Search - The Human Abstract :: Midheaven

Do not get if you're expecting Nocturne part 2

Steven Wallace | springy dingy, MO MO | 08/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Midheaven is an album to definitely get for all fans of technical music. If you are a fan of metalcore and breakdowns then this album is not for you.



Human Abstract's first full length "nocturne" was a huge and grand album that simply swung from huge guitar riff to another but bigger and grander and faster guitar riff to breakdown to breakdown. They simply showed all of the other bands that you could play lightning fast riffs and sweeps while playing songs of that genre.



This album is completely different.

It is not driven by guitars.

It is driven mostly by vocals and drums.



The mix on the drums stands out so much to me. In videos about production of this album the producer wanted the drums to be played in one take and not have a lot of cutting and pasting within the tracks. Human Abstract's drummer, who is amazing, met the challenge and was rewarded with a mix in the album higher than that of just about everything than the vocals.



Technically there are still sweeps and really fast riffs and amazing guitar work in some of the songs, but you really need to listen to this album on headphones to hear it all. This is not an album to blast when people come over, this is an album to listen to on your own.



The first two tracks are the closest to Nocturne. Track 3 starts off like a challenge to old school BTBAM and Dillinger Escape Plan to show that THA can also write extremely fast, off time songs that are extremely heavy and brutal... but this only last for a minute and does not transition well into the rest of the song. it simply stops and a whole new idea for a song begins never again shadowing anything heard in the first chaotic minute.



Overall, I really do like this album and do not want to show this review as a bad one.



"nocturne" simply destroyed the current metalcore scene and I think many people will be expecting an album bigger than that.



This album is a think piece... creative lyrics... well written and catchy choruses. Technical music is woven into the entire album and is not the main ear catching reason to get this.



I do like it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.



but I do wonder how some of the tracks that are "softer" will translate into a live show also? that remains to be seen."

A credit to pop sensibility.

J. Clark | NYC, NY | 08/26/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Midheaven by The Human Abstract seems to be a fairly significant departure from what they did on Nocturne. In a nut-shell this album is still within the boundaries of the band's distinct style but with some major differences. For one thing, as some other reviews allude to, this album has a much larger ratio of radio-friendly songs than the previous one did. This has a lot to do with the fact that the music is largely driven by the vocals and drums this time around, but also because of songs like Procession of the Fates(a watered-down feel similar to work they did on Nocturne), This World is a Tomb and The Path(almost hoobastank-like pop-metal) and A Dead World at Sunrise(dark and moody but not that interesting).

I am not saying that these are bad songs at all but much of this album has a sort of pop feel to it that makes it catchy and appealing in the beginning but loses my interest in the long run. The real jems on this record are certain sections of songs like A Violent Strike and Breathing life into Devices which have the technical/progressive guitar work and counterpontal rythym lines that made me like the band in the first place. But even these songs don't maintain that intensity all the way through. Not necessarily a bad thing but their dynamically softer sections aren't always that interesting.

There are some things I specifically dislike about this album such as the distorted guitar tones (which sound thin, scratchy and dry at certain points) and the various instances such as in the song Metanoia when the vocalist is doing that political hardcore style talking over the music ala early Shai Hulud (I find that annoying to no end. Politics are fine but talking is for rap music). My dislike of the guitar tones also gives me mixed feelings about the fact that the guitars are mixed considerably lower than the other instruments. If the guitars sounded better I might be more bothered by this but its not that big a deal. All in all this album is fine to have on in the background while doing chores around the house but I don't feel inspired to actually rock out to it or play it at a party. Negative aspects aside, I still think this band has a lot of talent at song writing and I'm sure they'll get their balls back on the next try."

The Human Abstract - Midheaven

Kit Kitsch | 08/19/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I've listened to this album quite a few times already and I've come to a conclusion. Although this album is good, Nocturne is the far superior album. Midheaven is a much different sounding album although it does stay true to THA's progressive hardcore style. They are still clearly talented and this album shows it.



But there are flaws with this album. While listening to it, I knew there was something wrong with it. I had a lot of problems with it, but the biggest problem I couldn't finger. One problem was the cheesy organ-esque keyboard. It really annoyed me at first, but after getting used to it, it wasn't so bad. But I could definitely do without it. Another thing was the nature of the track This World is a Tomb. That track completely took me out of it. It's soft, flowery and feels more like Sara Bareilles than The Human Abstract (yeah, I went there). It really has no business being on this album. Of course, I'm sure that some people might enjoy it, I was just blindsided by that coming from these guys. The last track, which I was expecting to be something as epic as Vela, Together We Await the Storm, is a simple soft track. It's not overly terrible, but I was looking for a more powerful. Two of these kinds of track on a 10-track metal album just doesn't do it for me. In fact, The Path makes it almost three. Good song, but some WEAK guitars at the end of that track.



No, none of those things were the real problem. The real problem that I've come to realize is the departure of lead guitarist A.J. Minette. It had a far greater effect that I thought it would, and I'm sure most people won't notice it at first, but eventually, I think most will realize what he meant to this band. The keyboard is almost overpowering because the lack of heavy guitar riffs. The keyboard actually overpowers the guitars and that's a big problem. This album sound far less aggressive because of it. There are no driving breakdowns in any of the songs and none of them are guitar driven at all. Most of these songs are driven by the vocals of Nathan Ells and while I love his vocals, they don't have the same effect.



After waiting out for their album, I can't say I'm disappointed, because this album really isn't bad. In fact, it's a good album. It's very unique, artistic as well as poetic. Although there are some tracks I could do without. But without the amazing guitarwork from Minette, this album isn't the masterpiece I was really expecting. In fact, it looks like Nocturne was the masterpiece to begin with. In any case, now I realize that A.J. was the true heart of THA, and it's now that I'm feeling the true effects of his departure. He's a hell of a guitarist, and will be missed.



Midheaven is a good album with a couple of standout tracks like Procession of the Fates and Metanoia (almost sounds Nocturne-esque) and some more subtle pleasures like A Violent Strike and Breathing Life into Devices but overall the guitarwork leaves a lot to be desired and some tracks are particularly weak. Good album. It's no masterpiece, but it's good and definitely worth the buy. Just don't go in expecting another Nocturne. Look for more keyboard and vocal driven songs, and a toned down sound in terms of being hardcore.



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