Metal Reviews

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Now granted, I haven't listened to this yet, but isn't the score for this one just a tad bit high?

Re-read your post again and realize how stupid it sounds. You haven't listened to one second of this album, by your own admission, yet you feel the need to chastise his score? It's posts like yours that make me wish we would just do away with the scoring system altogether.

All the same, have you listened to a second of this album? Or are you just chastising me for chastising him?

I'm merely pointing out that the score is rather... huge, you see. Being familiar with Riverside, I can say that they're a quality band -- but none of those previous albums are worth a 90. And since I've heard that this isn't much of a departure from said albums, I'm not sure if this review is based truthfully or out of sheer fanboyism.

No, which I realize would make my commenting on the quality of it pretty ridiculous, a fact you ignored.

You seem to have a habit of doing this if an album gets around this score. So what if it is fanboyism on his part? It's his personal opinion. I'm sure there are a few bands you would pad scores for on the basis of being a fanboy.

Well, we don't know that, now do we? I never got the chance to be a reviewer.

Don't recall you applying to be honest.

However, you still rate albums. For instance, you gave Through Silver in Blood a perfect 100. Now, I wouldn't disagree with that (obviously), but wouldn't you find it pretty silly if some guy came into that thread and said "Granted, I've never heard this album, but 100 seems a tad high"? I guess I just don't understand the position of getting your panties in a bunch over a score, when there's an entire written review to agree/disagree with.

Actually... no, I wouldn't find it silly at all. A lot of the highly-rated albums on this site aren't deserving of their score, so the person -- based on past disappointments -- has reason to be apprehensive. More so if past disappointments stem from albums by the same band.

Now, this album's on my buy list, so if it's as good as the reviewer makes it out to be, then I'll gladly point out how much of a dumbass I am/was. However, if other reviewers give any indication of how this sounds -- which, as I said before, isn't a far departure from their previous works -- then the high score isn't warranted.

He's just one reviewer with his own, subjective opinion, just like everyone else. Boris openly states from the beginning that he loves Riverside. If you don't share that opinion then obviously you're not going to agree with the score.

First I have to say hello to everyone for I'm new here. Well not entirely new. I have been reading reviews here for a long time, but never commented on anything. English is not my native tongue so something I say might come out wrong. Feel free to comment if I say something stupid

Now to the point. This album is amazingly good. It is excellent. I have liked Riversides past albums, but this is something else. It is without a question the same sound, but the songs are all just so good. Just as said in the review, the music is a bit heavier, but at the same time at least as melodic as before.

I think the score is spot on. It is that close to perfection. This is very close to being my album of the year.

I'm sick of all the complaining on the scoring system, and I don't really see the problem with a 100/100, it's basically the same as a 5/5 isn't it? If this site had operated with lower ratings, I refuse to believe there would be complaints.

A nice pipe dream, my friend, but we both know there still would be.

When shit like this pops up, it just makes me wish we didn't have a scoring system. Its frustrating when you know people are just skimming over the scores and not reading the actual reviews.

Well maybe, but not to the same extent. I just don't see the problem with giving a fantastic album a fantastic score. Scores should be taken with a bigger pinch of salt than they are nowadays.

Awesome band this album tops Porcupine Tree's and Transatlantic's latest IMO, bonus live DVD is also pretty cool.

I've never heard of this band, but they sound like they are in a style that I enjoy, and all the comparisons are to other bands that I love, so I'll give these guys a listen asap.

Octavarius, did you read the review or just look at the score? You say you don't know if its based on truth, but it is at least based on my own logic. As others have pointed out, the review is my personal opinion and I don't hide that, but I do attempt to defend it in my writing.

Rating systems are always tough. I, for one, feel uncomfortable giving lower scores to some albums on the basis that they aren't absolute garbage. Of course, if they are absolute garbage, I have no qualms with it. But, when things get into the 50s-70s, I always have a tough time figuring out what to give. Also, I don't think I will ever give a band thats still around a 100/100. This album is a good example of that--its Riverside's best to date and by my tastes nothing could be better. However, thats just because I haven't heard anything better in this style yet. For all I know, their next album may shit all over this one.

ZeroStatic: I think every reviewer's goal is to get at least one person to listen to an album based on their review (be it a good or negative one). I sincerely hope you like it.

As a matter of fact, I did. And I must say that I disagree with the Dream Theater comparison; Riverside more like Opeth's softer moments or Porcupine Tree than they do Dream Theater (or even the Floyd).

I can't comment on your labeling this as the best prog released this year, however.

Listened to this a couple of times now and it is very good. I've gotta go check out the rest of their stuff now. Thanks for the review, I would have never heard of this band without it.