NTTR - No Time to Review

There’s conviction here — that much is clear. Alt Som Finnes doesn’t feel phoned in or trend-chasing. The riffs bite, the tremolo lines are sharp, and the production gives the guitars enough weight without sanding off their frost. But after the initial surge, I start noticing how familiar the mechanics are. The build-and-release dynamics follow expected post-black contours, and the emotional register rarely escapes that grey-blue melancholy band. The guest elements and cleaner passages add variation, but they don’t fundamentally reshape the arc. I don’t feel the kind of compositional inevitability or long-form tension that pushes albums in this style into the 80s or 90s for me. It’s a strong entry in the genre — just not a defining one. Pros Consistent atmosphere – Maintains a cohesive emotional tone without tonal whiplash. Solid production balance – Modern clarity without losing black-metal edge. Earnest thematic core – Feels personal rather than theatrical. Cons Pr...

I can hear the ambition immediately. Forest of Forgetting wants to be immersive, cinematic, mythic — and in terms of arrangement, it often succeeds. The orchestration is lush, the vocals are poised, and everything is placed with care. But for me, it never quite crosses into urgency. It feels composed, not compelled. The atmosphere is consistent — almost too consistent. Track after track leans into the same mid-tempo grandeur, the same slow-burn string swells, the same careful emotional register. I don’t dislike it; I just don’t feel pushed. In your strongest symphonic metal records, the drama escalates, fractures, surprises. Here, the forest stays beautiful, but the weather barely changes. It works as a mood piece. As a metal record, it lacks bite and structural tension. I respect it more than I replay it. Pros High-level orchestration The arrangements are polished and cinematic, with real attention to instrumental layering. Controlled vocal performance Johanna Kurkela del...

This is technically sharp and professionally executed power metal, but it doesn’t push me beyond respect into immersion. The speed is there, the harmonized leads are clean, and the choruses are engineered to lift — but too often I can hear the structure coming before it arrives. It feels like the band refining a formula rather than challenging it. I admire the discipline and musicianship, yet I don’t find many moments that break the ceiling emotionally or compositionally. It’s solid, but not urgent. Pros High-level musicianship – Tight rhythm section, articulate solos, confident vocal delivery. Clear production – Everything is audible and balanced; no muddiness. Consistent energy – The album maintains momentum without major dips. Cons Predictable songwriting arcs – Verse/pre-chorus/chorus patterns rarely surprise. Limited dynamic contrast – Intensity stays high but doesn’t evolve much. Polish over edge – The clean production slightly reduces grit and danger....

I admire the precision more than I feel the impact. The playing is immaculate — almost intimidatingly clean — and Chin’s writing is undeniably intricate. Every gesture has intent, every texture feels engineered. But as a listening experience, it stays intellectual rather than immersive. I hear ideas unfolding; I don’t quite feel them accumulating. There’s brilliance in the detailing — metallic percussion flashes, fractured rhythms, sharply etched winds — yet the macro arc never quite pulls me in. I respect it. I don’t live inside it. After the initial fascination with the surface complexity, the emotional temperature feels cool, almost museum-lit. It’s contemporary craft at a very high level, but it doesn’t cross into something overwhelming or transformative for me. Pros Surgical ensemble execution – Absolute clarity; every micro-event is audible and controlled. Textural imagination – Rich, inventive orchestration with striking timbral contrasts. Structural intelligence –...

I understand what Terrace Martin is going for here, but for me Peace settles into something a little too safe. The solo-piano format suggests intimacy and emotional clarity, yet the pieces often feel like sketches rather than statements. There’s atmosphere, there’s restraint — but not enough tension to really pull me forward. I keep waiting for a harmonic left turn, a rhythmic disruption, or even a melodic hook that lingers longer than the moment it appears. It’s pleasant. It’s tasteful. It’s technically fine. But it doesn’t push. After a few tracks, the mood plateaus and the album starts to blur into itself. I don’t dislike it — I just don’t feel compelled by it. Pros Clean, intimate piano tone – The recording is warm and close, giving the album a personal feel. Concise runtime – It doesn’t overstay its welcome; the brevity prevents total stagnation. Emotional sincerity – There’s no gimmick here — just honest, restrained playing. Cons Minimal harmonic risk – The ...

This is solid, grown-man boom-bap — but it rarely rises above that. Wordsworth is sharp, technically locked in, and clearly still cares about the craft. Stu Bangas gives him exactly what you’d expect: dusty loops, hard drums, a slightly grimy East Coast backbone. The chemistry is real in the sense that nothing clashes. But that’s also the ceiling — nothing really surprises either. I appreciate the discipline. No trend-chasing, no glossy hooks, no forced crossover moves. Still, once the initial respect factor settles, I’m left wanting a stronger arc or at least one moment that genuinely elevates the album beyond “well-executed underground rap.” It’s consistent. It’s credible. It’s just not essential. Pros Veteran lyricism – Wordsworth’s pen is precise, layered, and technically confident throughout. Cohesive production – Stu Bangas keeps the sonic palette tight and gritty without overcomplicating it. No filler gimmicks – The album stays focused on bars and beats, no unneces...