I just bought the album yesterday, inspired by the comments (both good and bad) from the people here. Very surprised at the sound of it all, as I didn't even hear Damage Done, so I could only compare it to other offerings the band gave us, especially Haven. Much more trashy, fast, and aggressive than Haven and Projector, that's for sure.
But let's stop comparing this last outing with other albums they made ; outstanding bands always evolve, rendering comparisons irrelevent. I really do enjoy the passion fueling it all, DT are definitely good at composing emotional music that's not cliché or too bombastic, and I believe, for the first few spins , that Character really delivers on that part.
To be honnest I am still at the stage where Lost to Apathy is the best one, as it is catchier than the rest, but I am totally conscious of the fact that this album is a grower that needs several listens before unfolding in appreciation.
My only complain I have for now, and I don't think it will change, is the keyboards that seem (on cheap speakers at least) really muffled in the mix, when you compare their majestic proheminence on Haven (I know, I said not to compare
). I really do think that their use of keyboards expends their sound in an interesting way, I think it's a shame that they were put so much in the back, although I really like the harshness of the whole thing.
Brief, more listens are definitely required ; normally this is the sign of a grand album.
Didl : I really don't agree with your statement on the album title/song quality requirement. An album, like a book, has to have a title that sums up the point or purpose of the whole package. In that sense, even if I never heard it, I can tell that Damage Done is a very evocative title for this type of band, and I am pretty sure that at least one of the themes of the whole record is regret, for example.
In that line of thought, could someone explain the idea behind naming the new album "Character" ? I don't reall get it, shame on me
