Pure Reason Revolution

Hi.

I'm surprised to realize there's been no news or nothing about the new album from this band. I'm also ashamed to say, that I forgot to pre-order this album, and now I have to wait till noon before I can have it.

Hammer and Anvil came out 18th October and has been reviewed only 7 times. I think it pretty much shows, that people don't like the way the band is going. I remember how I found out about them after the first album, which was very popular among the PA folk. I recall a vote where they were voted the 4th best album of the year just after some classics like Steve Hackett. So I listened to the album.

It's true they've gone through quite a change after the first album with Amor Vincit Omnia and now Hammer and Anvil, but you can still hear the greatness behind it all. In fact, the new album would most probably be to the liking of those, who really loved the 1st album, like me.

Here's a thread for discussing, hyping, reviewing the band. Do contribute if you feel like it; I think the band deserves it after 3 great albums and probably the best Xover album of the year 2010, which apparently is on spotify too, so you can listen to it before buying it :)

Unlike Jonesey, I strongly disliked the electro-pop direction they took on AVO (though I'm curious how I'd like it now, as my tastes have changed massively in a very short time), so I was happy to hear them going back to a rock approach similar to that of the debut. I don't think it's nowhere near the greatness of the debut but I'll let it grow on me, I'm patient. 

I'm a bit skeptic, Amor Vincat Nihilum was a huge disappointment.
And it's not that I don't like electro-pop, I even enjoy the debut from Kasabian very much.



Edited by Bonnek - November 23 2010 at 09:58

^The one time I saw them (in 2007, excellent performance) they were a sextet, but now they seem to be a quartet so the change in style isnt that big of a surprise. I like The Dark Third quite a bit, but the descriptions of AVO suggest they went in a direction I wouldnt like at all. How does Hammer and Anvil compare then?

Are we really listening to the same album here? I don't hear their first at all, it has AVO written all over it. Mine must be faulty.

I just got this one as well and sadly, I also think it is the weakest of the three albums to date.

I loved The Dark Third like everybody else and I was really surprised by how much I liked AVO. Even though it was going in a completely different direction, IMO it was a excellent album. I think "Deus Ex Machina" was my favourite track.

True, Hammer and Anvil has more rock and less electro-pop, but IMO the rock influences of H&A sound more like indie rock than prog. I don't really like that direction as much as the prog leanings of The Dark Third or the catchy electonics on AVO. Also I find that there isn't as much variety between the songs as on the previous two albums.

I probably need to listen to it a few more times, but those are my impressions after the first few listens. It's still a good album, but not as great as the first two.


Edited by FunkyM - November 25 2010 at 14:31

I thought Hammer and Anvil was a really good combination of the styles of AVO and The Dark Third (both of which are great). The vocals are as strong as ever, and that's what makes this band better than most.

I thought the new album was very boring, repetitive, and unconvincing. Make space stuff or electronic stuff, but whatever Hammer and Anvil was...no.