The Flashcards: Déhà - Cruel Words (2019)

70+/100

Genre: post-rock/metal

Déhà, a Belgian project that dabbles in various genres, leans into post-metal/rock for this album. I actually gave it a spin a few years back, but naturally, I didn't think much of it at the time. A newfound appreciation only emerged when I intended to write commentaries like this one. It makes me think that a natural first impression is what truly makes a song endure in your heart, because it feels alive from the very beginning, rather than being an acceptance built upon forced, deeper listening.

The song structures here are predominantly typical of the crescendo style, with "I Am Mine to Break" serving as an opener that echoes the style of Oh Hiroshima, though it doesn't quite act as a hook. The subsequent parts grow heavier, shifting into a dark, depressive, classic post-metal sound. However, the introductory crescendo lines on each track run quite long, which left me feeling a bit bored—even though listening to it while exhausted leaves a deeper impression. Had the guitar distortion not completely dissolved into the overall atmosphere, leaving room for some distinctly heavy sections, it might have provided a bit more emotional dynamics.

Because of that, if I were writing this commentary while completely spent, there would probably be higher praise. For now, I find myself hesitating again over whether to pin this to my favorite playlist wall or not. For fans of Cult of Luna, Rosetta, Pillar of Light, or anyone who prefers post-metal that prioritizes atmosphere, Cruel Words comes quite recommended.

Tracklist:

1. I Am Mine to Break

2. Pain Is a Wasteland

3. Blackness in May

4. Butterflies

5. Dead Butterflies

6. Cruel Words

Comments

Breakcore: Subheroine - End. (2025)

77 / 100 End. is Subheroine ’s most immersive and emotionally textured work yet ... Is being a week late enough to make a new release feel cold and stale? Maybe it’s the effect of our fast-paced modern world and the FOMO trend. Who knows. Whatever. Alright then, let’s welcome a new breakcore/drum & bass album (though it runs under 30 minutes) from Subheroine : End. ! End. by SUBHEROINE Released just on November 7 via Japan’s veteran breakcore label, Lost Frog Productions , End . delivers a noticeably more atmospheric vibe this time. So, tagging it as atmospheric drum & bass makes perfect sense, while the “depressive” tag seems to apply only to the cover art. But is that really the case? As always, there are surprises when reviewing music—those unexpected moments that make certain tracks sound more intriguing than expected. The most prominent depressive elements appear in the sampled voice of an anime girl sounding shocked or weakened in...

Electronica/IDM: 4T Thieves - Humanoid (2018)

70 / 100 Humanoid is a compact and tastefully crafted slice of IDM-leaning electronica that blends futuristic elements without overwhelming the listener. I opened my December with an electronica release by 4T Thieves , an EP titled Humanoid , which came out back in February 2018. A brief profile and the project’s track record can be found on RYM or Last.fm , and it’s clear that this act has been active since the 90s, although only arriving on Bandcamp around 2018. Humanoid by 4T Thieves As the name suggests, Humanoid presents a modern environment tinged with a futuristic sci-fi atmosphere, supported by drum work leaning toward IDM and prominent synth/bass that paints the image of a future city gate on “ Elemental .” This is followed by “ Codex ,” which is given a special dose of classic IDM-style glitch effects , and the rest continues into “ The Looking Glass ,” which gives off a nighttime-shadow feel through its slightly dark synth melodies. “Band...

Listening Notes: Playlist Clearance Vol. 1

If a store has a term called clearance sale, then I have a new agenda called playlist clearance . This agenda is meant to clean up releases sitting on my playlist shelves—sometimes for months—without any written listening notes. This matters a lot to me personally, since I prefer listening to music offline rather than streaming, even though platforms like Spotify also offer offline features. I’m already too used to downloading music, even if it means I’ll probably never really get into mainstream artists, which automatically reduces public attention. Hahaha… As for that issue, I do have my own alternative—but for now, I don’t yet have a map to avoid being overwhelmed and confused when diving into streaming platforms just to consume popular releases. Alright, back to cleaning up the playlist. What’s in here this time? Let’s take a look! Abraham – Débris de mondes perdus (2022) 73% Sometimes music can feel like a stab—or a cause of headache—like this fourth album from Sw...

Search This Blog