NTTR - No Time to Review

I wanted this to hit harder than it did. Anomalies is clearly written and performed by a band that knows exactly who they are, but that familiarity is also its main limitation. The melancholy is sincere, the structures are competent, and the musicianship is never in doubt — yet very little here surprises me. It plays like a careful continuation rather than a necessary return. I stay engaged while it’s on, but once it ends, there’s not much pulling me back beyond a few well-shaped moments. Pros Consistent atmosphere – The dark, reflective prog-metal mood is coherent and sustained throughout. Solid compositional discipline – Songs are structured with intent; nothing feels sloppy or underwritten. Mature emotional tone – Themes of ageing and introspection feel honest rather than melodramatic. Cons Too safe for prog – Rarely challenges its own language or pushes beyond established Wolverine territory. Mid-tempo drag – A lot of material sits in the same emotional and...

I don’t dislike this, but it never fully commits to being more than a competent extension of the Puscifer universe. Normal Isn’t has moments of tension and bite—especially when it leans into post-punk stiffness and darker guitar textures—but too often it settles into a familiar mid-tempo lope where atmosphere substitutes for momentum. It’s controlled, well-played, and thematically coherent, yet rarely urgent. I come away respecting the craft more than feeling pulled back in. Pros Clear tonal identity – The goth/post-punk shading gives the album a consistent, nocturnal mood. Solid musicianship – Rhythm section and textures are disciplined; nothing feels sloppy or undercooked. Restraint over bombast – Avoids forced climaxes and Tool-adjacent excess. Cons Low payoff density – Few tracks truly arrive ; tension often plateaus. Mid-tempo drag – Too many songs sit in the same energy band, blunting contrast. Concept over compulsion – Interesting ideas, but limited ...

Woodcut is solid, carefully built modern prog — the kind that rewards attention but doesn’t demand obsession. I appreciate the ambition and the craft: the band clearly know how to construct long-form narratives, layer themes, and let arrangements breathe. At the same time, I never quite feel the urgency or inevitability that pushes a great prog concept into must-return territory. It’s engaging while it’s on, respectable throughout, but a little too comfortable in its own sprawl to fully take over. Pros Strong compositional craft – Recurring motifs, tasteful orchestration, and a clear sense of structure across the album. Textural richness – Mellotron, violin, acoustic passages and electric sections are well balanced and rarely clumsy. Cohesive concept – The narrative frame gives the album purpose and consistency rather than feeling tacked on. Cons Limited dramatic peaks – Few moments truly hit with the emotional or compositional payoff that top-tier prog delivers. ...

I get what this wants to do, and I don’t dislike it — but I also don’t feel particularly pulled back in. As an orchestral reworking, Armada – An Orchestral Voyage is competent and often pleasant, turning familiar symphonic-metal themes into something more cinematic and unobtrusive. The problem is that once the vocals and metal drive are removed, what’s left feels more like extended underscore than a record with its own spine. It works as atmosphere, but rarely demands attention, and over a full listen the material starts to blur rather than accumulate weight. Pros Clean orchestral presentation – Strings, winds, and ethnic touches are well blended and never sound cheap or MIDI. Themes translate decently without vocals – The original melodies are strong enough to survive the format shift. Useful as mood music – Easy to put on for background listening, reading, or low-focus moments. Cons Derivative by design – Feels like an auxiliary product rather than a necessary art...

I hear the craft immediately, but I don’t feel much urgency to stay with it. Blossom is carefully played, respectful, and undeniably elegant, yet it sits in a zone that’s a bit too comfortable for me. The trumpet–accordion pairing is interesting on paper, and there are moments of genuine lyricism, but the album settles into its mood very early and doesn’t really challenge it afterward. I admire the listening skills and the restraint, but as a full record it feels more like a tasteful interlude than something that reshapes my attention. Pros Refined interaction – The duo listens closely; phrasing feels intentional and balanced. Clear melodic sense – Themes are readable and gently shaped, never messy or indulgent. Warm, acoustic sound – The timbres are pleasing and well recorded, with natural intimacy. Cons Low tension and risk – Almost everything stays in a safe dynamic and emotional range. Limited evolution – Once the aesthetic is established, it rarely deepens...

I get what Press is doing, and I respect the discipline behind it, but it rarely pulls me in emotionally. The writing feels deliberately constrained — small gestures, brittle interactions, ideas introduced and withdrawn before they have time to settle. There’s intelligence here, and moments of textural interest, but as an album it plays more like a sequence of studies than a journey. I find myself admiring the craft while struggling to feel any urgency to stay with it or return once it’s finished. Pros Clear compositional intent – The restraint and focus feel purposeful, not accidental. Refined ensemble playing – Apartment House handle the material with precision and sensitivity. Textural detail at close range – On headphones, micro-events and harmonic friction do reveal care. Cons Low emotional payoff – The music rarely arrives anywhere that feels earned or affecting. Fragmented flow – Short, clipped sections interrupt momentum rather than build it. Limited...