I finally did get a chance to listen. Thanks to some benefactors! My initial impression is that I really really like several of the songs and really like some others and like the rest. Mostly, I really liked the songs I heard. Where We Belong is so good and I can't wait to jam that one with no commentary over the top. The one with "never fear love" is also great.

Generally, I had to laugh a bit at Dev's protestations that this doesn't represent his future career direction. The man should finally just admit that he has metal in his soul. I believe that Dev will always make heavy music of some sort. Only a couple albums he has released haven't been overtly "heavy." I'm thinking of Ghost and The Hummer right now. This album totally reminds me of Addicted, obviously, but also feels at times like Terria or Accelerated Evolution, but much happier.

I think that if you are a fan of Devin overall, meaning you like many of his albums, not just SYL and Decon, then you will like this album. Dev worries too much, I think. He worries that people won't like his albums needlessly, in my opinion. However, I am an unabashed fanboy here, so my opinion may not be worth that much. I cannot wait to listen to the actual album. It sounds awesome and I feel like I am going to love listening to it. I think Dev should be very proud of it. Aurally, it is amazing and that's with the poor quality and talking over it going on.

This album sounds absolutely amazing, really.

It's exactly what was I expecting from Devin. My only complaint, is that I feel like even when Devin was writing "simple" songs early in his career like "Life", they had a bit more diversity and complexity within themselves then what we find on Epicloud. Really, Devin has thought some amazingly catchy and awesome songs, but I feel like few of them reach a magnum opus for themselves on this record: It feels as if Devin had so many ideas, and just sort of rushed to get that one "sound" down and into a song, without letting them expand and be their own whole experiences.

[Octillus]

This album sounds absolutely amazing, really.

It's exactly what was I expecting from Devin. My only complaint, is that I feel like even when Devin was writing "simple" songs early in his career like "Life", they had a bit more diversity and complexity within themselves then what we find on Epicloud. Really, Devin has thought some amazingly catchy and awesome songs, but I feel like few of them reach a magnum opus for themselves on this record: It feels as if Devin had so many ideas, and just sort of rushed to get that one "sound" down and into a song, without letting them expand and be their own whole experiences.

I feel like Grace, More, and obviously Kingdom kinda hit this note. The others basically make me think of songs that could be on Accelerated Evolution, if you blew up the production to hilarious levels (I mean this in a good way) and put a bunch of the layering of Queen and pop in a blender with it.

No complaints, because my expectations were met, and exceeded in a few places. I didn't expect anything like Grace when he announced the album.

I love the new kingdom, Grace was wow, I can't get true north of libation out of my head.

Almost a shame it's gonna be a one-off. Although given that Dev doesn't plan stuff, there's nothing to say there won't be another one someday...

Let's face it, after every Strapping album he said he never wanted to do another one, and we ended up with five.

Definitely seems to be the 'pop' record that's been hinted at through albums like Accelerated Evolution and Addicted, and I think it's fantastic.

Quick question though...looked through the thread and can't see an answer to this, so apologies if i was just blind. The second disc of demos...are they Epicloud demos, or just random other demos?

Almost a shame it's gonna be a one-off. Although given that Dev doesn't plan stuff, there's nothing to say there won't be another one someday...

Let's face it, after every Strapping album he said he never wanted to do another one, and we ended up with five.

Definitely seems to be the 'pop' record that's been hinted at through albums like Accelerated Evolution and Addicted, and I think it's fantastic.

Quick question though...looked through the thread and can't see an answer to this, so apologies if i was just blind. The second disc of demos...are they Epicloud demos, or just random other demos?

all epicloud songs, I think.

[Octillus]

Should be different songs for the epicloud album that according to dev were "more traditional"

Quick question though...looked through the thread and can't see an answer to this, so apologies if i was just blind. The second disc of demos...are they Epicloud demos, or just random other demos?

A third answer(!): I think they were a load of other songs recorded during the same sessions but because the label or whomever couldn't afford to mix and master them properly they were thrown on a second disc as 'demos'. He wanted a way around the mess of Ghost 2. I could be wrong but I think he said something to that affect on FB many months ago.

[Octillus]

that. I was on my phone earlier, and couldn't properly answer.

But I do remember on twitter before he kept sending Epicloud back and forth he spent about a week on just those songs. So hopefully they're a bit more complete than say the demo disk on Contain Us. I'd be happy if they sounded like the original recording of Synchronicity Freaks

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head. cant stop humming "true north". also really happy that he mentioned that these sounds aren't leeching into Z2 which is great because this pop stuff imo gets old mighty fast.

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head. cant stop humming "true north". also really happy that he mentioned that these sounds aren't leeching into Z2 which is great because this pop stuff imo gets old mighty fast.

No.

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head. cant stop humming "true north". also really happy that he mentioned that these sounds aren't leeching into Z2 which is great because this pop stuff imo gets old mighty fast.

No.

sorry but thats why i put "imo" if you don't know what that means its short form for " in my opinion " therefore that is myyyyyyy opinion. not yours? coool? keeeeeeeeewll.

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head. cant stop humming "true north". also really happy that he mentioned that these sounds aren't leeching into Z2 which is great because this pop stuff imo gets old mighty fast.

No.

sorry but thats why i put "imo" if you don't know what that means its short form for " in my opinion " therefore that is myyyyyyy opinion. not yours? coool? keeeeeeeeewll.

I respect your opinion, but you're wrong.

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head. cant stop humming "true north". also really happy that he mentioned that these sounds aren't leeching into Z2 which is great because this pop stuff imo gets old mighty fast.

No.

sorry but thats why i put "imo" if you don't know what that means its short form for " in my opinion " therefore that is myyyyyyy opinion. not yours? coool? keeeeeeeeewll.

I respect your opinion, but you're wrong.

troll or be trolled? not today my friend ...not today.

love every track on this album except for "save our now" got bored of that song after the 1st listen and to be honest cant stand it. other then that great album every song is stuck in my head.

And for me, it's the exact opposite. "Save Our Now" is the song I can't get out of my head and keep listening to over and over. But that's all just a matter of opinion and shows how his music can appeal to different tastes.