The Pitch: Sprawling progressive metalcore/mathcore from Sacramento's Journal. FFO: Protest The Hero, The Fall Of Troy, Minus The Bear
What I Like: Where to even begin? Journal are among the most sporadic and expansive of mathcore groups I have come across. They are right up there with Car Bomb and Torrential Downpour, but with a tone and approach that is markedly different. Far from the djent and more metallic influences of these groups, Journal focus on jazzy fluctuations of both style and volume. Certain passages exert an aggressiveness on par with Ion Dissonance while others could rival Minus The Bear in utter chill factor. Hell, "Irreverent Decomposition" goes full tech death for a time. It's a broad spectrum; taking the listener on a unpredictable journey through colorful, almost cartoonish landscapes with sudden detours into blood splattered concrete and distant gunfire. It's like the soundtrack to Adventure Time meets The Wire. The guitars are stunning, the vocals hypnotic, and the drumming ceaseless in its rotating time signatures. Gotta love that chaotic beating of the piano on “Tyrannical Enrapture” as well.
Critiques: For all of the expansive songwriting and breadth of performance, the production feels a little flat. More depth and turning up the bass a notch or two would go a long way. I could also go for just a touch more focus in the songwriting. At an hour in length, there are a few places where trimming a minute here and there might tighten up the overall experience.
The Verdict: Chrysalis Ordalias is a stunning album that showcases a wide array of styles and sounds, not to mention incredible performances all around. With a few minor tweaks in production, Journal could have the perfect album on their hands. Absolutely give this a listen, and I highly recommend buying.
Flight's Fav's: Calamity Smile, Chrysalis Ordalias, Irreverent Decomposition
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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