Hearing these KL clips in the review, it finally clicked with me what I find to be the real ground zero for this specific style and hybridization of Nu Metal and Metalcore - Disembodied. When I throw on something like Psalms of Sheol I can perfectly hear the exact balance of jumpdafuckup riffs and 90s metalcore breakdowns. I think KL has brought this exact sound into the 2020s with this ultra modern (I would go as far as to say *overly processed*) production and adjusted the ratio a little bit maybe slightly more towards the nu metal side of things. Can't say its to my liking, but I can absolutely see the precedence for this style.
I totally forgot about Disembodied, that was one of those bands I knew from the 00s blogspot scene but only ever as a "cool namecheck" kind of thing. You're right, that has to be huge. And I actually saw an interview w/ Vamachara (whom I vastly prefer to KL) where they name Disembodied as a major influence. I would never have thought to link Disembodied to nu-metal, but I'm sure you're right. Re. the production here - AGREED. I didn't get into that, but it's got that "bright shiny plastic" sound you get from too much "professionalism" in the studio - just the nastiest possible version of it. I think that's why for me, a lot of the harsher tones just sound grating. - TBMG
@@JuanR20421 According to the Urban Dictionary it means "something that is rubbish/terrible/bad". There's an another obvious meaning too but that's not related lol.
I find the hype on the latest KL reminiscent of the release of Nails:" you will never be one of us" a few years ago... which i enjoyed. A lot of discussion about a culminating zenith of styles or a dominating brand new take... i think the crushing, in your face production and the admittedly energetic, piss n' vinegar conviction in the performance is admirable and comes off as extremely fresh... but objectively there's nothing new in either IMO. I was actually hoping to enjoy this more than I did... recently, I've been indulging the nostalgia of my youthful playlists like converge, dillenger, as i lay dying, every time i die (yea, i know)... But regardless of the tasty seasoning, a good char and fancy garnish: KL still tastes like fake vegan meat. ...and those vocals... can't do it
im glad you mentioned the riffs KL play under the breakdowns are still excellent that stood out to me as well tho on the whole im with TBMG on this one just from the samples you played- some cool parts and great writing but the end product just doesn't do much for me even on a nostalgia factor as metalcore/2000s metal on a whole slipped by me... tho i will say they sound more lively and convincing than some 'big' extreme metal albums i heard this year lol
There's certainly a lot more passion and aggression here than on your typical "cosmic void triangles" black/death metal record, or whatever. I can ofc understand metalcore slipping by you, especially if you were already into real metal at that point. But even for me, who grew up w/ metalcore in the 00s, this DOESNT really scratch the nostalgia itch, b/c it's so steeped in all those '10s tone / technique / production innovations. But yes, definitely some songwriting to respect here. One thing that sets it apart from nu-metal proper is the detail put into all the NON-chorus parts, even if they're not really riffy. - TBMG ⚔
i feel you there. i didn't mention this in the review, but i find every single tone on this (except the snare) unbelievably grating. and that's weird, because i really dig a lot of the influences on this sound, including that sort of tone-scooped sub-bass/white noise guitar attack (see: Sectioned). i think what's going on here is that KL focuses on JUST those avant-garde aspects of modern 'core, without any of the underlying riffiness. that "melodic" aspect of the music was central to its aggression and drive. you could get rid of that entirely and make avant-industrial music w/ breakdowns (see: Humanity's Last Breath, Emptyset), but instead, KL have just evacuated the melody from the "riffing" in the verses, and concentrated it all in the nu-metal pop choruses. Which is gay. The other side of it, is that these harsh tones are all delivered via an extraordinarily glossy commercial production - they lose some of their impact as noise, and become just Annoying. like standing between 3 different walls of demo TVs at Best Buy. - TBMG
High on Fire is probably the best gateway extreme metal band of the last 20 years. Totally agree on the new record. The last track in particular can totally hang with the brillance of Blessed Black Wings. Knocked Loose…well I’d rather it be them that gets huge mainstream appeal than say, F.O.
Hahah yes, agreed on both counts! HoF ("Devilution" specifically) was the first really extreme thing I heard that wasn't some kind of metalcore. I could tell it sounded lke Motorhead, but also not-Motorhead in these ways I found compelling but difficult. like "whoa I'm not sure I'm ready for this yet." which ofc is one of the best feelings getting into this kind of music. - TBMG ⚔
@@theakkusor glad to hear it man, i respect his take too - that's why we have a podcast, hah! i think despite having fundamentally different judgments, we were able to meet each other halfway on a lot of points. there's things i can appreciate about this record for sure. we actually had a ton of fun doing this review, we think it's one of our best.
Good to see spongebob expressing himself as the vocalist in KL...
DEATH STRIKE
Way too much self-expressing on this one. DEATH STRIKE. - TBMG
@@TerminusExtremeMetalPodcast agreed
Hearing these KL clips in the review, it finally clicked with me what I find to be the real ground zero for this specific style and hybridization of Nu Metal and Metalcore - Disembodied. When I throw on something like Psalms of Sheol I can perfectly hear the exact balance of jumpdafuckup riffs and 90s metalcore breakdowns. I think KL has brought this exact sound into the 2020s with this ultra modern (I would go as far as to say *overly processed*) production and adjusted the ratio a little bit maybe slightly more towards the nu metal side of things. Can't say its to my liking, but I can absolutely see the precedence for this style.
I totally forgot about Disembodied, that was one of those bands I knew from the 00s blogspot scene but only ever as a "cool namecheck" kind of thing. You're right, that has to be huge. And I actually saw an interview w/ Vamachara (whom I vastly prefer to KL) where they name Disembodied as a major influence. I would never have thought to link Disembodied to nu-metal, but I'm sure you're right. Re. the production here - AGREED. I didn't get into that, but it's got that "bright shiny plastic" sound you get from too much "professionalism" in the studio - just the nastiest possible version of it. I think that's why for me, a lot of the harsher tones just sound grating. - TBMG
Divine Eve/Crimson Relic mentioned :3
hell yeah borther, been waiting years to make that comparison. glad you noticed :3 - TBMG
The vocals in Knocked loose are fucking gash .
Does gash mean good or bad
@@JuanR20421 According to the Urban Dictionary it means "something that is rubbish/terrible/bad". There's an another obvious meaning too but that's not related lol.
Yeah, they are embarrassingly bad. I discuss this in the review. - TBMG
I find the hype on the latest KL reminiscent of the release of Nails:" you will never be one of us" a few years ago... which i enjoyed.
A lot of discussion about a culminating zenith of styles or a dominating brand new take... i think the crushing, in your face production and the admittedly energetic, piss n' vinegar conviction in the performance is admirable and comes off as extremely fresh... but objectively there's nothing new in either IMO.
I was actually hoping to enjoy this more than I did... recently, I've been indulging the nostalgia of my youthful playlists like converge, dillenger, as i lay dying, every time i die (yea, i know)...
But regardless of the tasty seasoning, a good char and fancy garnish: KL still tastes like fake vegan meat.
...and those vocals... can't do it
im glad you mentioned the riffs KL play under the breakdowns are still excellent that stood out to me as well tho on the whole im with TBMG on this one just from the samples you played- some cool parts and great writing but the end product just doesn't do much for me even on a nostalgia factor as metalcore/2000s metal on a whole slipped by me... tho i will say they sound more lively and convincing than some 'big' extreme metal albums i heard this year lol
There's certainly a lot more passion and aggression here than on your typical "cosmic void triangles" black/death metal record, or whatever. I can ofc understand metalcore slipping by you, especially if you were already into real metal at that point. But even for me, who grew up w/ metalcore in the 00s, this DOESNT really scratch the nostalgia itch, b/c it's so steeped in all those '10s tone / technique / production innovations. But yes, definitely some songwriting to respect here. One thing that sets it apart from nu-metal proper is the detail put into all the NON-chorus parts, even if they're not really riffy. - TBMG ⚔
Man... I cannot stand this KL stuff. Maybe I'm just old, but I haven't had such a visceral distaste for something in a while. 😅
Don’t worry , I’m a younger guy can’t stand it either 😅
i feel you there. i didn't mention this in the review, but i find every single tone on this (except the snare) unbelievably grating. and that's weird, because i really dig a lot of the influences on this sound, including that sort of tone-scooped sub-bass/white noise guitar attack (see: Sectioned). i think what's going on here is that KL focuses on JUST those avant-garde aspects of modern 'core, without any of the underlying riffiness. that "melodic" aspect of the music was central to its aggression and drive. you could get rid of that entirely and make avant-industrial music w/ breakdowns (see: Humanity's Last Breath, Emptyset), but instead, KL have just evacuated the melody from the "riffing" in the verses, and concentrated it all in the nu-metal pop choruses. Which is gay. The other side of it, is that these harsh tones are all delivered via an extraordinarily glossy commercial production - they lose some of their impact as noise, and become just Annoying. like standing between 3 different walls of demo TVs at Best Buy. - TBMG
High on Fire is probably the best gateway extreme metal band of the last 20 years. Totally agree on the new record. The last track in particular can totally hang with the brillance of Blessed Black Wings. Knocked Loose…well I’d rather it be them that gets huge mainstream appeal than say, F.O.
Hahah yes, agreed on both counts! HoF ("Devilution" specifically) was the first really extreme thing I heard that wasn't some kind of metalcore. I could tell it sounded lke Motorhead, but also not-Motorhead in these ways I found compelling but difficult. like "whoa I'm not sure I'm ready for this yet." which ofc is one of the best feelings getting into this kind of music. - TBMG ⚔
KL? DELETE THIS.
Your perspective is represented in the review, by me. - TBMG
@TerminusExtremeMetalPodcast i still respect tdmg take on it... tho i don't necessarily agree. that's what makes a discussion/ review worth having.
@@theakkusor glad to hear it man, i respect his take too - that's why we have a podcast, hah! i think despite having fundamentally different judgments, we were able to meet each other halfway on a lot of points. there's things i can appreciate about this record for sure. we actually had a ton of fun doing this review, we think it's one of our best.