What makes Applause of a Distant Crowd by Vola notable?

The album received critical acclaim for its innovative sound, landing high on various year-end lists and earning Vola a growing fanbase beyond Denmark. It highlights the band's ability to fuse heavy instrumentation with melodic hooks, influencing contemporary progressive metal artists and contributing to the genre's evolution during the late 2010s. Applause of a Distant Crowd is Vola's sophomore album, following their debut Inmazes from 2015. By this point, the band had solidified their unique blend of progressive metal and electronic elements, gaining critical recognition in the metal scene. The release marked a continuation of their artistic evolution, showcasing increased maturity in songwriting and production.

How many songs are on Applause of a Distant Crowd?

Applause of a Distant Crowd has 10 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

Released 8 years ago this October

Applause of a Distant Crowd

Vola · 2018

42 min · 10 tracks · progressive metal

Dynamic progressive metal intertwines with electronic textures and introspective lyrics, creating an expansive yet intimate sonic landscape.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Ghosts — This track exemplifies Vola's signature sound with its blend of heavy riffs and atmospheric melodies, effectively capturing the album's thematic essence of introspection.
→
Applause of a Distant Crowd — The title track serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album, featuring complex arrangements that showcase both technical proficiency and lyrical depth.
→
Still — With its haunting vocals and intricate guitar work, 'Still' stands out as a poignant exploration of vulnerability amidst progressive metal's often aggressive backdrop.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album showcases a strong blend of progressive metal and electronic textures, with varied pacing and distinct tracks.

What we noticed

Tracks like 'Alien Shivers' incorporate electronic elements, blending synths with traditional metal instrumentation to create a layered texture.
The album's pacing varies significantly; after the energetic opening, it transitions into more introspective pieces like 'Still' and 'Whaler', which slow the tempo.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 We Are Thin Air 4:06
2 Ghosts 3:58
3 Smartfriend 4:18
4 Ruby Pool 4:09
5 Alien Shivers 4:20
6 Vertigo 4:04
7 Still 4:09
8 Applause of a Distant Crowd 5:29
9 Whaler 5:27
10 Green Screen Mother 2:36

What to play next

Listen next

Witness

2021

Go back to

Inmazes

2015

Full Vola discography Artists like Vola

progressive metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata