The Heart Is a Monster

Failure - The Heart Is a Monster
Critic Score
Based on 10 reviews
2015 Ratings: #296 / 1021
User Score
Based on 45 ratings
Liked by 7 people
June 30, 2015 / Release Date
LP / Format
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CRITIC REVIEWS

80
The Skinny

Where others might struggle to emulate old glory, The Heart Is a Monster marks a more graceful transition, leaving the listener in awe of their exceptional combined songwriting chops rather than simply relieved that they can still write the odd riff.

78
Pitchfork
By reviving its the past, Failure has taken a most decisive step into the present.
75
Consequence of Sound

Fantastic Planet sets a high standard with all of its experimental guitar work and darkening space rock jams. Monster doesn’t try to replicate the magic of that point in time. Instead, it makes the next logical step forward.

70
AllMusic
Echoes of Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips, and late-period Trent Reznor surface throughout, and while the lyrics still bristle with discontent, they're less defiant and more concerned with the journey than they are the inevitable descent/ascent to oblivion.
70
Exclaim!

The Heart is a Monster doesn't quite leave the impression mid-'90s Failure did, but despite less experimental approach and cleaner digital production, it's still a compelling listen.

70
Rolling Stone

What might've been a Nineties nostalgia trip feels more like history made new.

RealZzzz
87

Fuck whish this was on streaming platforms properly, ah well. This album fuckin punches, quite Gojira ish with the instruments and riffs, very powerful and catchy melodies and such.
Powerful start, the rest of the album was still incredibly strong and I am so sad this isn't on streaming services because I would listen the shit out of this. Brilliant, nice consistent album with a lot of moody moments and powerful performances throughout. The interludes add quite a lot

Scolllie
78

Took a hot second...

After nearly two decades, Failure return, revamped and spacier than ever. The grunge that was integral to their 90s sound is gone and replaced with pristine Ken Andrews mixes that feel like space walks instead of hard rock bops. Although there are no huge duds, I think there are some snoozers that just don't do enough. This new sound I feel is pushed further on their following album which I will provide an updated take soon. However, as far as comeback records are ... read more

evergreenarbor
84

Old rating, new review blurb. A good space rock album, and probably the weirdest Failure album. Goes on a bit too long, definitely could have been shorter and would have been better for it.

Track ratings: 90 | 100 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 80 | 80 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 95 | 90 | 100 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90

Genre: Space rock, alternative rock
Influences: Psychedelic rock, alternative rock, electronic rock, art rock, noise rock, indie rock, grunge

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Track List

1Segue 4
1:07
80
2Hot Traveler
4:51
90
3A.M. Amnesia
4:50
90
4Snow Angel
3:32
100
5Atom City Queen
3:57
85
6Segue 5
1:21
70
7Counterfeit Sky
4:46
77
8Petting the Carpet
4:49
75
9Mulholland Dr.
4:32
86
10Fair Light Era
3:08
87
11Segue 6
1:14
71
12Come Crashing
4:01
77
13Segue 7
1:08
73
14The Focus
3:35
90
15Otherwhere
3:22
73
16Segue 8
1:59
70
17I Can See Houses
6:33
86
18Segue 9
4:07
76
Total Length: 1 hour, 2 minutes

Year End Lists

#22/Decibel
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Added on: April 4, 2015