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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7721
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:43 pm 
 

First single/album announcement:


I'm not sure how I feel about this song. On one hand, it feels like it's gonna be this album's "Touch in the Night" or "Familiar Hell," but I liked those two songs way more than this. It's just so far out of their strike zone that it feels out of place. I do like the key change at the end, though, but that's not really enough to win me over just yet. We'll see if subsequent listens let it warm up to me, but as it stands, this ain't generating much hype from me.
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lordcatfish
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:44 pm
Posts: 1458
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:26 pm 
 

I quite like the song. The hook doesn't jump out like a lot of their stuff, but I feel like it'll grow on me over time.
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Bloody Nine
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:51 pm
Posts: 119
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:02 am 
 

I wish BB would write more songs that would really let Noora Louhimo cut loose. Her screams in "Raven" were unreal; it sucks that she ends up having to hold so much back for their newer, poppier style.

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TrooperEd
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:18 pm
Posts: 2115
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 1:09 am 
 

I like Familiar Hell more than I do this song. That being said I do still like it. For reasons already mentioned, plus I really like the lyrics and how vocally rhythmically dynamic the chorus is. It's a solid 6/10 in my book.

(Familiar Hell is an 8/10. Would be a 9/10 if it wasn't for the dumb "LISTEN TO ME" talking rap in the middle, which they wisely never do live)

Bloody Nine wrote:
I wish BB would write more songs that would really let Noora Louhimo cut loose. Her screams in "Raven" were unreal; it sucks that she ends up having to hold so much back for their newer, poppier style.


You may be thinking of screams from Anton and Eero (that's how they do it live, so that's my headcanon)
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The Red Tower
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:06 am
Posts: 291
Location: Germany
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 3:07 pm 
 

Judging by this first single this album will most likely be "Bringer of Pain" 2.0 (which is not a bad thing in my book). This new song seems to be what "Familiar Hell" was to BoP - the most pop metal song most likely. I love early BB (incl. their demos), when they were not that far into pop metal but I can definitely enjoy this. Especially live this band is so much fun - same with Powerwolf, Civil War and other bands that some like to call Plastic Metal. I like Plastic Metal if it's catchy!
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Operation Pivo
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:05 am
Posts: 71
Location: Australia
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:28 pm 
 

I have to agree with many of the posters so far and say that it feels as though we've been here before.
Even with the key change and a 'not all that big' big finish from Noora, the track just seems to thud along. It's a 'nodder' but not a 'pumper'. Noora, and it's always a pleasure to hear her on a new track, seems somewhat 'narrowed' into particular expressive ranges (including ranges of pitch, intensity, crunch) for each verse, chorus etc.
The pop-ish elements here, like Familiar Hell and King for a Day from the last album, remind me again and again of ABBA. Whereas the pop-ish elements from Touch in the Night were more 80s. It could be a taste thing, but getting off the 80s retro line strikes me as a bad move.

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TrooperEd
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:18 pm
Posts: 2115
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:48 pm 
 

Tracklist:

Unbroken
No More Hollywood Endings
Eden
Unfairy Tales
Endless Summer
The Hero
Piece Of Me
I Wish
Raise Your Fists
The Golden Horde
World On Fire
Bent And Broken (bonus track)
My Last Dream (bonus track)

Those song-titles are....considerably less inspiring than the title track. Here I thought BB were going high-brow on us.
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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7721
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 10:09 am 
 

New single released:


On the one hand, I like the melodies and it's decently catchy, but on the other hand, it's way too soft and lacks the aggression you'd associate with a band called "Battle Beast." Also, the drums are the most boring drums I've ever heard. Like, it sounds like the drum machine from A-Ha's "Take On Me."
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lordcatfish
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:44 pm
Posts: 1458
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:52 pm 
 

I agree that both of the new songs are quite reserved. I like them though. I just hope there's plenty of other opportunities for Noora to really let loose with her voice on the album.
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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:50 pm 
 

So this happened:

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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
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Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:58 pm 
 

Subrick wrote:

WHAT.
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BastardHead
Worse than Stalin

Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 7:53 pm
Posts: 10857
Location: Oswego, Illinois
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:02 pm 
 

So uhhh.... Beast in Black wins via Flawless Victory, right?

Keep in mind the new Beast in Black fucking sucks too.
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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:58 pm
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Location: Where the dead rule the night
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:12 pm 
 

What a cheap piece of shit this band has become.
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Sestren
Metal newbie

Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:23 pm
Posts: 218
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:31 pm 
 

Only losers would listen to this band.

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LycanthropeMoon
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:53 pm
Posts: 2288
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:32 pm 
 

I mean, uh...I liked two songs on the album, sort of. So I guess that's better than nothing.

"Endless Summer" is probably the worst thing they've ever done. It was hate at first listen.

lordcatfish wrote:
I agree that both of the new songs are quite reserved. I like them though. I just hope there's plenty of other opportunities for Noora to really let loose with her voice on the album.

Yeah, that doesn't happen all that much on the album, unfortunately. A massive downturn, even from the last album, which was already a noticeable step down.

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Spiner202
Veteran

Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:32 pm
Posts: 2736
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:59 pm 
 

I actually thought that was a cool song, but I also love Dokken, Autograph, and tons of other glam bands.

Haven't tracked down the album yet, but I'm sure it will have a few good songs but might not be worth a ton of replays. I've only heard Bringer of Pain, so not sure how much of a departure this sound is for them historically, but it makes sense to me.

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BastardHead
Worse than Stalin

Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 7:53 pm
Posts: 10857
Location: Oswego, Illinois
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 1:06 am 
 

Spiner202 wrote:
I've only heard Bringer of Pain, so not sure how much of a departure this sound is for them historically, but it makes sense to me.


I realize I'm cherry picking a bit by picking arguably their heaviest song but the difference between that One Direction song and my favorite from the first album with the current singer is night and fucking day.



They've always had a pop influence but it felt more like unabashedly cheesy 80s stuff that was a lot of fun to get drunk and rock out to. At this point it's really clear that the sole songwriter was kicked out, because holy shit that was bad.
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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7721
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 2:14 am 
 

"The Golden Horde" is pretty okay...but other than that, the first two singles are the only semi-decent songs on the album. "Endless Summer" isn't even the worst one. This is so goddamn disheartening to listen to.
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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:58 pm
Posts: 35140
Location: Where the dead rule the night
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:28 am 
 

BastardHead wrote:
Spiner202 wrote:
I've only heard Bringer of Pain, so not sure how much of a departure this sound is for them historically, but it makes sense to me.


I realize I'm cherry picking a bit by picking arguably their heaviest song but the difference between that One Direction song and my favorite from the first album with the current singer is night and fucking day.



They've always had a pop influence but it felt more like unabashedly cheesy 80s stuff that was a lot of fun to get drunk and rock out to. At this point it's really clear that the sole songwriter was kicked out, because holy shit that was bad.


Yeah, they've been getting worse with every album - it really is a very clear trajectory. Their first two albums showed a band with an actual personality and heavy attitude. This new stuff is like bargain bin generic pop that literally anyone could write. Just so lame.
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CannibalCorpse
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:55 pm
Posts: 1011
Location: Austria
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:17 am 
 

Hahahaha, I can't stop laughing ^^ ! It's not like I was a fan of the band or something, occasionally liking something passing me by, but "Endless Summer" sounds like Nickelback fucking with 80s cheese-butt-rock.

Way to destroy a reputation! Incredibly embarrassing.
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LordStenhammar
Veteran

Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:46 am
Posts: 3060
Location: Not in Sweden
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:55 am 
 

Yep, it's fucking bad. They just can't get away with anything. Combined with the video - so embarrassing.

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TrooperEd
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:18 pm
Posts: 2115
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:32 am 
 

Yeah, BB will go down in history as a band that had it for a couple albums, then lost it, squandering a shit ton of potential.

LordStenhammar wrote:
Yep, it's fucking bad. They just can't get away with anything. Combined with the video - so embarrassing.


It's a damn shame, because out of all the genres of metal, power/heavy metal is the one where you CAN and should be able to get away with anything. Then again, it seems like even the bands without keyboards are starting to lose focus:




Also, Beast In Black did not win anything here. This was the gun misfiring and the ricochet killing both bands. Endless Summer is awful, but it's Sweet True Lies is equally as terrible.

I can only imagine how those songs are going to be received live in America, even by the Kamelot crowd.
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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 2:34 pm 
 

I'm about halfway through the album, and yeah, it's fucking awful. They're pretty much Lady Sabaton at this point; all sizzle and no steak. All the grit in their sound is gone, replaced with more cheesy 80s nonsense. Noora in particular sounds so neutered on here, pretty much becoming just another faceless girl singer on a major label metal band. They're really, really channeling the last decade of Nightwish for this album, only at least Nightwish still has riffs and good songs. The production is so overblown and bombastic that you'd think it's a parody of how the more keyboard-based bands on Nuclear Blast sound.

And Endless Summer is still complete ass.
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LycanthropeMoon
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:53 pm
Posts: 2288
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:00 pm 
 

My issue is that there's less 80s cheese on this album than all the previous ones, this one sounds a hell of a lot more modern to me. I dug the almost Judas Priest-like sound of their first couple albums, and there was a genuine energy and enthusiasm on those. It's kind of a shame they've moved away from it. I understand wanting to move forward and try new things with your sound of course, but what they've morphed into certainly isn't working. A distinct lack of energy and enthusiasm compared to previous efforts.

"The Golden Horde" isn't too bad of a song, it's got a nice quick pace to it, though Noora's singing isn't as energetic as I'd like it to be. I like the title track too. The rest of the tracks either go in one ear and out the other, or are just fucking irritating (see: "Endless Summer").


Last edited by LycanthropeMoon on Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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TrooperEd
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:18 pm
Posts: 2115
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:00 pm 
 

Subrick wrote:
only at least Nightwish still has riffs and good songs.


Barely.
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LordStenhammar
Veteran

Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:46 am
Posts: 3060
Location: Not in Sweden
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:11 pm 
 

Yes, TrooperEd, Sweet True Lies wasn't a winner either. Both bands would do better if they continued to play that "gymnastics heavy metal" instead of this 80's pop shit. As plastic as it was, I got to admit I enjoyed some of it. Now I'm just wondering the hype.

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Razakel
Nekroprince

Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:36 pm
Posts: 6229
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 4:03 pm 
 

:lol: :lol: :lol: I had to listen to that Eternal Summer track after reading BastardHead's review for this new album. That's fucking hilaaaarious :lol:

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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:12 pm 
 

Someone on Sputnik Music wrote this in relation to No More Hollywood Endings, and I'm just dying over here:

Quote:
Battle Beast but this time it's more of a lovers quarrel and you're just kinda overhearing it as you eat a baguette at a bakery
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Earthcubed wrote:
I'm just perpetually annoyed by Sean William Scott and he's never been in a movie where I wasn't rooting for his head to sever by strange means.

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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:58 pm
Posts: 35140
Location: Where the dead rule the night
PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:56 am 
 

I was correct when I wrote this in my review for Bringer of Pain, looks like:

Quote:
At this rate Battle Beast has pretty much done the same thing as Sabaton so far as becoming overly commercialized, slick and dull - so I fully expect them to put out something of the same terrible quality as The Last Stand in like two years, which would really be something, to do the same thing in roughly half the time. Oh well. At least Steel is still pretty damn fun.
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TrooperEd
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:18 pm
Posts: 2115
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:29 pm 
 



Nuclear Blast right now:

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BarbaricAvatar
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:47 pm
Posts: 50
Location: Cold
PostPosted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:16 am 
 

It's weird as i was in a shop yesterday and there was a horrible boyband track playing and it sounded exactly like Endless Summer.

It makes me sad that no one in the band suggested that this song was out of place on a Metal/Rock album, at best it should have been omitted entirely and at worst relegate to a "B-side" of a single. But it's here on the album, ruining it and seriously damaging the credibility of the band IMO. It's even worse that they went to the trouble of making a video for it. I hate it so much that i will not be attending their UK live show in April as it's on their setlist and i have every intention of never hearing it again. I'll wait until the next album tour, if they don't break up after this stupid mistake.

As for the rest of the album, it's not too bad. They don't utilise Noora's harsh vocals as much and there's a horrible dip from track 4 until track 8. But then Raise Your Fists kicks in and reminds you that there is a decent Metal band in here somewhere and a couple of tracks after keep the standard high. I even like Bent and Broken. But it's an album tainted by the lowest of low points which dents one's enjoyment of the highs.

The other stupid thing is BB kicked Anton out because he had total creative control and the others wanted some input, which is fine: I think bands work better if everyone is allowed to contribute. But there must still be some level of tyranny in the band as now writing the bulk of the songs we've got Janne. While there are a couple of decent tracks with his name on, all of the shitty songs on this album are written by him. Could the others not come up with anything better? Or (i suspect) is he assuming total creative control in Anton's place?
It's a shame, time will tell if the Beast bounces back or breaks apart.

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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7721
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 2:07 pm 
 

"Endless Summer" is far from being the worst song on the album. It's not even that bad--just extremely out of place.

"Piece of Me," though? That shit is wretched. I wouldn't be caught dead listening to it, it's so fucking embarrassing. If I had to choose between being caught listening to "Piece of Me" or "Endless Summer," I'd choose the latter without hesitation every single time.
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