City of Evil is a jarring transition from Waking the Fallen. Harsh vocals are completely absent, the guitar sounds zany and all-over-the-place. Matt's singing is what we know it as, despite my gripes with it. The band doubles down on the aggression, making a transition from metalcore 2 speed metal, and the production feels much more real and listenable than b4.
It's kind of a "big" "epic" kind of album. This is usually seen as the point where the band has found their sound, but listening 2 it you realize that isn't entirely true, but the statement exists 4 a reason. Matt's voice is a bit different from what we know him as, and the songs are generally longer. That said, it's hard not 2 put it up with that general alternate metal period seen from 2005-2013. The sound is unmistakable, and awesome at that. The song that probably fits the most with that era is Trashed and Scattered, but even that song is pretty damn heavy.
My opinion upon revisiting has changed a bit. I don't find Burn It Down as enjoyable as I once did, while I don't remember Bat Country sounding this good. Strength of the World is also much better. I don't really get the grand epic feel of the album but Strength of the World is the exception 2 that. It is big, it is grand, and it was the band's longest song at that point.
Cool, here's some flaws. I don't like the singing here. It sounds like Eric Cartman trying 2 sing with his fingers in his nostrils. Particularly egregious on the first few tracks. The songs also feel like they could have a bit more something 2 them. Burn It Down and Betrayed feel 2 generic 4 me.
But that doesn't matter, becuz this album tried 2 be big and grand and, well it suceeded alright. Sold damn well. It's a step down 4 me, but I still think it's good in it's own right. It's got bangers.
City of Evil: The Breakthrough, and Not Much Else
City of Evil is a jarring transition from Waking the Fallen. Harsh vocals are completely absent, the guitar sounds zany and all-over-the-place. Matt's singing is what we know it as, despite my gripes with it. The band doubles down on the aggression, making a transition from metalcore 2 speed metal, and the production feels much more real and listenable than b4.
It's kind of a "big" "epic" kind of album. This is usually seen as the point where the band has found their sound, but listening 2 it you realize that isn't entirely true, but the statement exists 4 a reason. Matt's voice is a bit different from what we know him as, and the songs are generally longer. That said, it's hard not 2 put it up with that general alternate metal period seen from 2005-2013. The sound is unmistakable, and awesome at that. The song that probably fits the most with that era is Trashed and Scattered, but even that song is pretty damn heavy.
My opinion upon revisiting has changed a bit. I don't find Burn It Down as enjoyable as I once did, while I don't remember Bat Country sounding this good. Strength of the World is also much better. I don't really get the grand epic feel of the album but Strength of the World is the exception 2 that. It is big, it is grand, and it was the band's longest song at that point.
Cool, here's some flaws. I don't like the singing here. It sounds like Eric Cartman trying 2 sing with his fingers in his nostrils. Particularly egregious on the first few tracks. The songs also feel like they could have a bit more something 2 them. Burn It Down and Betrayed feel 2 generic 4 me.
But that doesn't matter, becuz this album tried 2 be big and grand and, well it suceeded alright. Sold damn well. It's a step down 4 me, but I still think it's good in it's own right. It's got bangers.
Song ranking
1. Burn It Down
2. Beast and the Harlot
3. Betrayed
4. Seize the Day
5. Sidewinder
6. M.I.A.
7. Bat Country
8. Strength of the World
9. Trashed and Scattered
10. The Wicked End
11. Blinded in Chains