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Psyopus - Our Puzzling Encounters Considered  PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Editor's rating
9.9
out of 10
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Reviewed by:
Keith Carlson
Top 10 Reviewer
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Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Average user rating: 9.4 
1 User reviews
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Music Information
Track Listing:
01. The Pig Keeper's Daughter
02. 2
03. Scissor Fuck Paper Doll
04. Whore Meet Liar
05. Insects
06. Imogen's Puzzle pt 2
07. Play Some Skynyrd
08. Kill Us
09. Siobhan's Song
10. Happy Valentine's Day
11. Our Puzzling Encounters Considered

Artist: Psyopus
Title: Our Puzzling Encounters Considered
Genre: Progressive Metal • Grindcore
Release Date: 20 February 2007
Record Label: Black Market Activities
Format: Full-length
Country: United States of America
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Psyopus - Our Puzzling Encounters Considered



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Editor review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Overall rating (weighted)
9.9
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
10.0
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
10.0
Throughout the 20th century, we have a cemented idea of what music should be or sound like. When the birth of Heavy Metal started it had the ideology of rebellion. People were both repulsed and excited. When Psyopus and other like-minded bands rebel against modern aggressive music's traditional style of playing, they are rejected and ridiculed.

This music isn't pleasant. It is challenging, unorthodox, and at times obnoxious. Psyopus pushes ideas of what music can be, because in art there is no absolute form, structure, shape, limit or definition. Psyopus embodies the raw creative power of music when all pre-conceived notions of what is "right" in standard music lore are abandoned.

This record eclipses their previous release Ideas Of Reference by far. Adam and Arp's lyrics are far more developed this time around. The words have so much hate and anger behind them. The joke song on the album, "Play Some Skynard," is a 32 second homage to the "outspoken" kids on message boards who claim "Psyopus can't write songs." My favorite tracks are the instrumentals "Siobhan's Song" and "Imogen's Puzzle Pt. 2." There are so many layers upon layers of music that harmonize on a most profound basis; one will have trouble disputing Psyopus' writing ingenuity.

Psyopus thinks out every note they write. This is not messy; it's precise and controlled in every way. Adams' vocal performance is like a person running from a huge disaster zone and meeting you after running for three miles trying to frantically tell you what just happened. Unlike other highly regarded, fairly mainstream tech bands, Adam respectfully stands on the sidelines when he isn't needed. On this album his vocals seem faster, ballsier and, my favorite addition, feature more cursing. Drummer Jon Cole tastefully uses gravity blasts and gives an added level of musicianship to all the millions of parts throughout the album. Freddie and Arp's relentless tapping flows down the fret board like Galaga ships on Level 101.* This album is only 37 minutes long, but it has countless amount of notes, passages and ideas. A most groundbreaking album, Our Puzzling Encounters Considered is the musical equivalent of being atomized by a large explosive.

*Paul Gendek's personal best
Music Information
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Last updated: Tuesday, 04 December 2007


User reviews

Average user rating from: 1 user(s)

Overall rating (weighted)
9.4
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
9.0
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
8.0
 

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1 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Justin Rahner
Friday, 29 February 2008

Written by Justin Rahner   -  View all my reviews  - Top 10 Reviewer

Overall rating (weighted)
9.4
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
9.0
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
8.0
Extremely techincal and completely chaotic. The first time I heard this album I had to take break after three songs because I was overwhelmed. I never would have thought to even attempt some ofthe guitar work on this album, let alone go that fast and clean without a pick. I give them credit for their off-the-wall grindcore, but ultimatly I consider this pure noise. I have it on my iPod if I'm ever in the mood for something that reminds me of a cocaine addict being attact my metal spiders. Check it out, it's worth the experience of listening to (possibly under certain influences may enhance your experience), but it's not something I would go and buy.
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