Kelrya

yeah the album version of utafumi is definitely a weird downgrade
 
probably the worst case of it since ryoujoku no ame for me

Listened to the album today on my garbage cellphone with the worst earbuds I've got... And I'm amazed but how good it sounds!
 
Normally, I would listen to most modern albums at full volume (95% or 100%), but I'm listening to 'The Insulated World' at about 70% loud and it sounds really good. The guitars don't overwhelm the drums and everything sounds controlled. The snare cracks really good and there's some good dynamics between each instrument.
 
Also, I would always listen albums at 95%/100% in order to avoid any external noises bleeding into my ears, but 70% is enough for this album. This is REALLY weird. I'm surprised that I got the best listened experience for the album with the worst audio settings ever...
 
I'm digging 'The Deeper Vileness' remake! I was really excited for it as it is one of the few heavy tracks on 'The Marrow of a Bone' that I enjoy. It's basically the same song, but I like how they made it more agressive. Kyo's growls are amazing!
 
The other remakes don't do much for me, but they are ok. Regarding their engineering I think it's ok but not really good... But still, not as bad as on the actual album! I'm really dissapointed tough, because Jens Bogren is one of my favourite metal producers/engineers EVER, and I had really high hopes... But well, either is his fault for doing some lazy engineering or it's the band's: maybe the original audio tracks are not that good...
 
 

Why couldn’t Jens Bogren mix the whole album?

Been listening to the album the whole night, and I definitely cannot stand the engineering. The guitars are my main problem: I cannot take how 'broken' and badly compressed they sound. I agree with Saishu: the lower the volume, the better it sounds. Also, geist is right about getting a different experience with each different audio device. Sadly, I listened to it on studio monitors and on professional mixing headphones (no pre-EQ) and it has a lot of problems.
 
I also listened to the album on some low-tier Sennheiser HD 202, which have an acceptable bass boost, and it sounds kinda better. Later, I'm going to listen to it on my cellphone with the worst earbuds I can find: that's the true trial by fire for me. And finally, going to try listening to it on some DT-770 tomorrow!
 
Also, I was so upset about the mixing/mastering that I decided to play with the songs a little. I created more headroom, used some RX6 to cut some reverb and crackle and then 'uncompressed' it and applied a basic mastering chain. I'm REALLY far from an audio engineer, but I think it sounds more bearable, especially the distorted guitars. Also a lot of extra layers like the synths (or violins?!) on 'Zetsuentai' cut better through the mix. I still can't get around how loud the cymbals sound tough. May upload it later, but I still have faith the CD-rip is going to be more bearable.
 
What's just really fun about all this is that a YouTube user named Yurameki uploaded almost every song of the album to the aforementioned site and it all sounds better. Weird thing, considering YouTube tends to compress the audio, sometimes causing a drastic quality loss.
 
But to be honest, aside from the production, I'm enjoying the album more and more with each listen, especially the second half. The last four songs are amongst the best the band has composed in years.
 
 

Only gave it three listens so far, but I must say that I am very positively surprised. Wasn't too hyped after the singles (really liked Ranunculus though), but this is a lot better than Arche to me and maybe even than DSS, at least I find the fun factor a lot higher.
 
Surprised that people are claiming that Kyo lost his range. Yeah, sure, he is past his prime, but the guy is still hitting fifth octave notes like it's nothing and sounds a lot more energetic than on Arche if you ask me. His performance in "Aka" is incredible and sounds super effortless, probably my favourite on the album.

That’s fine? I wasn’t trying to be an asshole or anything. Sorry if I sounded elitist or something. Personally I like that song because it reminds me of that style but fit into a DEG mold.

I love the songs themselves but the production and mixing is bad. I swear on the new version of Ningen Kyo recorded every other sentence with a different microphone and then they copied and pasted them at random volumes all over the place.

I love the songs themselves but the production and mixing is bad. I swear on the new version of Ningen Kyo recorded every other sentence with a different microphone and then they copied and pasted them at random volumes all over the place.

It’s so pretty though.

Well, Devote My Life sounds like a typical strangest song on the album (after all, he wrote Egnirys and Midwife). But Values of Madness is so straightforward, so unusual for Toshiya.

Yeah the pacing is the biggest problem. Idk why they decided to throw all the heaviest songs on the first half.

Man, this album is great. After a few listens have your thoughts changed or updated? After two full listens and relistens to several tracks, I’m obsessed with it. There is still so much to process; but overall I’ve been tremendously pleased and can’t wait to hear those re-recordings on disc 2. 

I just love the way Diru threads always dramatically escalade from "fuck these guys" to "OMG I love it."
 
truly the most hated and loved bands ever.

Yeah Kyo seems legit suicidal. Not even in his usual edgelord way, but actually truly depressed. It’s kind of concerning. Plus some of his recent Twitter posts.

This was the song I was least looking forward to based on the samples but it actually turned out to be great. This song was definitely the biggest surprise for me. That and now heavy the first two songs were. And how beautiful Aka is.
 
Lol you would hate mathcore then (Converge, Botch, Vein, early Norma Jean, etc.) Personally I love it when it’s done well but it’s not for everyone.

Real talk, Devote My Life is borderline unlistenable. 

Mah boys that heavy chunky ass riff in 谿壑の欲 is the SHIT!

Yeah Kyo seems legit suicidal. Not even in his usual edgelord way, but actually truly depressed. It’s kind of concerning. Plus some of his recent Twitter posts.

Uhhh...
 
Have we all read the lyrics?
Is Kyo okay?
 
Did anyone read the PHY interview?
 
Seriously, is Kyo okay?

God, yes. With Arche there were sections of the album I wanted to skip from day 1, I don't feel the same way here.

At least its pacing is better than Arche, which was all over the place.

Yeah the pacing is the biggest problem. Idk why they decided to throw all the heaviest songs on the first half.

I think rearranging the track order could do this album great justice to fix the flow and balance it out better. Got any suggestions? 

Aka to me is like the third part in a trilogy. Lotus, Rinkaku and Aka. They all have a similar feel. Instrumentally heavy but beautiful.
 
So far I’m loving the album. My only complaints would be the really compressed production (I really prefer the production and mixing on the last two albums), the weird crackly clipping that appears on some of the harsh vocals, and the lack of more long songs/progressive song structures. But overall it’s great. The lyrics to Devote My Life are pretty concerning to me though after a lot of high profile cases of musicians/celebrities committing suicide or overdosing recently. I usually like depressing lyrics but not when they are this straightforward. Hopefully he’s just trying to be grimdark and edgy.