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Now this sounds like fucking interesting! Many thumbs up for The End (I agree with you on The End btw, wholeheartly)! I'm going to check this out! Great review too btw.

Well, I made comments about The End and their prices. I still buy from them all the time, but when they started stocking metalcore and emo their prices went up. It's no coincidence that this is the sort of music high on the mainstream hog right now.

Yeah that kinda sucks, but the heaps of experimental music (like this) that they have embraced, makes up for it. I downloaded an old album of this band and it sounds just like Alex said. I'm going to buy the new one.

I've found that the band's that The End sign almost universally kick ass. Estradasphere are awesome, I can't wait to hear this album because they've said they've toned down to goofyness that made their last two albums kind of annoying.

The End is a great label with great people and product that I support, but just because of this doesn't mean I won't criticize them.

Of course you can criticize, I understand, Ken, just wanted to clarify what The End stood for. For me anyway. I am glad you respect them as well, and sometimes we have to be making some business decisions that may not the dearest to the heart. Take it from someone who runs a business. In fact, I am not even sure how and why mailorder decisions are made, probably it is based on soem distribution deals the label can strike, and the cost is commensurate with the business model after that. I am not that familiar with Sensory structure, but I understand Dennis Gulby from Sentinel is just one guy (my hat is off to him big time for being true to his beliefs for this long), so he can keep his overhead down. But he also does not spend much on advertising or promoting, so I ma not sure the bands he has signed get the exposure they deserve. I could be wrong though, as I do not claim to be checking every single metal outlet.

Hi Misha, from where you are right now in your music world you will certainly find this interesting. You could possibly embrace it even more than I did. It'd be interesting to see if after many listens it will still hold your interest. It does for me so far.

I have no problems with their prices going up so much as their quality content going down. I mean, in the past year or so I have waited for new albums to show up at The End and they never do. These are albums that a few years back would have undoubtedly been on there. Maybe I'm being too presumptuous, I don't know, but take Bloodbound's Nosferatu for example, I expected The End to stock that album. They never did. But, sure, while they have the new BURN IN SILENCE (mainstream metalcore), they also have the new BURNING SAVIOURS (a new obscure 70's stoner-type band).

I remember when Victory Records was THE hardcore label. I remember I owned every album Tony ever released (up to VR60-something). Then he started signing a million bands, pop-punk, emo, nu-hardcore, metalcore, you name it. Traditional hardcore was out the door, up went the prices, in came the mainstream bands and now Victory Records is a major label subsidiary. I haven't bought an album from them for years now.

I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to The End. I realize we're talking about a label versus the mailorder section of The End, but the principle applies, I think. Still, even with the raised prices, the free S&H still makes them cheaper than most, but now just not so much.

I understand what you are saying, but then label and mailorder are very different departments, they are not signing mainstream metalcore. However, if someone over there is buying mainstream metalcore, the money goes in the same pot to support Andy Winter and Winds, I only see good in that.
I am not sure about Bloodbound's Nosferatu. It is very complicated with all of the distribution deals you can get and you can't get. I waited for them to have new Evergrey, but they did not stock it. Perhaps no deal with Inside Out to distribute.

Maybe they need to stock it because they also want to do stuff like this. Experimental music is a rather big risk for a metal label and it will take time before it pays off, if it pays off at all. Maybe they need to cash in on metalcore and shite, which sell like parachutes on a crashing plane.

Misha, good analogy. Yeah, in business often you have to do things that may be not dear to your heart, but the ones you need to keep the ones dear to your heart funded. I have one product at my company that I really liked, I think it is very useful, but with the lack of marketing I can't have it properly launched, the sales on it are abysmal. Yet, I keep it. Meanwhile, I sell other kinds of shit, soemthing that is just there, and I funnel funds towards my "baby pet project" in hopes that others will see it my way someday.

Yes, exactly what I meant, some things need some time. I'm sure The End will deliver more of this kind of music in the future, when this gets off the ground. I'm sure they as well liked this review a lot :-)

I've seen them live a few times, back in 2002 when they were still unknowns on the bar scene, and I can almost positively say something like this will be right up your alley. These guys are all over the place, but in the good kind of way. They should be making a big splash very soon.

I agree and I completely understand, but as a buyer you also must understand my way of thinking. Yes, label versus mailorder is different, as I pointed out, but I'd hate to see The End become what Victory has become, even if it is strictly the mailorder side of things.

Like I said, though, they still get my support on a regular basis and as long as the continues to release bands like Winds, Age Of Silence, Subterranean Masquerade, et al., I'll continue to support the label.

Hi Eternal Idol.

FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF A LEAK

Pretty much, it's everything I would expect from an Estradasphere that is being somewhat more serious about their music. The fun romps through 15 genres are pretty much gone, but instead you get something that is totally unique in its method of mixing shit together. It's like listening to the coolest movie soundtrack ever while on shrooms. Definite contender for album of the year.

holy shit this is awesome