Review Summary: +1 great album.
Minus the Machine sees 10 Years comfy in their niche. Between their heavy alt metal/hard rock and introspective alternative rock, 10 Years found the perfect mix in this iteration. They took a bit from every previous release, and improved on almost every aspect. The piano and acoustic songs are back from Division, but the moody alt metal from The Autumn Effect is also back. It’s a little this, a little that, but they let fly bangers across the board to let us know their previous albums were no accidents.
Compared to their previous three albums, Minus the Machine has quite an impressive instrumental front. There’s heavier, more memorable riffs throughout, though Knives is the most aggressive track with an absolutely searing breakdown, and a rip-tearing chorus. That’s not all though, for the drummer gives an astoundingly technical performance, one I didn’t expect in the least. 10 Years give time for both the guitarist and drummer to shine, and it makes for plenty of memorable moments.
This is 10 Years as you’ve never seen before, but on the other hand it’s more of the same. The tweaking with their sound is done, opting for a familiar, generic version of alt metal. Jesse’s singing delivery remains the most unique portion of the band, hitting emotional moments and high notes effortlessly. As generic as the album is, it’s hard to pass up such well done tunes with great production, a compelling lead singer, and superior instrumentation. It’s 10 Years doing their usual thing, but this time they wanted blood.
Minus the Machine inserts what Feeding The Wolves was missing, and then some. 10 Years went back to sounding like themselves here, with Jesse’s unique style much more noticeable. Also, the bass provides a fuller, atmospheric tone setting a dark mood. The vibe of the entire album is more of The Autumn Effect than the others, which was an excellent choice for bringing their previous iterations into harmony (a trend that would continue).
Fans of 10 Years or alternative metal/hard rock will find a treat here. The album sounds amazing, is decently heavy, and has enough surprises to keep engagement high. Let’s not forget their trademark strong choruses, and overall melodic output. If you made this your first 10 Years album, it would be a decent start. It may not be their most memorable release, but it has enough kick ass tunes to wake you up.
