Desperate Living
Horse the Band · 2009
54 min · 12 tracks · metalcore
A chaotic blend of chiptune melodies and metalcore aggression creates a frenetic yet playful sonic landscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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Desperate Living — The title track encapsulates the album's frantic energy with rapid tempo shifts, showcasing the band's mastery of blending genres seamlessly.
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Science Police — This track features biting lyrics about conformity and societal norms, set against an infectious melody that exemplifies the band’s satirical edge.
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Rape Escape — An ambitious seven-minute epic that juxtaposes heavy instrumentation with contemplative moments, effectively challenging listeners’ perceptions of thematic boundaries in music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's blend of chiptune and metalcore creates a distinctive sound, though its cohesion is somewhat uneven.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that blends chiptune melodies with aggressive metalcore riffs, setting a frenetic pace.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes and genre shifts, such as moving from melodic sections to heavy breakdowns within the same song.
- The last three tracks slow down the intensity, incorporating more atmospheric elements and allowing for moments of reflection.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- 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
- frenetic energy for active listening
- playful chaos during parties
- short bursts of attention needed
- cathartic release through intensity
Maybe skip if you
- prefer consistent, mellow vibes
- seek straightforward, linear narratives
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2009, Desperate Living is Horse the Band's third studio album, following their 2005 breakthrough record, The Mechanical Hand. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their unique sound within the Nintendocore genre while facing increasing expectations from both fans and critics.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Armed· Anamanaguchi· Dance Gavin Dance
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Cloudwalker 4:48
- 2 Desperate Living 4:03
- 3 The Failure of All Things 4:47
- 4 HORSE the song 4:20
- 5 Science Police 3:46
- 6 Shapeshift 5:07
- 7 Between the Trees 3:51
- 8 Golden Mummy Golden Bird 4:42
- 9 Lord Gold Wand of Unyielding 2:28
- 10 Big Business 4:52
- 11 Rape Escape 7:08
- 12 Arrive 4:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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