THE HUMAN ABSTRACT’S MIDHEAVEN: PROOF THAT WE DON’T ALL ALWAYS AGREE HERE AT METALSUCKS
Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 3:36pm by MetalSucks
The inhabitants of the MetalSucks Mansion don’t agree on everything all the time. Case in point: Midheaven, the new album by The Human Abstract (out tomorrow on Hopeless Records). Axl Rosenberg loves it, Sammy O’Hagar, not so much. Since we’re all about intelligent debate here at MS, it seemed like the only logical thing to do was to allow both MetalSuckers their five minutes to express their views on the album.
So after the jump, check out not one, but two reviews of Midheaven, one positive, the other negative. Then go buy the damn thing so you can make up your own mind, and weigh in with your opinion in our comments section.
AXL ROSENBERG’S TAKE
The Human Abstract want to have their cake and eat it, too. They are, as Vince recently said to me, “a different kind of prog” – one that indulges in plenty of the musical masturbation prog dorks (myself included) love, but without ever sacrificing the pop hooks more commonly associated with their peers on this summer’s edition of the Warped Tour. There’s nary a fifteen minute instrumental meditation on the guitar player’s need to prove how big his dick is in sight on THA’s new album, Midheaven; but there is a lot of aural shape-shifting, schizophrenic time changes, and a general sense that the members of this band are better musicians than the members of most other bands.
In other words, The Human Abstract want to have their cake and eat it, too. And by and large, they succeed.
At their best, the songs on Midheaven are epic and cinematic. Static and cavernous chants kick off album opener “A Violent Strike,” but they quickly give way to elements of groove metal, pop metal, and thrash, all in the timespan of one song. The guitars soar, then dive-bomb like eagles coming down for their prey for quick-burst shred-fests. The mood is somehow exciting and melancholic at the same time. The variety within the song only hints at the variation that is to come over the course of the entire album; “Breathing Life into Devices” features a M.C. Escher sketch of a mathcore riff over strained Mike Patton-style yelps, and seconds later, it’s a soft, piano-driven ballad, and then a feel-good 90’s alt-rock song (it also ends with this awesome guitar solo). You’d think “This World is a Tomb” would be the band’s stab at straight-up death metal, but it’s actually a prom song waiting to happen, with gentle, rolling drums, and a distant, heavily distorted guitar as the backdrop. It’s a credit to the band that all these musical earthquakes transition so smoothly; this is the kind of album you wanna listen to a few times in a row just so you can try and figure out where all the song changes are, and better understand how those stylistic shifts were executed. It’s an endeavor that could keep you busy for a long while.
And I’ve only just covered three of the first four songs on the album. Sheesh.
Each and every member of the group kills it on this album; the line-up changes since their last album, Nocturne, have served the band very, very well (new guitarist Andrew Tapley is especially impressive). But their secret weapon might be vocalist Nathan Ells; not only does he, like his bandmates, indulge in a series of different metallic subgenres, and not only does he, like his bandmates, pull it off every time, but he often makes unusual choices as to which vocal style he’s going to utilize on the each section of each song. It keeps the listener on his or her toes and helps allow THA to stand out from the prog pack.
Midheaven isn’t perfect, mind you; like most prog albums, it walks, and sometimes crosses, the very fine line between intelligent and pretentious (there are a few spoken-word passages I could live without). But it is, easily, one of the best albums I’ve heard all summer, a fantastic blast of fresh air to clear away the August doldrums. And, oh yeah, it’s only THA’s second full-length album. I can’t wait to see what they do for a third.
(four out of five horns)
-AR
SAMMY O’HAGAR’S TAKE
The cover art says it all: ye who do not enjoy prog-metal need not enter. It’s almost as if The Human Abstract entered their album into a cover art generator: intentionally obtuse sort-of art that probably has a meaning but tries very hard to obscure it. All prog, whether rock or metal, relies heavily on this aesthetic in order to produce artwork for their records. So this makes Midheaven, The Human Abstract’s latest offering, really no different visually (granted, the most shallow thing by which you can judge an album). Its contents, unlike many of those prog records with terrible covers, doesn’t offer much more in the way of worthwhile surprises, deeply affecting music, or anything insightful to anyone not solely interested in virtuoso guitar noodling. But to those of you that enjoy the latter, hey, there’s a shitload of that.
In the interest of full disclosure, this particular reviewer doesn’t have a finely tuned taste for most prog-metal. Though you’d have to be both deaf and the holder of a single-digit IQ to not at least admire the musicianship, simply playing guitar really fucking fast does not result in good songs. And nor does utilizing an array of odd and shifting time signatures do more than prove you can play something in 7/4. A show of virtuosity or a deep knowledge of unconventional rhythm can be pulled off convincingly in its purest form (Steve Vai and Joe Satriani for the former, Mesghuggah’s Chaosphere repping the latter), but injecting it with fragile attempts at emotion or hackneyed attempts at a concept, prog-metal, for me, goes cold. It’s not so much that I have a problem with feelings in music, per se; it’s just that most of those in the prog-o-sphere have a very flat, dry, and simply inaccurate depiction of what those feelings are. And The Human Abstract’s problem lies in the fact that they’re trying to make deep music to be taken seriously, when truth be told, that’s damn near impossible to do when dealing with anything this excessively cold, calculated, and monstrously overwrought. The whole album comes off as a bunch of guys whose entire knowledge of the human race is taken from dystopian fiction and instructional shred videos.
Midheaven reeks of ridiculous self-importance, made evident by its pasty white guys trying to sing soulfully, lack of interesting pop hooks in their clean (read: weak) parts and, most fucking confusingly, random flourishes of Dillinger Escape Plan-style tech metal that subside to a boring acoustic passages. And the band do so much work to get their conceptual point across that the messages and effectiveness of rock’s most worthwhile concept albums is lost in a haze of forceful and overly blunt attempts to get the Midheaven’s themes and story across. Though it can be argued that what The Human Abstract are doing is an acquired taste, I find it hard to believe it’s a taste many would want to acquire. Their music is flaccid, lifeless, and seemingly composed to repel those who don’t have Operation Mindcrime memorized. But hey, did you hear those drums? Those 13/8 fills are crazy. If that and endless shredding are all you’re looking for in a metal record, then hey, Midheaven is a work of jean-creaming brilliance.
(1 ½ out of 5 horns)
-SO
Its like shit telling puke that it stinks…
I feel like they try to hard.
Sikth and Protest the Hero definitely does this style of metal better.
nocturne > midheaven
This new album blows. And not in a good way.
It’s a total 180 from Nocturne, but I dig this new style.
This is one of those albums I’m gonna listen to at night when I’m not in the mood for doom blast-beats and gutteral vocals, but still want something fuckin’ listenable and beautifully crafted.
They fuckin pulled of a great album, and hey, if you don’t like it then bugger off, there’s other music out there. Stop whining that one band didn’t meet your expectations, listen to what you like and save your breath.
That’s a general statement, not to offend or ostracize anybody in particular. I enjoy Midheaven very much.
@John: So um, you don’t like Metalsucks, right?
totally agree with scott, whereas this wont replace nocturne in my playlist it has definitely found its own spot in there :)
I love this band. In fact, I pre-ordered the album 2 weeks ago. It came with a free t-shirt. And, I’m listening to the stream of the album on their myspace now and it sounds great. I can guarantee you at least one of these songs will be on Guitar Hero or Rock Band soon.
1st listen – hated it
2nd listen – so/so liked it
3rd listen – kinda liked a few tracks
4th listen – enjoyed it/liked some specific parts
5th listen – loved it.
this happens to me sometimes. some bands that are a style that I don’t typically like (A7X, Protest the Hero, poppier stuff like that) takes about 5 listens for me to understand it and love it.
but most other hard bands like Stormlord/Windir/Capitollium/Arsis I take one listen and can’t put it down.
anyone else this way?
@Majestic Ice Unicorn:
This album was, admittedly, too brilliant for me to understand on the first take. But after a few half-hearted attempts at liking it, I sat down and pulled up windows media player and my Lyrics Plug-in and actually followed the story and the lyrics all the way through. It’s an incredible progression and story that’s told, and some of the lines are in my opinion simply amazing and inspiring, like the spoken part of Procession of the Fates that describes that the world is and will always be what you make of it. Took me a while for it to click, but I see it now. This album is phenomenal
@Sammy:
Absolutely did that with Between The Buried And Me with their 2007 album Colors and their 2009 album The Great Misdirect. Thought Colors was the ultimate album but then I began to see how incredible TGM was also.
@Majestic Ice Unicorn:
Yes, I’ve done that. To add to your list, have you ever thought an album didn’t live up to a previous album by the same band, and then shuffled the two for a direct comparison only to find that your memory of the previous album was too glowing?
“Do not buy this album!”…The new Human Abstract CD SUCKS!!!!…at first I was skeptic on making such a bold decision when I had first heard “Procession Of The Fates” (the first teaser that was released for the album) and I thought “well, I’ll be open minded, and give it a shot, and not jump to such a harsh conclusion” I mean you’d think with there previous release of NOCTURNE; That this new album is DEFF going to blow away some ear-drums!” Dare I say that it even KINDA “rocked some socks off?” FUCK NO!!! This album was shitty from start to finish! It’s evident that vocalist Nathanael Rossells incorporated his NRE side-project in this album-
http://www.myspace.com/nathanaelrossells (mainly cuz most of it doesn’t even sound like a METAL album) and not to mention Tapley (who plays too damn fast & off tempo) and Sean (keyboardist) who plays synth in parts that DON’T EVEN BELONG IN THE SONG! (didn’t try to make that rhyme) Well I know I’m talking massive shit here, but I’m just pissed that I spent $8.99 on pre-ordering an album that blows chunky Gorilla Ass!!!….I can now see why there selling this CD @ TARGET!!
p.s-A.J Minette (original guitarist) REALLY did make this band stand out!
I agree with Majestic Ice. I’m a huge fan of Nocturne, and had real high hopes for Midheaven. The first time I listened to it I was not impressed, but now that I’ve listened to it over and over I’m in love with it. It’s definitely a way different direction than their first album, but I think they hit the mark with it.
Midheaven sucks donkey dick. I love Nocturne so much and Midheaven pretty much shits all over it.
This album is god awful. The only people who like it, or at least claim to, are: A) People who bought the album and won’t admit that they regret spending ten bucks on a steaming pile of shit, or B) Members of The Human Abstract. This is coming from a guy who loved Nocturne, people. Don’t buy this album! A.J. Minette, I miss you, man.
I agree that it is 180 degrees from Nocturne. They tried really hard and I dig that; however, the vocals are the main sticking point for me. I didn’t particularly care for the vocals of Nocturne, but these, especially the spoken parts, really just don’t do it for me. I appreciate where Nathan is going and it has loads of potential, but he’s just not honed his craft to the point he’s trying to achieve on this album. The hooks are very catchy. Ninety percent of the album is polished and well done. Some of the time and/or odd key changes leave me with a feeling that I’m listening to a rough cut of the album. I can see where they are gonna loose some fans with this album, but maybe they will gain some new ones as well. It has enough interesting bits that will keep me listening until the new Cynic album is released.
After listening to the album on their myspace (full stream, apparently), I’d have to split the difference between these two reviews, like a 7 out of 10. It keeps things fresh without becoming incoherent, a definite plus, and there are several really unique and interesting parts. I have to agree with Daren, though, in that the vocalist seems a little off-put by the task of this album. He’s just strong enough in his singing to really make a great impact.
@ Sammy: I know exactly what you’re talking about.
I just finished listening to the album for the second time, and I certainly beg to differ with the masses. While the vast majority of reviews I’ve read for the album have been negative, I found it to be an incredible piece of work. My opinion is more than likely greatly impacted by a love for experimental music (including the vocalist’s side project NRE), but I honestly don’t understand what’s bothering everyone so much about the album. All I can reccomend is that everyone disregard the reviews, good or bad, and pick the album up themselves before making any judgements. I, personally, will be listening to this album many, many more times, and may count it among my favorite albums of the year.
I’d probably think it was a good album had they never made nocturne. But that album was, musically, one of the most insane albums ever created. I ‘d been waiting for like a fucking year on this album and I’m dissappointed. While I liked some songs on Midheaven, these dudes can do a lot better. They have so much musical talent, and they make an album that’s half filled with pop songs? Come on… A violent strike is good, procession of the fates, and metanoia are also pretty good. I can live with ‘this world is a tomb’. But the rest? Please…
@Majestic Ice Unicorn
Yeah. That’s how System Of A Down was for me.
right now i’m not too crazy about this album, but it might be a grower. nocturne was such an amazing album that i’ll give this one a few more chances.
their last one was a better attempt.
If your expecting a Nocturne part 2: This is not it
If your open to a N-E-W album with different emotions and playing: You should like it.
Gotta give it a few listens before you can really judge it.
I would say Nocturne is “Organized Chaos”, whereas Midheaven is “Organization and Chaos”, with a bit more stress on the latter. Nathan is excellent, but it’s clear there are new members in the band, who are excellent players, but do not possess exactly the same neoclassical style writing ability of A.J.
I enjoy emotion in my music (no, not emo), which is why I am a huge fan of black metal and such, and this album’s lyrics and riffage both possess a unique romance to them. I also admire the lack of depending on protools. Production is still excellent, with lots of haunting synth and samples…you’ll hear a new one every time you listen.
But honestly, did anyone REALLY think it was possible to make a better album than the masterpiece that is Nocturne? Really dudes?
One more thing:
The album clocks in at a somewhat short 43 minutes, 10 minutes less then Nocturne. If they would of given us 1 or 2 more truly shredtastic tunes (in the vein of Nocturne), I think it would turn around many of the negative reviews this album is bound to receive from “TROO METLAHEADS”.
Why do people refer to me as “Majestic Ice”. I am “Majestic Ice Unicorn”. 2 very different things.
I think that when you’re absolutely floored by an album, you wait, and wait for the follow up. You almost build it up too much, to unreachable expectations and no matter how good it is, you’ll be disappointed (Protest the Hero’s Fortress is a rare exception).
That is what happened to me with this album. I fucking love Nocturne and I’ve been waiting for Midheaven for over a year and a half. With that much time to anticipate the new release I knew I was going to be let down by it in some way.
A couple weeks ago I saw The Human Abstract on the Warped Tour, (them and Protest are the main reasons I went), and they were great except one really weird slow song they played. That’s when I started to have doubts about this album.
I’m only about halfway through my 2nd listen, but I definitely feel let down. I’m not going to give up on it though. I always have to listen to an album (especially one as layered as Midheaven) many times to fully digest it. The first 2 songs are great, but I’m starting to get bored after that. I can’t give it my full attention at work, but I hope it grows on me.
I thought they parted ways with AJ because he wanted to mellow the band out, and everyone else wanted to keep it heavy. It sounds like they mellowed out an awful lot…
@Sammy O’Hagar: The whole album comes off as a bunch of guys whose entire knowledge of the human race is taken from dystopian fiction and instructional shred videos.
Brilliant line.
I am, however, surprised that you were so kind as to assign this one 1.5 horns…
Meh, it’s alright. Sounds like Human Abstract. Haven’t quite figured out what the concept is though? Should probably figure that out.. Right after I listen to Fortress again lol
I like this. It kind of reminds me of the direction BTBAM took with “Colors.”
3.5/5
OK, so I’ve dug THA since before anyone I knew even heard of them because of the great technical playing, and the songs with underlying stories (Iron Maiden’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner, To Tame a Land, anyone ANYONE????)
When AJ left the band because he didn’t want to play metal anymore, the rest of the band said they were gonna “always be heavy.” I was fearful that they were gonna lose what made them unique.
You can’t blame THA for wanting to stay away from the “chugga-chugga, breakdown, bridge, guit solo, breakdown, etc.” model. They’re trying to take metal to an ethereal level. Midheaven is good, just don’t expect another Nocturne. That’s exactly what Nathan Ells said.
(no they didn’t pay me to make this ringing endorsement.)
this album pissed me off, tha was one of my gilty pleasure, one of the gayer metal bands. but midheaven really whpped out a dick and went down on it. can barely take it sorry tha nocturne was upwards of ten billion times better
Bought the album (physical CD), listened to it, really like it. Progressive without going into “Hey listen to how progressive we are” territory. And I do like the vocals. My only real criticism is the sometimes too-stick-to-scales lead fills that they tend to use, an almost always doubled too perfectly. But other than that, it’s prog metal I can get into.
So that must means it sucks, judging by Metalsucks reader/commentor standards.
See, I liked the new album. It’s definitely grown on me.
Also, something that really hasn’t been pointed out (or I got bored and missed it) is that it seems like Midheaven is a way more accessible album than Nocturne. The band seemed to get away from the hardcore sweeping and showing off aspects that was Nocturne. I feel that Midheaven is a way more mature album that has it’s sweeps and proggy parts where they need to be.
No band has any reason to take them self as serious as The Human Abstract does now. Someone please pop Nathan Ells’s head…Nocturne was their niche, now its like Rob Thomas got a hold of this band and now sings for them…
i found this cd to be a art fag gallery i mean im gunna agree with everyone nocturne is a much better record the front man won my heart with that records lyricism and technique but i find this just to be too much, it just dosent carry the same charm and for people who say they are just trying to break the mold and be different i can only say, if it aint broke dont fix it, just throw some glue on the bitch and be done