The Fall of Troy - Manipulator

[adamantium]

Just got this in the mail from pre-order, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. Amazing album. Definitely check it out if you are a TFoT fan.

[Freakle]

details? Cant wait to listen!

[polarity]

I got my hands on it today. It's fucking fantastic. Track 1 is kind of a throw-away, but I've hated that song since I first heard it on their MySpace. From Track 2 and on, it just gets better. Surprisingly, Thomas seems to be getting better as a guitarist. It seems like he's moving away from the dual delay pedals, but his speed has stayed the same and his tone has gotten better. It's impressive.

Highlights upon first listen: tracks 2, 4, and 5.

[adamantium]

I can't choose a favorite track...I really love them all. Quarter Past really stands out though, because it's different. All I can say is, get this album, you will not be disappointed. As far as details...Not really sure what you want there, but the whole album feels more "mature" to me. Don't take that as meaning I thought their older stuff was "immature", because I love all their older stuff as well. This new album just seems like it flows a lot better, and is a little cleaner.

[Freakle]

hmmm after first listen i really have to disagree. This whole album sounds more supressed or subdued than anything they have released. It may just be the quaility of the release i have, but i was fairly disappointed -- guess ill have to listen some more

[polarity]

Their production values are a throwback to the self-titled release. I've been led to believe that this was in response to TFOT (and many of the fans) feeling that Doppelganger was over-produced.

As far as mood goes, it really isn't the usual frenetic insanity that we're used to. If you don't get into this album then you'll be pretty much stuck until Phantom on the Horizon comes out. Personally, I'm perfectly fine with this particular offering.

[lb_]

the production quality is pretty annoying. its not that its underproduced like their first album, its just like it was a shitty job. the first track is absolutely terrible. I can confidently say that its their worst song. it started the album on a bad side for me, but i'll have to listen a few more times. it seems a lot more relaxed and not as crazy hectic. almost like the mars volta minus the latin afrojazz crap.

[Freakle]

After many more listens the album has grown on me, heres a semi-review.......

1. Cut down all..... - song is shit

2. Dark Trail - ya ya its the most "catchy" song on the album but you all know you sing along to the chrous too -- its not over the top poppy and the intricate guitar work saves it for me

3. Quarter Past - kinda like it (as opposed to cut down, oh the casino, and caught up) the song actually has a direction/progressive feel instead of the same shitty chords over and over again (like the songs mentioned in () )

4. Problem!_ - so ya i just want thom to play the guitar and he does so i am happy, dont really get the 80's hairband screams but whatcha gona do

5. Semi-Fiction - as soon as it starts i always think "o god more trash", but i love the guitar work from 1:40 on. sucks that you have to put up with the shit that comes before it but its worth it (specially @ 3:00 min :b )

6. Oh! the Casino! - why god why - easily the worst song they have/will ever produce - how they ever thought anyone else would ever want to listen to this song is a mystery

7. Sledgehammer - not a bad song, new stuff happenin throughout and not too sing songy

8. Seattlantis - not an awful song but it just sounds so shittily produced i cant get over it - and the pitch he hits in the verses is ANNOYING AS FUCK, dissonant as shit and makes u cringe (well me anyway) - but guitar is nice for the most part so i deal

9. Ex-Creations - one of my favorites just cause it reminds me so much of the old stuff - if someone wanted to know what the fall of troy sounded like and i only had manipulator on hand, i would play them this song

10. Shhhh! etc.. - ok song, energy is there but just not much going on

11. Caught up - again i would trade this song for any song where thom is shredding - just seems like a boring waste

12. A man a plan - lots of stuff going on but again it just feels like you have to sit through a bunch of filler before thom decides to play the guitar fer reals

I think the songs have become way predictable and much less dynamic interesting [ie A B A B shred] or [CHOOOOOOOORDS] - this album isn't awful but it still isn't exactly what i was expecting - it isnt the trash heap i first thought it was and it continues to grow on me -

i still feel that these songs are all worse than any song from the first two albums

[tice]

dopple sucked.

self-titled was bomb.

ill have to get my hands on this one

[Platypus]

okay you fucks, I don't do the music scene like I used to but I had no idea this was coming out. I'm about to download and I'll post a review later.

edit: if the first song is any indication (and by the posts here it shouldn't be) his singing style has gone to shit. anything closely related to the doppleganger sound just pisses me off, st for life.

edit2: oh jesus christ they've turned into a pop-punk band, thumbs down so far. and get off of voltas dick, christ

edit3: semi-fiction was a nice throwback.

[adamantium]

I don't see what everyone hates so much about the first song :( I personally enjoy the whole album, and yes, I do like their older stuff (self-titled a bit more than Doppelganger).