Review by Jack on May 24, 2002.

The amount of interesting crossover bands that the metal world receives is quite phenomenal. Trip-hop, ambient, hardcore, industrial are all examples of this. Autumnblaze is one of these bands that has strayed into the metal universe and is probably turning a few heads while doing so. Moody, romantic and ultimately downbeat emo-rock is the music into which Autumnblaze’s third album delves deeply.

Starting off rather softly on the title track, “Mute Boy Sad Girl”, the new album from Markus and Schwadorf is an absolute blinder of a record, for lack of a better and more appropriate word. Enchantment, compulsiveness and atmosphere are what “Mute Boy Sad Girl” is all about.

Autumnblaze go about their music with such precision and heart, that even if this brand of music isn’t really your cup of tea, you still have to admire and give credit to such outstanding and bewitching musicianship. Traversing styles from present-day Katatonia to electronic and lounge music in contemporary Ulver, Autumnblaze are able to give a performance that transcends and pierces into every hardened heart.

In all honesty, this is one of the most memorable and enjoyable listening experiences that I have ever had from a record that is not rooted in metal (a weighty statement since I am a rather eclectic music fan). Autumnblaze have put together an album that is so professional and engrossing that anything else you’ve been listening to becomes merely trivial. This is the best album I have heard this month.

Bottom Line: Extraordinarily high, emotionally induced third album from Autumnblaze. Make no mistake, these two lads are at the top of the food chain, and with “Mute Boy Sad Girl” I really doubt that even Ronald and the Colonel will be able to knock them from their perch.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Review by Jack on May 24, 2002.

The amount of interesting crossover bands that the metal world receives is quite phenomenal. Trip-hop, ambient, hardcore, industrial are all examples of this. Autumnblaze is one of these bands that has strayed into the metal universe and is probably turning a few heads while doing so. Moody, romantic and ultimately downbeat emo-rock is the music into which Autumnblaze’s third album delves deeply.

Starting off rather softly on the title track, “Mute Boy Sad Girl”, the new album from Markus and Schwadorf is an absolute blinder of a record, for lack of a better and more appropriate word. Enchantment, compulsiveness and atmosphere are what “Mute Boy Sad Girl” is all about.

Autumnblaze go about their music with such precision and heart, that even if this brand of music isn’t really your cup of tea, you still have to admire and give credit to such outstanding and bewitching musicianship. Traversing styles from present-day Katatonia to electronic and lounge music in contemporary Ulver, Autumnblaze are able to give a performance that transcends and pierces into every hardened heart.

In all honesty, this is one of the most memorable and enjoyable listening experiences that I have ever had from a record that is not rooted in metal (a weighty statement since I am a rather eclectic music fan). Autumnblaze have put together an album that is so professional and engrossing that anything else you’ve been listening to becomes merely trivial. This is the best album I have heard this month.

Bottom Line: Extraordinarily high, emotionally induced third album from Autumnblaze. Make no mistake, these two lads are at the top of the food chain, and with “Mute Boy Sad Girl” I really doubt that even Ronald and the Colonel will be able to knock them from their perch.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Review by Anna on February 17, 2010.

The saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" applies here as I am exposed to the auricular assault of Destrage. I'm not equating them to trash, rather saying that this is definitely not my cup of tea.

There were certainly a lot of raised eyebrows coming from me as I tried to be open-minded to this band's sound, which is accurately described by their promotional material as "Alternative Melodic Death Metal", although I might add that there are occasional elements of Power Metal as well. This album is energetic and varied in its display of playing-styles, especially with the vocals and guitar, although these varied elements fit appropriately without feeling "thrown in". It's obvious this band is guitar-driven as technical duets and solos are around every other corner. At one point I am even pleasantly surprised by their nailing of a polyrhythmic phrase.

Overall this album sounds rather like a hodgepodge of over-enthusiastic musicians, with thrashy fine-grit vocals alternating with Linkin Park-esque clean vocals alongside hyperactive guitars on a canvas of emotion I would describe as generally "determined" and "animated". Hints of mild melancholy make brief appearances, giving some indication that there's a greater level of emotional depth and 'sophistication' from the source of this all-around "uplifting" work, an album whose level of emotional intensity remains the same throughout. There were in fact a few phrases that I was genuinely fond of, yet for some reason would morph into something else entirely almost immediately upon appearance.

I imagine these guys playing in a blissed-out state of "cool" as I'm listening to this, a 'higher' form of conventional being I can hardly relate to. The term "new-school" comes to mind. A good sound-track for a video-game geared towards the male, thirteen to eighteen crowd, and definitely a step up in "heavy" for the alternative or "skater" crowd as it's a safe form of "extreme" minus the voodoo. There's enough technicality to be appreciated but not an overdose that cannot be understood. Fans of Alternative Melodic Death, and perhaps Stam1na, take note.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.1 out of 10