Pain Is a Warning
Today Is the Day · 2011
43 min · 9 tracks · noise rock
A visceral blend of noise rock and experimental elements that confronts pain with unrelenting intensity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Pain Is a Warning — The title track encapsulates the album's central theme, merging heavy instrumentation with haunting vocals to create an atmosphere of profound despair.
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Death Curse — This track features relentless riffs and an intense vocal delivery that exemplifies the band's signature chaotic style, making it a standout moment.
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Remember to Forget — With its complex structure and emotional depth, this song highlights the balance between aggression and introspection that defines the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's intense sound and structure create a compelling exploration of pain and existential themes.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a relentless pace, maintaining aggressive instrumentation throughout the first half.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo shifts, moving from chaotic noise to quieter, more introspective sections, creating a jarring contrast.
- The final track concludes with an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved tension.
- 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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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- frenzied bursts of energy
- intense emotional catharsis
- chaotic yet rewarding listening
- short tracks for quick hits
Maybe skip if you
- prefer melodic, structured compositions
- seek soothing background music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, Pain Is a Warning marked Today Is the Day's sixth studio album, following their 2002 release, Sadness Will Prevail. At this point in their career, the band was well-established within the noise rock scene, known for their chaotic soundscapes and introspective lyrics. This album arrived after a period of relative silence, showcasing a renewed artistic vigor.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Unsane· The Jesus Lizard· Melvins
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Expectations Exceed Reality 3:10
- 2 Death Curse 2:53
- 3 Pain Is a Warning 6:33
- 4 Wheelin' 2:39
- 5 The Devil's Blood 5:51
- 6 Remember to Forget 6:46
- 7 Slave to Serenity 6:15
- 8 This Is You 4:00
- 9 Samurai 5:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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