| Full Review | Ratings (1126) |
Give your Rating |
4.5 superb | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | October 1st 16 | The atmosphere of Japanese folklore and Neige's dreamworld collide in this euphoric odyssey, continuing from where Voyages... left off, yet sounding more focused overall. While Shelter was an enjoyable diversion from the band's sound, Kodama follows swiftly in the footsteps of Le Secret and Ecailles...: sweeping post-rock atmospheres colliding with intense metal soundscapes. It frequently convalesces into a swirling blend of chaotic beauty, going for a more sophisticated sound than the typical dynamic motifs one hears in post-black metal. While it could have been a bit longer, the first forty minutes stands as among Niege's most stunning creations yet. Note: It helps to think of the enjoyable yet meandering final 10 minutes (including the bonus track, "Notre sang et nos pens?es") as the falling action of Kodama, being much more ambient overall.
10 Bumps | Bump |
5.0 classic | zxlkho | September 29th 16 | objectively the greatest album ever created if you disagree you're wrong
5 Bumps | Bump |
4.5 superb | FullOfSounds | October 1st 16 | Beautifully and dynamically pleasing to the ear, Kodama is Niege's best work yet.
4 Bumps | Bump |
3.5 great | zaruyache | March 3rd 17 | Shoegaze/blackgaze? The structuring feels weird, like there's just something missing. Not enough screams, too. It's back to the "real" Alcest style, sure, but I don't even think it can compete with Voyages.
1 Bumps | Bump |
3.0 good | grandfather | September 20th 16 | Good as hell, but could've been better. Some parts seem bland and begging for a lead or something (anything) to keep the attention. Oiseaux is the standout.
1 Bumps | Bump |
4.5 superb | Bedex | November 12th 19 | This is peak Alcest material, proggy post-rocky blackened shoegaze executed masterfully.
And yet it does not feel like a 5.0 contender. It has quite a few non-god tier points, and
although I perceive it as a better album it feels like it has less of an identity than EdL
did at the time. 2 except its lovely outro tempers the excitment of a superb jammy opener
quite early on in the album. 3 is then a jam, but followed by again a less good track in 4.
1, 6, and 7 are definitely the main jams here. The album closer feels a bit unnecessary and
does not bring much in terms of album finale, but at the same time it does feel like a
closing track was needed. I just found out it was a bonus track so guess I'll have to re-
listen without 8. Some of the best, most mature Alcest material yet, but I don't think
it'll grow past a 4.4
Bump |
4.4 superb | Erwann S. STAFF | October 25th 19 | This is Alcest's best output yet. The heaviness is at its most subtle, and the atmosphere is at its most prominent. The Japanese folklore inclusion matches perfectly with Neige's eerie dream sounds. It's true no track here attains the power of Ecailles' first three songs, but as a whole, this album works better as there are no lesser-quality jams. This is their pinnacle, in 40 short and sweet minutes.
Bump |
4.5 superb | Rik VII (sound-off ratings out of 10) | July 18th 19 | Constantly evolving songs, beautifully airy, minor pentatonic melodies and breath-taking dynamics from mesmerizing elegance to brutal outbursts - Kodama is one of a kind and yet fits perfectly into Alcest's discography. It is also one of those albums that are a tad too short to be thoroughly satisfying, always leaving me wanting more (which is added to by the drone-y closer). Has a heavy leaning towards the 9.5. - 9.0
Bump |
4.0 excellent | cjbizzlebizzle | February 19th 18 | Kodama truly feels like a summation of what Alcest have been working towards since their formation in the early 2000s. It is easy to forget that Alcest (more specifically frontman Niege) are the true pioneers of the Blackgaze genre because their work really does span a vast amount of aural territory from the clean, ethereal Souvenirs d'un autre monde to the intense black metal infiltrated passages. Kodama combines all of this with some of the best songwriting Alcest have presented to date as the music flows effortlessly between melancholic, bittersweet rock landscapes to the blackened shoe gaze explosions. The music is so big despite a somewhat simplified approach compared to some of their previous work. Kodama is full of emotion with a dense, uplifting sound and it shows that Niege still has a lot left in the bag.
Bump |
4.5 superb | Rodstar | January 2nd 17 | I have been aware of this band for some time, but this album was my first real exposure to their blackened shoegaze leanings. Influenced largely by Hayao Miyazaki's 'Princess Mononoke', this album has a wonderful cinematic vibe that I find completely immersive and irresistible, and the bands only two members in Neige and Winterhalter sound completely in sync with each other and what they have set out to achieve here.
Bump |
3.0 good | EasterInTheBatcave | December 14th 16 | This record hearkens back to the Ecailles de Lune/Les Voyages de L'Ame sound; that is, highly melodic, beauteous black metal. While this results in a better release than Shelter, it also feels like a retread in some respects-- which is appropriate since, essentially, it is. The production is excellent, though, the melodies are wonderful, and, though the song structures can wind a little too much for their own good (the title track), overall this a successful release.
Bump |
4.0 excellent | Xenorazr | October 19th 16 | Kodoma exhibits much of what made its predecessors so enjoyable and wraps the nuances together with a little something new. The end result is an album that evokes nostalgia and invokes inspiration. My only grievance is that the album feels too brief, it's one or two tracks away from feeling like a full course, and ultimately comes off as abrupt when "Onyx" leaves us hitting the repeat button.
Bump |
3.3 great | Trey STAFF | October 1st 16 | Alcest’s previous release, Shelter, dove straight in to the mellow atmospheric parts of post rock and Anathema worship. Kodama feels like a direct reaction to that release. It is grittier and noisier and features a return of the black metal vocals (in addition to the clean singing). The production, too, is more raw than its predecessor. If Kodama has an Achilles Heel it is that it lacks the focus of the previous release. There are too many times during this album where it feels like the songs just kind of meander around without much direction or differentiation.
Bump |
4.5 superb | Shogun | October 1st 16 | Alcest are utterly peerless in this form, a relentlessly awesome album. Im strongly
convinced Oiseaux De Proieis is the best thing they have ever written. Perfect song.
Bump |
5.0 classic | Gmork89 | September 30th 16 | Excellent album, possibly Alcest's best release so far. Nails it's tone and vibe all the way down to the artwork.
Bump |
0.0 | emester | September 29th 16 | practically in awe with how this came out. Very well could be the best full on blackgaze record since, well... Ecailles de Lune
Bump |
4.0 excellent | Halez | January 27th 24 |
3.0 good | doofy | January 9th 24 |
4.5 superb | Verdr | December 1st 23 |
4.0 excellent | Avet | October 21st 23 |
4.0 excellent | Luna | August 30th 23 |
4.5 superb | PBoss | May 27th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Ben STAFF | April 24th 23 |
3.0 good | Tb1114 | April 19th 23 |
4.0 excellent | FunJan | April 3rd 23 |
4.0 excellent | oldev | March 17th 23 |
4.5 superb | Mazelas | February 21st 23 |
4.5 superb | Shwany | January 13th 23 |
5.0 classic | Timmy | January 11th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Dan H. EMERITUS | November 10th 22 |
4.5 superb | Bren80 | August 2nd 22 |
4.0 excellent | Pikmar | June 30th 22 |
4.5 superb | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | June 14th 22 |
4.0 excellent | chwe | April 27th 22 |
4.0 excellent | Suyan | April 24th 22 |
4.5 superb | MonkMan | January 29th 22 |
4.0 excellent | JTPlays | December 19th 21 |
4.0 excellent | qt | December 16th 21 |
4.0 excellent | Daymare | December 8th 21 |
4.5 superb | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
4.5 superb | Karen94 | November 24th 21 |
4.5 superb | Deadb0y | November 14th 21 |
4.0 excellent | tekth | November 8th 21 |
3.0 good | Lvxfra | October 23rd 21 |
4.0 excellent | Hybza | September 10th 21 |
4.5 superb | DocBass | September 9th 21 |
4.0 excellent | ParoXysm | September 1st 21 |
4.0 excellent | quetzal | August 24th 21 |
4.5 superb | xlev | August 4th 21 |
4.0 excellent | teo | July 5th 21 |
5.0 classic | Jerrad | July 3rd 21 |
4.5 superb | Veks | June 18th 21 |
5.0 classic | Metaxu | June 16th 21 |
4.0 excellent | Harlz | March 12th 21 |
4.0 excellent | AmonZ | March 3rd 21 |
4.0 excellent | Gary STAFF | February 20th 21 |
4.0 excellent | YRI | February 19th 21 |
4.5 superb | Juuso | February 7th 21 |
5.0 classic | mctang | January 28th 21 |
2.5 average | Hehe | December 15th 20 |
4.5 superb | Abraxas | December 14th 20 |
3.5 great | Fabio | December 11th 20 |
5.0 classic | Evrimen | November 27th 20 |
3.5 great | sicky | November 24th 20 |
4.5 superb | Kralle | November 2nd 20 |
4.0 excellent | StBrox | October 22nd 20 |
4.5 superb | Onyx | October 7th 20 |
3.5 great | Roidv | October 3rd 20 |
4.0 excellent | K3nsei69 | September 21st 20 |
4.5 superb | kevbogz | September 7th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Gazham | August 12th 20 |
4.5 superb | KaNe00 | August 9th 20 |
4.5 superb | Zaleb | July 19th 20 |
5.0 classic | Etéreo | July 14th 20 |
4.5 superb | jesper STAFF | May 29th 20 |
3.5 great | aGit | April 24th 20 |
5.0 classic | nashet | April 12th 20 |
4.5 superb | Garfbb | April 3rd 20 |
4.0 excellent | Futures | April 1st 20 |
4.0 excellent | RobotE | March 24th 20 |
4.5 superb | Josh | March 11th 20 |
4.5 superb | h0rsie | March 10th 20 |
4.5 superb | snewso | March 9th 20 |
3.5 great | dabisco | February 12th 20 |
3.5 great | Vasilis S. CONTRIBUTOR | February 10th 20 |
3.5 great | giyga | February 8th 20 |
4.5 superb | kleggi | January 22nd 20 |
5.0 classic | bnyby | January 12th 20 |
3.5 great | Apollo | January 11th 20 |
4.0 excellent | vil1 | January 4th 20 |
4.0 excellent | kodama | January 2nd 20 |
4.5 superb | yoil | December 31st 19 |
4.5 superb | jounik | November 13th 19 |
4.5 superb | Wyder | November 11th 19 |
3.0 good | Corney | November 8th 19 |
4.0 excellent | KevinMM | November 6th 19 |
4.0 excellent | Juca89 | November 2nd 19 |
4.5 superb | CamiloG | November 2nd 19 |
4.0 excellent | edenkun | November 1st 19 |
4.0 excellent | Skye09 | October 30th 19 |
3.5 great | ian b | October 27th 19 |
4.0 excellent | gosk8n | October 26th 19 |
4.5 superb | morry | October 25th 19 |
5.0 classic | valek | October 19th 19 |
4.0 excellent | JayM | October 19th 19 |
4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | October 15th 19 |
4.5 superb | kouichi | October 15th 19 |
4.5 superb | TheGuy | September 13th 19 |
4.0 excellent | JOK | September 12th 19 |
4.0 excellent | JAV | August 23rd 19 |
4.5 superb | Nine | August 10th 19 |
4.5 superb | john | August 5th 19 |
4.0 excellent | HybridF | July 23rd 19 |
5.0 classic | Dama | June 14th 19 |
3.5 great | Lucman | June 13th 19 |
4.5 superb | benkim | February 7th 19 |
4.0 excellent | thedoom | February 6th 19 |
4.0 excellent | GazAldo | February 2nd 19 |
4.0 excellent | latpac | December 31st 18 |
4.5 superb | crab | December 27th 18 |
4.0 excellent | khazaria | December 12th 18 |
4.0 excellent | ZBJE | December 5th 18 |
4.5 superb | ARDCWE | November 2nd 18 |
5.0 classic | Aurien | October 23rd 18 |
5.0 classic | Greidy | October 9th 18 |
4.5 superb | Host78 | September 30th 18 |
4.0 excellent | ashen386 | September 30th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 23rd 18 |
4.0 excellent | aiioli | August 10th 18 |
3.5 great | AAHN | July 19th 18 |
5.0 classic | alamo | July 13th 18 |
4.5 superb | Nero | May 25th 18 |
4.5 superb | nicksz | April 25th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Warpt | April 25th 18 |
4.0 excellent | emmilig | April 16th 18 |
4.5 superb | Honza | March 20th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Tranqyl | March 16th 18 |
5.0 classic | Laen | March 16th 18 |
4.5 superb | k4lisk4 | February 23rd 18 |
4.0 excellent | wwirusz | February 15th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Evenoss | February 14th 18 |
4.0 excellent | pumi | February 7th 18 |
4.0 excellent | JLR2DEG | January 17th 18 |
3.0 good | Oreon | January 11th 18 |
4.5 superb | Fear | December 27th 17 |
4.0 excellent | kayfake | December 24th 17 |
4.5 superb | Jedaum | December 24th 17 |
5.0 classic | Tritium | December 22nd 17 |
4.0 excellent | T5Cx | December 22nd 17 |
3.0 good | SuzyC | December 21st 17 |
4.5 superb | botb | December 11th 17 |
3.5 great | igi78 | December 9th 17 |
4.5 superb | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
4.0 excellent | TBH717 | November 28th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Macck | November 13th 17 |
4.5 superb | greg17 | November 8th 17 |
4.5 superb | tisarap | November 1st 17 |
4.0 excellent | BigHans | October 31st 17 |
4.5 superb | Ka7 | October 27th 17 |
3.5 great | Andrew | October 25th 17 |
4.0 excellent | zzf1918 | October 16th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Kantala | October 10th 17 |
4.0 excellent | garsiai | October 7th 17 |
4.0 excellent | 8genre | September 28th 17 |
4.5 superb | adios | September 20th 17 |
4.5 superb | Jhator | August 27th 17 |
4.0 excellent | solrage | August 18th 17 |
5.0 classic | Moksha | August 6th 17 |
5.0 classic | Risodo | July 26th 17 |
3.5 great | Jan555 | July 22nd 17 |
4.0 excellent | clavier EMERITUS | July 19th 17 |
4.5 superb | Geomi | July 12th 17 |
4.0 excellent | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
4.0 excellent | ElSomni | June 17th 17 |
5.0 classic | stesta | April 25th 17 |
4.5 superb | Nishe | April 9th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Crawl | April 6th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Deebo05 | March 22nd 17 |
4.0 excellent | Xavier | March 19th 17 |
3.5 great | PaabL | March 17th 17 |
3.0 good | Pleb | March 17th 17 |
5.0 classic | OU818 | March 16th 17 |
4.0 excellent | qwas | March 16th 17 |
5.0 classic | RMHQ | March 15th 17 |
4.5 superb | ian b. | March 12th 17 |
4.0 excellent | emmny | March 10th 17 |
5.0 classic | Swarm | March 9th 17 |
4.0 excellent | BoJean | March 9th 17 |
4.5 superb | Oslaf | March 9th 17 |
3.5 great | espnil | March 8th 17 |
3.5 great | Skoj | March 4th 17 |
4.0 excellent | ryallen | February 25th 17 |
3.5 great | Difunt0 | February 18th 17 |
4.0 excellent | GodL1ke | February 17th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Gio | February 14th 17 |
4.0 excellent | marf1300 | February 11th 17 |
5.0 classic | bSmith | February 9th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Roomex | February 5th 17 |
4.0 excellent | hadriel | February 4th 17 |
4.0 excellent | TanMan | February 1st 17 |
4.5 superb | Photon | January 21st 17 |
4.5 superb | Shinya | January 21st 17 |
2.5 average | YakNips | January 18th 17 |
3.5 great | Juanpa | January 14th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Thibs | January 13th 17 |
4.0 excellent | mursu | January 13th 17 |
4.0 excellent | denislg | January 10th 17 |
4.5 superb | Quarl4 | January 9th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Veldin | January 7th 17 |
3.5 great | Jeejee | January 5th 17 |
4.0 excellent | catzlol | December 30th 16 |
4.0 excellent | oddysee | December 28th 16 |
4.0 excellent | vakuola | December 27th 16 |
4.0 excellent | tarcus | December 20th 16 |
2.5 average | tyler | December 20th 16 |
3.5 great | Nud | December 19th 16 |
4.0 excellent | cjacob6 | December 18th 16 |
4.0 excellent | fll | December 16th 16 |
4.0 excellent | hsb | December 15th 16 |
4.0 excellent | gilly | December 13th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Toolock | December 12th 16 |
4.5 superb | Essence | December 11th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Toondude | December 11th 16 |
4.5 superb | ellagos | December 11th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Omeggia | December 11th 16 |
4.0 excellent | vkristi | December 9th 16 |
4.5 superb | Crysler | December 8th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Envious | December 7th 16 |
4.5 superb | dsgn09 | December 7th 16 |
4.0 excellent | ckssr1 | December 6th 16 |
4.0 excellent | neikos | December 5th 16 |
4.5 superb | Edlund | December 5th 16 |
3.0 good | p4p | November 28th 16 |
5.0 classic | UFO | November 28th 16 |
3.5 great | LamboGD | November 26th 16 |
4.5 superb | FakeOne | November 24th 16 |
3.5 great | bahlof | November 20th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Malchior | November 19th 16 |
4.0 excellent | unkle | November 17th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Tasty | November 16th 16 |
4.5 superb | morjens | November 15th 16 |
4.0 excellent | GMarques | November 14th 16 |
4.5 superb | Faraudo | November 14th 16 |
4.0 excellent | kLEpaCKa | November 13th 16 |
4.0 excellent | oz0972 | November 12th 16 |
4.5 superb | Hewitt | November 12th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Prole | November 9th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Xerian | November 8th 16 |
4.0 excellent | arf | November 6th 16 |
4.0 excellent | tgdv | November 5th 16 |
3.0 good | Jade | November 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Cyroth | November 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Pangea | November 3rd 16 |
3.5 great | Enzx | November 3rd 16 |
3.5 great | jmh886 | November 2nd 16 |
4.0 excellent | Shamus248 CONTRIBUTOR | October 31st 16 |
4.0 excellent | Prognoz | October 31st 16 |
5.0 classic | Egarran | October 30th 16 |
4.0 excellent | junyi15 | October 30th 16 |
3.5 great | Jordan M. EMERITUS | October 30th 16 |
5.0 classic | kx8 | October 29th 16 |
3.0 good | Emo | October 28th 16 |
4.0 excellent | elch21 | October 27th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Coast | October 27th 16 |
4.5 superb | em17ah | October 27th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Santet | October 27th 16 |
3.5 great | Wolfe | October 26th 16 |
3.5 great | ariich | October 25th 16 |
5.0 classic | tysly | October 25th 16 |
3.5 great | Thor | October 23rd 16 |
4.0 excellent | joitp | October 22nd 16 |
4.5 superb | Kimm | October 20th 16 |
5.0 classic | Moge | October 19th 16 |
4.0 excellent | RCBest | October 17th 16 |
4.5 superb | Zantera | October 17th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Tyrael | October 17th 16 |
4.5 superb | Radex | October 16th 16 |
4.5 superb | lucien | October 15th 16 |
4.5 superb | niaL | October 15th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Rail | October 15th 16 |
3.0 good | Ulshad | October 15th 16 |
4.5 superb | Hyndez | October 14th 16 |
3.5 great | Krvst | October 13th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Agonba | October 13th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Hydra12 | October 13th 16 |
4.5 superb | Fanto | October 12th 16 |
2.5 average | jtswope | October 11th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Feels | October 10th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Riviere | October 10th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Kiwi | October 9th 16 |
4.5 superb | sevhar | October 9th 16 |
4.5 superb | Simon K. STAFF | October 9th 16 |
4.5 superb | Piglet | October 9th 16 |
4.5 superb | JoeSef | October 8th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Cult | October 8th 16 |
4.5 superb | akimbo | October 8th 16 |
5.0 classic | JWT155 | October 7th 16 |
4.0 excellent | wwf | October 7th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Phate72 | October 7th 16 |
4.5 superb | dre517 | October 6th 16 |
5.0 classic | Marxman | October 6th 16 |
4.0 excellent | silvr | October 5th 16 |
4.0 excellent | ti0n | October 5th 16 |
4.5 superb | N2B3J | October 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Bierlag | October 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Inferis | October 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | IrishC | October 4th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Lanas | October 4th 16 |
4.5 superb | evn | October 4th 16 |
4.5 superb | Hawks | October 3rd 16 |
4.5 superb | Keira | October 3rd 16 |
4.0 excellent | Gbhill | October 3rd 16 |
4.0 excellent | cb123 | October 3rd 16 |
5.0 classic | JS19 | October 2nd 16 |
4.5 superb | heck | October 2nd 16 |
4.0 excellent | Greem | October 1st 16 |
4.5 superb | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | October 1st 16 |
4.5 superb | Elynna | September 30th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Surtur | September 30th 16 |
3.0 good | Dmax28 | September 29th 16 |
4.5 superb | Brett W | September 29th 16 |
5.0 classic | om39a | September 14th 16 |
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