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AB23 wrote:Also, Walking on the Sky should be the name of the album. Walk the Sky is weird and I'm triggered because of it.

scarecrow wrote:Fear Inoculum is great. Coincidentally, Tool and Alter Bridge are the only two hard rock / metal bands I still follow. And I'm seeing them both in concert this month for the first time in 12 years.

nildiven wrote:

AB23 wrote:Also, Walking on the Sky should be the name of the album. Walk the Sky is weird and I'm triggered because of it.

I think it's intentionally used as a verb in the album title. Much of the album is about truly living the one life you have, which is a metaphor I think summed up in the song walking on the sky (about the tight rope walkers that perform their feet at insane heights). So "walk" the sky is the verb to serve as the put your best foot forward, just do it, etc approach that's the overall message to the listener. That's my take at least.

AB23 wrote:

nildiven wrote:

AB23 wrote:Also, Walking on the Sky should be the name of the album. Walk the Sky is weird and I'm triggered because of it.

I think it's intentionally used as a verb in the album title. Much of the album is about truly living the one life you have, which is a metaphor I think summed up in the song walking on the sky (about the tight rope walkers that perform their feet at insane heights). So "walk" the sky is the verb to serve as the put your best foot forward, just do it, etc approach that's the overall message to the listener. That's my take at least.

But why couldn't they work this into the song then?

Timotheus wrote: Forever Falling
I think Mark sounds very weak on the verses. There are all kinds of tricks in the mix to mask the fact that he’s not really capable of singing those high notes.

Timotheus wrote: Native Son
I don’t like this one very much. I think it’s very similar to Wouldn’t You Rather in the way it’s structured and layered. It’s slightly better though. But that fucking chorus. Who thought it was a good idea to put those whoa’s in there? So fucking stupid. Such a serious theme, heavy riffs and all, and suddenly it’s all “yay, I’m estranged to my own land!l Let’s all hold hands and sing along!” The worst part is that it’s almost impossible not to sing along to that part.

Take The Crown
I still don’t know what to think of this song. I enjoy parts of it, but other parts are kinda cringy. The chorus is a mess with all the layers, and the “so sorry” part is silly. I don’t know.

Indoctrination


Now we’re talking. I absolutely love the beginning of this song. I love the trippy sound. It’s something I never imagined AB doing, and I think they’re doing it so well. All the different sounds and layers. It builds really cool, the growl in the background, the synths and all the extra effects.
Then the chorus comes, and the chorus is a bit of a grower. It disappointed me at first, but I’m growing to like it. It sounds a lot like the chorus of Lost Inside The Girl by Slash, which I also didn’t care about. I think it fits the song though, and I think it wil grow on me even more.
The first minute or so of this song, is a highlight for me of this album.

Pay No Mind
Loved it from the start. Definitely top three of the album for me. It’s just such a cool song.

Forever Falling

Walking On The Sky
Such a fantastic song. From the vocal harmonies in the verses to the badass riff in the pre chorus to that MASSIVE chorus. So fucking good. Best song on the album.

Dying Light
Great closer. The verses could’ve been so much better though… Such a shame. Still, really like it.

AB23 wrote:Sounds like they're making the soundtrack for a horror movies for high school kids.

mycarhasabs wrote:

AB23 wrote:Sounds like they're making the soundtrack for a horror movies for high school kids.

haha, I love that part. Kinda reminds me of when Creed had that one single in the Scream soundtrack. Not the song itself, but just the fact it wouldn't be the first time their material was used for a horror movie.

I think it was "This is the End"?? or am I drunk?

Blackbird wrote:Just listened to the album for the first time. I need to listen to most AB songs several times to really know what I think about them, but I can already say that it's probably their most consistent album since AB III (which doesn't necessarily mean it's better than its two predecessors). Fortress and TLH both had at least three filler tracks on them, Native Son seems to be the only one on WTS so far (predicting that Indoctrination will grow on me).

All I'm immediately missing are a few more melancholic choruses, but I take that as a result of the positive tone of the album, so I think I'm fine with that.

WaywardOne wrote:This is the first time I did my first listen in a car - it was great because the speakers are good and I can play it as loud as I want, but damn it was probably dangerous how hooked I was on this album . Sorry in advance to all the tl/dr people out there, I'll try keep it to overall impressions for now:

This is the best thing they've ever done lyrically. I'm one of the people who can relate to the darkness of ABIII and the subsequent finding your way of WTS and it just resonates so well.

My biggest takeaway from the first time through is 2ND HALF >>>>>> 1ST HALF. I thought it was ok at first but it felt like every song in the second half just kept elevating this album more and more. What a pleasant surprise!

This feels like the most consistent album they have made, in that there aren't a handful of standouts or tracks that feel like fillers. One exception: FOREVER FALLING. This 100% lived up to the hype for me and I can't quite wrap my head around how this album is so consistent expect for one massive pillar just towering over everything.

I have my gripes about the over-production and layering too... but it's so predictable at this point I wont bother complaining anymore in this post.

I am SO relieved that it's not as synth-y as it was hyped up to be. There are a few spots where it adds atmosphere in a way that I like, but the extent they use it in Pay No Mind and Godspeed are huge no-no's for me.

Getting more into specific songs here but... am I the only one who loves Take The Crown? Native Son wasn't nearly as heavy as described,
just jarring because of that abrupt transition. Take The Crown feels much more punishing (that's a compliment) to me and has a better chorus.

Same thing with In The Deep - great song. I love how well the bass stands out for a change!

Wouldn't You Rather has seriously grown on me and the combination with One Life is a beautiful way to open things.

Love Love Love Dying Light. Not sure what happened since it was released but I got so much more out of it this time. Beautiful.

Anyone who threw in any comparisons to Alice In Chains (verses) and Muse (chorus) for Indoctrination is spot-on. This is the most experimental song they've ever done for me and I love it. This is how experimentation should sound vs. throwing in random synth-y bits.


:end verbal diarrhea:

AB23 wrote:Also, Walking on the Sky should be the name of the album. Walk the Sky is weird and I'm triggered because of it.