Customer Reviews

Portals

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...and for the most part, it works. Portals is a solid release and shows promise in terms of whats to come from the band.

That being said, I disagree that this is their best release to date. I've heard several people mention that, but for the most part, these people weren't the biggest fans of the band in the first place.

The bands sound is different, although they stay true to their zany style. In terms of song structure, they definitely hit their stride. One complaint I had about The Game of Life was that every song was very similar in the way it was presented and the overall structures of the songs. This album makes a point of having each song have it's own identity, and it's a refreshing turn on their music.

This album, if you can believe it, is actually harder to get into than their previous release. Not because it's a lot to take in at once, like The Game of Life, but just because the songs are layered in a way that it takes a few listens to really see the subtleties of each song. This is true with pretty much every track except Into the Empyreans, which is the bands tribute to late former bassist Patrick Mason. So, if any track would ween you into the album, especially if you're not a AGATG fan to begin with, that's the one.

So overall, we see the progression we expected and far better production in a very solid release. It took me a couple of listens, but I really did enjoy it. Best tracks are probably Violence in Fluid: Triceratops, Lost my Loss of Ruin and To Playact in Static. You might notice these are all at the end of the album. That's part of why this is a little more difficult to get into than the previous album. The first few tracks aren't that strong, and that includes the single The 42nd Ego, which I feel is a particularly boring track.

So what's missing from the mix? There's a lot of speed missing, and while there is a semblance of that old Arsonists sound, as a whole, it doesn't have the same unique style the band had before. That's where the bands identity really was, and that's just not here. Looking at the post-hardcore band Horse the Band, they also made a significant change in their sound with the latest release Desperate Living. However, that album still had that classic Horse the Band style, so when you listened to it, you could immediately identify what band it was.

To me, this is a new band altogether. With the departure of their two previous vocalists, and the introduction of the more clean and less frantic vocals of Jared Monette, it loses it's chaotic form, which I thought was a real strength. They way their vocals gave energy and life to the songs was really a shame to be missing on this album, and as a whole, the songs are slower paced and isn't as "in your face" as before.

Monette has some great vocals though, and I said, I treat it as an entirely different band, so worth the pickup. Hardcore fans looking for their old sound might be disappointed at first, but it's worthy of a couple of listens to get into it.

If you're a big fan of AGATG like me, and have listened to there first two released albums before portals was a part of the equation, you would be as skeptic as I was before listening to this.

New singer, new synth player, and new guitar. Generally, most bands who go through a massive lineup change like this drastically changes the overall tone and personality of the band.

Well, to tell you the truth, it did.
But, it a mature, professional way.
Portals is a lot more technical and melodic then there previous work. Now, when I say melodic I don't mean it got softer, I mean it got MELODIC. The guitars, synth, drums, vox are all most of the time syncopated and harmonized into a brutal mess of amazing-ness.

The song , 'Portals', is where the band charges with a crazy intro. The rest of the song is mathy and very exciting to listen to.

Seeing these guys live and playing there old stuff and there new stuff was quiet exhilarating. Even with all the new line up changes, they can all play the old songs perfectly, and there new stuff just as well. I am HUGE fan of AGATG. Jared (lead vox) handed the mic to me a couple times during there show, always finishing a lyric for there songs or chanting.

Now that may be irrelevant, all I'm saying is this is a excellent and brutal album. It's not there best (Hits From The Bow ftw), but it's there most mature, if you understand what I'm saying.

Definitely get this. However, I recommend listening to there previous two albums to get where there origins are from in terms of inspiration for this album, and you'll get the full effect of this awesome and talented, and under appreciated band.

I had been meaning to pick up an Arsonist's CD for awhile, and after I saw them with HORSE I figured it was about damn time. At first I was a bit disappointed. It just seemed like a typical metal CD, but after a few listens, I fell in love and I've been listening to it constantly. Basically, if you like BTBAM or HORSE, buy this.

An exceptional album from an amazing band. Upon my first listen i was not so convinced of this. I was remarkably disappointed that A) it wasn't as fast as their previous albums and B) you could decipher the lyrics. Since i had gotten this album as soon as it was released, i put it away for a year and kept reminding myself how incredibly horrible it was and never gave it a second chance. Anxious for something different, one year later upon many listenings i can say this is by far their best release to date. I hope these guys stick around to make at least a few more before their talent is lost on the world.

So don't be so quick to judge like i was and give it some time. You won't be disappointed.

Portals is a big step up from The Game Of Life. The vocals are done alot better on Portals than their previous albums. I can listen to this whole album without skipping songs, like I have on their previous albums. Out of all the Arsonists Get All The Girls CD's Portals is the one to have. I didn't like their previous albums that much, but was worth a listen. This band is great to see live in concert. I think Portals is AGATG best album to date.
My favorite songs on Portals are:
1. Violence in A Fluid: Triceratops
2. Tea Time Tibbons
3. The 42nd Ego
4. Skiff For The Suits
5. I Lost My Loss of Ruin