As a hardcore Illenium fan who gave Ascend a perfect score, this new album is bafflingly disappointing. This was the first time I've had such a numb reaction to an Illenium album, and I'm left so confused with this release. I've seen Illenium say about this album that he's gotten "a bit over" the future bass/melodic dubstep sound that he's done for so long because it's been done by so many other people, and I imagine it also has to do with him getting bored or running out of ideas ... read more

I really like nearly every track and it has a very unique sound, but the track order alone ruins the flow and pacing

DAMN Swiss is phenomenal and Lights Low is pretty good too

Many tracks are gravely underdeveloped and feel like the groundwork for a potentially great song, but don't get the chance to even attempt to reach that potential. Threshold ends immediately after one drop and is literally shorter than the Intro?! Trials has a great feature, but doesn't give itself enough space to breath, and feels like it's missing a drop or two that used to be there. Fear and Atmosphere are also too short to leave an impression.

The tracks that don't get cut so obscenely ... read more

This isn't mind-blowing, but I'd be doing a disservice if I labelled it anything less than great. I understand if it didn't grab you, as it didn't blow me away like I was hoping it would, but it wasn't a disappointment for me either. It starts out with probably my least favorite track, and it doesn't have a particularly fantastical ending, but even those issues don't do much to harm the listening experience.

I genuinely don't think there's any bad tracks here. There's also not many (if any) ... read more

CMK's performance is the best I've ever heard from him with lyrics I (mostly) love, combined with Illenium's fantastic production. It feels so unique within the boundaries of what you would expect out of Illenium and his sound and I think it worked out amazingly.

Half of it feels like the same song repeated, and I'm not sure the highs hit as high as Ashes, but it's definitely more consistent. You can hear the influences in some songs, but they're not at all rip-offs and it all still feels like Illenium to me. I like it, but it doesn't really compare to Ascend, and that's saying something considering I discovered Illenium with this album.

Favorites:
- Needed You
- Crawl Outta Love
- No Time Like Now
- Leaving
- Taking Me Higher
- Let You Go

I was already pleasantly surprised on first listen, but this album continues to get better and better the more I listen and analyze. I don't think I've ever heard another album that has rewarded me this much for paying attention to every detail on repeat listens. Regardless of how much you may enjoy it, I hope you can come to appreciate the detail and amount of work put into this thing. I almost didn't write this due to laziness, but this album spoke to me so strongly I don't think I could've ... read more

I'll start with a summary and I'd say there's kind of three legs of this album for me. The first three tracks really failed to hook me, but then came a stretch of four very interesting and surprising tracks. The last four of the record mostly don't reach the highs of the middle section, but are definitely better than the opening tracks. Nick is much more experienced and confident with his vocals, and I think it really shows in the variety of delivery. The production is definitely better than ... read more

Not obsessed with the instrumentals, but they're still good and overall pretty damn catchy vocals with mostly nice lyrics

Favorites:
Freaking Out
Out of Style
Fvck Somebody
This Life I Have

Meticulously crafted record with a very serene and comforting atmosphere. Full of interesting details and does not disappoint in any way, whether it be the percussion, sound design, perfect vocal features, or the wonderful chords and melodies. It leaves me in a positive mood after every listen, thanks in part to having one of the best closing songs I've ever heard on an album, but also due to the beautiful journey the whole record takes you on.

Favorite tracks (if I had to choose):
- The ... read more

Infectious vocals with somewhat straightforward, high quality production. Short and sweet with a sort of peaceful vibe.

Favorite tracks:
- Sleepless Nights
- Don't Wanna Be Your Friend
- You're Not Here
- Half Past You
- Something Familiar

Not gonna compare to BMTH because it's an overused "critique" and I haven't listened to much of them anyway, but from what I understand they incorporate some electronic elements into their stuff. I will say that so many bands are putting electronic stuff recently that there has to be something to differentiate them. There's nothing truly bad on here, and these elements are good and implemented well, but it's the same thing I've heard a million times. Some synthetic drums here and a ... read more

Yes, very high score but hopefully this is good enough justification (about 3 or 4 full length listens)

This the most wack-ass shit I've ever heard and I'm surprised at how much I love it and how it manages to keep my attention for 100 minutes. It's excellently paced with the vocal features spread out evenly through the tracklist, and none of the tracks feel too similar (except maybe High Like This and Spore, but they take a similar idea in different directions). Every single one feels like it ... read more

This is a type of sound that I've been interested in and tried to listen to but was always disappointed with boring or trash lyrics, but this record is much better in lots of ways. I haven't dove too deep but the lyrics do feel like they have deeper meaning to uncover and are more thoughtful than most. Not necessarily the best lyrics of all time, but way more depth than I'm used to hearing in similar works by other artists. I think the vocals themselves are good, too.

I can also feel a ... read more

(about 5 full listens before review)
Ok let me start off by saying WOW the production quality on this record is absolutely superb. Wide-Eyed wasn't bad or anything, but this is a huge improvement and I can really feel how much work was put into this. Regardless of anything else, I think it's hard to argue it's low quality. I was waiting for a long time for this record but not in the mindset of a big fan. I liked the first album, and although it didn't stick with me too much, there were lots of ... read more

Groovy house EP. Drums aren't revolutionary but do their job well, and there's some good sound design here too. Good melodies but not too complex or amazing most of the time. I like the vocals in Android Dance except for the la la la's used in the drop. Lost Control has gotta be my favorite with amazing vocals and a super dope synth in the drop. I like the title track as well for the same reasons although not to the same degree. Pressure is great with that wack sample and Blind Love is also ... read more

Damn I forgot how cool this album is. In nearly every song there's lots of great stuff to admire in the instrumentals and Oliver's vocals have a unique sort of wack sound to them I really like, and it's overall really interesting! I think I actually appreciate it even more than when it first released, partly since I pay more attention to production now (which is also great on this album). Sometimes the choruses can get annoying, but not grating. I don't think I have any big criticisms, it's ... read more

Pleasant listen and no parts or songs I couldn't stand. Nothing I've never heard before, but good drums on a lot of tracks. Good melodies and such all around, just not much that REALLY hooks me in, that is except for some instrumental breaks here and there?! Get Well Soon's vocal chops are cool and Balloon Boy's section at the end I ESPECIALLY really like. These really intrigue me as to what an Oliver Tree album would sound like with as many instrumental breaks as vocal sections. Could bring ... read more

As of writing this (and for the foreseeable future) this is by far my favorite metal album I've ever heard. This record is full of some of the most genuinely unique, interesting, and extremely well written lyrics I've heard that also happen to be catchy as shit. Even though 90% of said vocals are screams with no strong melody to them?? It's very uncommon for me to love vocals this much when there's not more singing included, but the lack of melody is more than made up for in the vocal rhythms, ... read more