mercyside - utterly banal
sanguine sky - commercial and gaudy, the vocal performance is decent.
open ground - malice? poorly executed, an irritating, tiresome chorus, subpar vibe.
the ravens - decent track but not a 6, excellent singing here.
destination departure - undoubtedly the best on the album, vibeke is superb.
down - nice but nothing more, the female vocal line is excellent, the male vocal is pathetic, I would dare say.
fate - a failure, only the brass and choir accompaniments are redeemable.
lotus - good track, too bad it gets lost in a banal and sterile chorus.
sacrilege - no comment.
deadlands - a major highlight of the CD, just a notch below destination departure, but these last 2 are the only worthy tracks of illumination.
essentially, an album that can easily be done without, 5 stars is pure madness.

one of my favorite records, oh how they were ahead of their time, unlike the crap that’s around now.