Via Coma - Figures

 - San Diego, California - Piano-ballad-based rock is one of my favorite genres, because it has the potential to mix the articulate, intricate feel of piano with the angsty drive of overdrive guitars. The difficulty I often have with this slow-burning style, however, is that it tends to get lost in itself and become too dependent upon the lyrical story of the album, resulting in a musical repetition that becomes tiring after listening to a few tracks. I stumbled upon Via Coma serendipitously on Reddit, and, on a whim, gave their newest album, Figures, a spin to discover an excellently written and executed album that features a host of imaginative effects and mix choices. Via Coma plays as a dark, brooding cross between Falling Up and Explosions in the Sky but features a welcome, restless drive and structural ambition that sets it apart as an easily immersive experience worthy of several listens.

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The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below

 - San Diego, California - In 2009, I picked up a physical copy of The Devil Wears Prada's With Roots Above and Branches Below due to a good friend's recommendation of the band. At that time, I gave the album one or two listens before putting it down because I found its relentless sonic energy somewhat annoying. In picking metal albums to review, I decided to give it a refreshed and more critical listen, in part due to the album's commercial success. While I can appreciate the dexterity and ferocity exhibited in this album, the lack of variation in tone and intensity in the album makes it a very homogenous production that does not give the listener any time to breathe.

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