....of why people who consider themselves to be "reviewers" or any sort of official word on subjects they don't actually know about really bugs me.
While surfing online just a bit ago, I came across a review on a website for our "Reflecting In Grey Dusk" cd, which was (for those who don't know) a limited edition compilation cd we gave away for free on our 2004 tour we did with The Gathering and Agalloch.
Being that I have rarely seen a review of that cd (most likely because it was distributed so limitedly), I was intrigued to read what was said. The overall rating score was a decent one, so my hopes were high....
....and then I read the text.
(By the way, this comes from www.metal-archives.com)
Here's how the "review" goes-
[SIZE=-1]Written by grimdoom on July 23rd, 2007[/SIZE]
Originally this was to be Novembers Dooms fifth album; however at the time of said albums creation/recording, the band decided to rethink what they were doing musically. The follow up album to 2002s To Welcome the Fade was originally titled Ascension, then Reflecting in Grey Dusk and its presumed that it was to follow the bands prior Doomdeath style. After the band announced that they were changing their format they turned this into a limited compilation and gave it away while playing a concert with the recording line up from said album.
This is why the following album (The Pale Haunt Departure) was such a departure from the bands original sound. As anyone who has followed this band can tell you, it was a departure from their Doomdeath mastery.
There are two songs of peak interest here; the first is In the Absence of Grace which was first recorded song (in demo form) from the band since 2004s To Welcome the Fade. It appeared on the bands 2005 follow up The Pale Haunt Departure. The second song is their cover of Ozzys Revelation (Mother Earth) (from the 'Legend of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne Tribute') which was, until this was released, the only way to hear that song.
Over all, this is a good comp; the songs contained within are good choices. The only real let down is that the band changed their sound with such drastic abandon that their actual fifth album sounds out of place when compared to all six of them. This is worth hunting down if youre a true fan of the band.
My god, where do I even begin with this one?? LOL
While I can appreciate the fact that the guy is (or was, at least) a fan of the band apparently, I'm pretty stunned at the amazing amount of misinformation this person is giving here and trying to present as "fact".
First of all...... this cd was never intended at any point to be the actual studio follow-up cd after "To Welcome The Fade". We were already well into the writing process for "The Pale Haunt Departure" when we decided to create this comp cd purely for the means of having a nice freebie to give away to the fans who were cool enough to come out and see us on our tour. Nothing more, nothing less. Plus, we did not just give this away at one concert, it was given away at a number of shows during 2004. We had NEVER intended to call our next studio album "Reflecting...", we came up with that specifically for this comp cd. The only accurate bit is that we were initially going to call TPHD by the title of "Ascension" but opted against this not long after we did that 2004 tour. Where this guy got this info that he thinks is correct is beyond me.
Second.....reading a bit much into that whole "departure" aspect, aren't we? Heh. While there were definitely elements of TPHD that were a step beyond what we'd done in the past, we never sat there and claimed we were completely leaving doom/death behind......and we didn't. If "Collapse of the Fallen Throe" and "Dead Leaf Echo", to name just two, aren't pretty much straight up doom-death to your ears, then you need to really re-evaluate what you think you know, man. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, which is fine, but I hate when people write shit like this and try to put it forth as though it's absolute fact. Especially when it's so far off base. At least a good 50% or more of that album is still steeped pretty heavily in doom. How can people not hear that? Oh well....
Third......"Revelation (Mother Earth)" was not first heard on this compilation. It originally appeared on an Ozzy tribute cd that came out around 1998/1999, and had pretty widespread distribution. While it wasn't necessarily an easy song to find at the time, it wasn't completely rare. To paraphrase him, "as anyone who has followed this band can tell you....", this song did not appear in public for the 1st time on "Reflecting....". Do your homework, man! LOL
Lastly.....he caps off the "review" by once again complaining about our MASSIVE HUGE MONUMENTAL STYLE CHANGE that we did with TPHD
Again, if it really came off that way to this person, I guess that's their opinion, regardless if I think it's an unfair exaggeration. But more to the point is......this review spends more time discussing this subjective shit, and doesn't really tell you much about the actual cd he is supposed to be reviewing!!! Only one of the four paragraphs really even discusses what you'll find on the disc, and that's not saying much.
I don't want to come off completely ungrateful for the fact that this guy cared enough to sit down and write this stuff about us. I do appreciate the effort, and we do care about our fans a great deal. But it just bothers me that someone who is supposed to be a fan would be so dreadfully misinformed, when it really doesn't take that much time and effort to find out the accurate details. I mean for example, I love the band KISS, but I wouldn't go and write some articles for publication without making sure that I had my facts straight. I mean all his subjective opinions aside, regardless of whether I agree with his opinions doesn't matter, it's the stuff he's trying to state as though it's some kind of factual history of the band that irks me. And judging by some of the things he's said in his reviews, I'm guessing he's the same guy who botched up alot of the info in our original Wikipedia page too (again man, truly appreciate the effort but damn, please check your facts!!! haha)
Anyhow, I dunno if this guy reads this forum or ever posts here, if so I hope he'll realise this isn't meant to be malicious....it's more or less a case of scratching my head and saying "what the hell". I mean especially if you post or read here, you should know that you can always come to us if you need clarification on any topics or history about the band
So just for future reference to any of you guys or gals......we LOVE if you guys want to write reviews or articles or online encyclopedia type summaries! Please be our guest, we encourage it! But just show us the courtesy and respect to at least make sure you are getting your facts straight before you submit it for publication and public consumption.
While surfing online just a bit ago, I came across a review on a website for our "Reflecting In Grey Dusk" cd, which was (for those who don't know) a limited edition compilation cd we gave away for free on our 2004 tour we did with The Gathering and Agalloch.
Being that I have rarely seen a review of that cd (most likely because it was distributed so limitedly), I was intrigued to read what was said. The overall rating score was a decent one, so my hopes were high....
....and then I read the text.
(By the way, this comes from www.metal-archives.com)
Here's how the "review" goes-
[SIZE=-1]Written by grimdoom on July 23rd, 2007[/SIZE]
Originally this was to be Novembers Dooms fifth album; however at the time of said albums creation/recording, the band decided to rethink what they were doing musically. The follow up album to 2002s To Welcome the Fade was originally titled Ascension, then Reflecting in Grey Dusk and its presumed that it was to follow the bands prior Doomdeath style. After the band announced that they were changing their format they turned this into a limited compilation and gave it away while playing a concert with the recording line up from said album.
This is why the following album (The Pale Haunt Departure) was such a departure from the bands original sound. As anyone who has followed this band can tell you, it was a departure from their Doomdeath mastery.
There are two songs of peak interest here; the first is In the Absence of Grace which was first recorded song (in demo form) from the band since 2004s To Welcome the Fade. It appeared on the bands 2005 follow up The Pale Haunt Departure. The second song is their cover of Ozzys Revelation (Mother Earth) (from the 'Legend of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne Tribute') which was, until this was released, the only way to hear that song.
Over all, this is a good comp; the songs contained within are good choices. The only real let down is that the band changed their sound with such drastic abandon that their actual fifth album sounds out of place when compared to all six of them. This is worth hunting down if youre a true fan of the band.
My god, where do I even begin with this one?? LOLWhile I can appreciate the fact that the guy is (or was, at least) a fan of the band apparently, I'm pretty stunned at the amazing amount of misinformation this person is giving here and trying to present as "fact".
First of all...... this cd was never intended at any point to be the actual studio follow-up cd after "To Welcome The Fade". We were already well into the writing process for "The Pale Haunt Departure" when we decided to create this comp cd purely for the means of having a nice freebie to give away to the fans who were cool enough to come out and see us on our tour. Nothing more, nothing less. Plus, we did not just give this away at one concert, it was given away at a number of shows during 2004. We had NEVER intended to call our next studio album "Reflecting...", we came up with that specifically for this comp cd. The only accurate bit is that we were initially going to call TPHD by the title of "Ascension" but opted against this not long after we did that 2004 tour. Where this guy got this info that he thinks is correct is beyond me.
Second.....reading a bit much into that whole "departure" aspect, aren't we? Heh. While there were definitely elements of TPHD that were a step beyond what we'd done in the past, we never sat there and claimed we were completely leaving doom/death behind......and we didn't. If "Collapse of the Fallen Throe" and "Dead Leaf Echo", to name just two, aren't pretty much straight up doom-death to your ears, then you need to really re-evaluate what you think you know, man. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, which is fine, but I hate when people write shit like this and try to put it forth as though it's absolute fact. Especially when it's so far off base. At least a good 50% or more of that album is still steeped pretty heavily in doom. How can people not hear that? Oh well....
Third......"Revelation (Mother Earth)" was not first heard on this compilation. It originally appeared on an Ozzy tribute cd that came out around 1998/1999, and had pretty widespread distribution. While it wasn't necessarily an easy song to find at the time, it wasn't completely rare. To paraphrase him, "as anyone who has followed this band can tell you....", this song did not appear in public for the 1st time on "Reflecting....". Do your homework, man! LOL
Lastly.....he caps off the "review" by once again complaining about our MASSIVE HUGE MONUMENTAL STYLE CHANGE that we did with TPHD
Again, if it really came off that way to this person, I guess that's their opinion, regardless if I think it's an unfair exaggeration. But more to the point is......this review spends more time discussing this subjective shit, and doesn't really tell you much about the actual cd he is supposed to be reviewing!!! Only one of the four paragraphs really even discusses what you'll find on the disc, and that's not saying much.I don't want to come off completely ungrateful for the fact that this guy cared enough to sit down and write this stuff about us. I do appreciate the effort, and we do care about our fans a great deal. But it just bothers me that someone who is supposed to be a fan would be so dreadfully misinformed, when it really doesn't take that much time and effort to find out the accurate details. I mean for example, I love the band KISS, but I wouldn't go and write some articles for publication without making sure that I had my facts straight. I mean all his subjective opinions aside, regardless of whether I agree with his opinions doesn't matter, it's the stuff he's trying to state as though it's some kind of factual history of the band that irks me. And judging by some of the things he's said in his reviews, I'm guessing he's the same guy who botched up alot of the info in our original Wikipedia page too (again man, truly appreciate the effort but damn, please check your facts!!! haha)
Anyhow, I dunno if this guy reads this forum or ever posts here, if so I hope he'll realise this isn't meant to be malicious....it's more or less a case of scratching my head and saying "what the hell". I mean especially if you post or read here, you should know that you can always come to us if you need clarification on any topics or history about the band
So just for future reference to any of you guys or gals......we LOVE if you guys want to write reviews or articles or online encyclopedia type summaries! Please be our guest, we encourage it! But just show us the courtesy and respect to at least make sure you are getting your facts straight before you submit it for publication and public consumption.
