sirlemonhead

Just listening to it now. 7 songs in and it's definitely the weakest yet. Pussy Ain't Free is reminding me of some of the 90s music I listened to... getting odd Presidents of the USA/ Silverchair vibes from it. I dig it. Edit: And almost Deftones/Smashing Pumpkins-ish.

Is there a source at all for Is this the way that isn't a crap youtube upload?

I managed about 4 listens through of it before getting bored and moving on. It's more of the same sadly. I do like quite a lot of it though as I'll outline below, but there are other albums I'd rather be listening to right now. So I really like the first half, up to and including Jaded which is by far one of my favourite songs by the band. A proper ripper of a chorus and the whole thing is just so hook-y Killing Me is also another track I really like, especially the female backing vocals (IS that Martina Edoff, can anyone tell me???) I'm one of the few who like the Downfall of Eden, even if it does fall into the typical Gary More Celtic Rock period rip-off towards the end. For better or for worse is probably... the worst song on there. It's got one of those choruses that really grate on me. That really flat way of just repeating the name of the song far too often. Reminds me of Wide open which I thought was one of the worst on the previous album too. The rest is a bit meh. I reckon it's probably their best since Are you ready to rock and a massive improvement over the previous release which I thought was a boring derivative mess (I don't think I'll ever forgive that horrible Jelly Roll "homage").

It's the production too, everything sounds a bit *too* glossy and similar across albums since Bleed and scream, making the similarities in the songs extra evident. I do like the new song though.. who is that doing the backing vocals? Sounds slightly Martina Edoff-ish...

They're pretty poor at keeping people up to date on what's happening to be honest. I follow them on Facebook and haven't a clue.. didn't realise the keyboard player had left, and now there's a female bass player, but the old fella is still appearing in photos. They post stuff only in Swedish a lot which is kinda annoying, but hey...

Pretty boy swagger is one of my favourites on the album too, and I have no interest in rap. Go figure And Destiny is a really weak track. Really no idea why it gets so much praise.

Framework is *such* a great album though, I don't think the other bands could touch it. Personal opinion obviously

No Exit is an odd one alright, the chorus is a little weak but it oddly builds an anticipation of the other bits of the song Great album but, the vocals on the title track? jaaaysus. The way his voice cracks at the end of the word "universe" is terrible.

It's probably their finest display of guitar work. Some really amazing writing on that considering they basically wrote most of it in the studio under time pressure from the record company.

I love the first two albums too. Freedom Rock is strong becoming my favourite

The guys do actually like heavier stuff too.. they've stated interest in Pantera etc before. Dave leaving definitely sounds like he left due to the oncoming change in style, and I believe Eric has a family now too which probably partly influenced his decision..

Dalone *was* missed. Him and Jona were the main songwriters!

I don't care how good the songs on this are, I can't listen to this. It's *so* loud. Utterly compressed to the point that when all the instruments are playing, it sounds almost like white noise. I know most albums these days are brickwalled but this one is probably one of the worst examples. It's just so tiring on the ears.

I still think they should have called the album Destiny...

I've been listening to this one on and off since about a week before it was released and it's really not been holding my attention like the previous 3 albums. It's quite easily their weakest released and I kinda get a sense that it was something they rushed to write and record. It just doesn't have the strong songs and polish like we're used to from them. Just to run through the songs... We are the weekend is a nice fun song. Not particular remarkable but not one to skip. Hands really reminds me of an The Unattractive Revolution era Crashdiet song. I really dislike how Olli's vocal style on that album and it appears again here. It just doesn't work for him at all, stick to the glam and not the sleaze please. The song itself is just all a bit dull and cliche. I was really worried about the new album when I first listened to the Monster single. Has some terrible lines which aren't helped by cheap sounding vocal effects - "Come on pretty monster" is especially grating. Child of the sun is really enjoyable but it hasn't really stood up to repeat listens for me. Bullet Time is kinda OK - the chorus somewhat saves it but those verses with the trill guitar note and those lyrics? makeup... mustard. Wat? I love nonsense in their songs (Coconut is a great song) but this just doesn't work. Sounds like this one was written 5 minutes before they had to record it. Scandinavian girls is great - Animal Attraction is my favourite RL album and this really wouldn't sound out of place on that. Somewhat inspired by their own song Push? It's proper good fun Reckless Love. I especially like the lines about northern slopes and getting up more than your hopes Pretty boy swagger is ... quite enjoyable. And I say that as someone who has no interest in rap music. Rock It? Meh. It's more of Reckless Love trying to do something different but it does absolutely nothing for me. It's worth skipping just to get to Destiny. Destiny is one I was really looking forward to based on the samples that were released before the album came out. It doesn't quite live up to my hopes but it's a decent enough song. There's just something a little lethargic sounding about it that stops it from rising up to be a great song. I think the production on this album has a lot to do with why I don't quite like it so much? I think it's lacking that energy and polish that we're used to from the guys. Let's get cracking? Yep I enjoy this one.. a good fun song. The kind you could imagine yourself singing along to in a rock bar after a few drinks Brings a smile to my face to hear the elephant noises from Coconuts from Animal Attraction. I haven't actually bought the album yet and tend not to open Spotify too much so I don't include Up all night. I did like this one when it was first released though.. You of course can't think of Reckless love as a straight rock/glam band and this is in a similar vein to Hot. It should really have replaced one of the many weaker songs on the album for the International released I think.

They sure are taking their time...

Wow, Dave Dalone!

They made the production worse and the guitars sound somewhat muffled compared to New Religion, more like. Riot Avenue lost it's edge... it sounds quite lethargic in comparison to New Religion. Honestly? I've not heard the first album but the last two are nowhere near the quality of New Religion.

It is. I'd give it 32.456567% I love their stuff like Hot and Keep it up all night but this just does nothing for me. It's the auto-tuned sounding vocals and the lyrical content is just....what? I know his wife is plastic surgeried up to the eyeballs but he's kinda covered this ground already in Dance..

Yeah I think Monster is really awful. Had one listen and haven't gone back to it since - the lyrics and vocals are just terrible. I really like the title song though,and we are the weekend has grown on me pretty fast, so I still have high hopes for the album!

Nah. Wage war against the world is probably my least favourite... that or I want out.

Yeah the latest two albums just seem a bit too derivative of John Sykes stuff for me to keep interested.. There's usually a strong Gary Moore vibe, too. There's homage, and then there's Breakdown sounding a little *too* much like Jelly Roll by Blue Murder. Then there's that riff on the new one that just makes me think of Gods of war by Def Leppard. Do something a bit more original, lads.

Are you ready to rock? is the only one I really, really like. Definitely check that out next.

Despite the songs, I actually think it's a really nicely produced and mastered album - It's got an overall dynamic range of about 8 which is not amazing but a lot higher than all the other albums coming out from H.E.A.T etc which usually come in around 5. A nice crankable album that doesn't tire the ears as much as others

Start a fire always makes me think of "Ain't nobody" by Chaka Khan