Curious Volume
Pentagram · 2015
42 min · 11 tracks · heavy metal
A heavy exploration of doom metal's darkest corners, blending haunting melodies with crushing riffs and introspective lyrics.
Top tracks — play these first
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Lay Down and Die — This opening track sets a dark tone with its driving rhythms and compelling lyrical narrative about surrendering to despair.
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Curious Volume — The title track encapsulates the album’s essence, weaving complex guitar work with themes of introspection and existential dread.
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The Devil's Playground — This song stands out for its dynamic shifts and haunting atmosphere, effectively portraying the struggle between temptation and resistance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with introspective lyrics but lacks strong cohesion across its length.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower, more atmospheric pieces.
- Several tracks incorporate layered guitar harmonies that create a dense soundscape, particularly in 'Curious Volume' and 'The Devil's Playground'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies with crushing riffs
- thoughtful reflections on darker themes
- short bursts of emotional intensity
- introspective moments amidst heaviness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lighthearted, upbeat music
- seek instant gratification in songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Curious Volume is Pentagram's first studio album in nearly seven years, following the 2007 release of Show 'Em How. This album marks a significant return for the band, revitalizing their presence in the heavy metal scene after a period of lineup changes and inactivity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Black Sabbath· Candlemass· Saint Vitus
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Lay Down and Die 2:54
- 2 The Tempter Push 4:09
- 3 Dead Bury Dead 4:38
- 4 Earth Flight 2:56
- 5 Walk Alone 3:21
- 6 Curious Volume 4:20
- 7 Misunderstood 3:21
- 8 Close the Casket 4:13
- 9 Sufferin' 3:21
- 10 The Devil's Playground 4:37
- 11 Because I Made It 4:22
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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