It was for sure. I know the crowd you're mocking, though. And they're real... Shit's lame, I wouldn't discount anything as not being 'classic' Nevermore besides TOC. I don't find any of it out of place or forced enough to say it's not classic. It all rules.
so far for me, every track is good, except for the one with the guy singer. I skip that track, do not like his voice at all.
i dunno, some instrumental stuff is just great and some bands would do much better without vocals than with (like dream theater, bar some albums) though contrary to the last album which worked pretty well instrumentally, this one's better songs are the ones with vocals. At least I like to think so
When I was younger I used to really like Ihsahn's voice in Emperor. Now it isn't as chilling as it used to be. I don't like his solo band, either.
I bought the album after reading a very distressing Tweet from Jeff that he cannot continue to afford Pantene's 2-step volumizing shampoo and the moisture balancing conditioner any longer.
I was actually going to ask if not liking Emperor until the last two albums, but especially Ihsahn's solo works made me a poser; because I really like his solo albums. Although the sax is still annoying as fuck on many parts of After. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ95g8uGlkI&feature=player_detailpage#t=234s favorite part on the album. @Deb; not sure what you mean by that. Leprous is amazing, but they are the people that play with him on tour, but they are still their own band too.
Oh, I meant that they make an awesome backing band for Ihsahn but yeah also as a band in their own right. I've seen them live in both situations, and they blew me away with their performances. So much energy!