I listened to "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" the other day and I really don't get the critical appeal of this band. They sound very generic (and similar to other bands that seem to get more flack than praise) to me, yet I keep seeing it show up on top lists.
It took me a few listens to really appreciate TDAGARIM. Couple takeaways on why I think it's such a phenomenal album (some apply to the band generally):
-While Jesse Lacey's voice isn't anything amazing, the sincerity and genuineness that you hear in it really sets him apart from a lot of vocalists. He can be really raw at times and it makes the lyrics sound more heartfelt.
-The instrumentals on that album. The riffs in Sowing Season, Jesus Christ, You Won't Know, etc. are all fantastic. Really love how much more experimental the album is in terms of instrumentals.
-The mixing and production. Some songs blend into each other so well, and all the extra touches and instruments used in the background really give the album a lot of depth.
-The lyrics for most of the songs deal with heavier subjects and are well written.
-The band is really clever with a lot of the nuances in their songs. In Jesus Christ, the song stops and starts again at the end to symbolize the resurrection of Christ. I'm not a religious person at all, but I appreciated that touch.
-The album has a really eerie feeling to it, and when you listen to it at certain times, it hits you really hard. I think the perfect time to listen to it is when you're driving late at night, preferably during a road trip with nice scenery. I listened to it on a bus while travelling around South-East Asia at night time and it was a pretty amazing experience.
Just a few reasons why this album would probably crack my top 10 favourites of all time.
