Released 10 years ago
Retrograde
Crown the Empire · 2016
47 min · 13 tracks · metalcore
A dynamic blend of post-hardcore energy and melodic metalcore hooks, showcasing emotional depth and technical prowess.
Top tracks — play these first
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Are You Coming with Me? — This track encapsulates the album's thematic core by blending urgency with introspective lyrics about connection and uncertainty, making it a standout anthem.
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Hologram — With its haunting melodies and poignant lyrics, this song illustrates the conflict between illusion and reality, resonating deeply within the album's narrative arc.
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The Fear Is Real — This track combines aggressive instrumentals with an emotionally charged chorus, effectively capturing feelings of vulnerability amidst chaos.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album balances aggressive and melodic elements well, showcasing strong production and varied songwriting.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with aggressive instrumentation, while the second half shifts to more melodic and introspective moments.
- Several tracks incorporate electronic elements and atmospheric interludes, creating a contrast between heavy riffs and softer passages.
- The use of dual vocals allows for dynamic shifts in intensity, with clean singing often juxtaposed against harsh screams.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- dynamic bursts of intense energy
- emotional reflections on personal struggles
- short tracks with engaging hooks
- cathartic anthems for group singing
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- seek soft, mellow sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on July 22, 2016, 'Retrograde' is Crown the Empire's third studio album, following their 2014 release 'The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways.' By this point in their career, the band was solidifying their presence in the metalcore scene, moving towards a more mature sound while dealing with lineup changes that influenced their musical direction.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Of Mice & Men· We Came as Romans· The Word Alive
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Zero
The bridge shifts to a moment of stark self-reflection where past mistakes are confronted head-on without any self-pity.
This structural choice emphasizes a turning point in the narrative, moving from regret to empowerment as the song progresses.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 SK-68 1:40
- 2 Are You Coming with Me? 3:49
- 3 Zero 3:02
- 4 Aftermath 3:50
- 5 Hologram 3:45
- 6 The Fear Is Real 3:24
- 7 Lucky Us 3:43
- 8 Weight of the World 3:27
- 9 Signs of Life 3:54
- 10 Oxygen 4:09
- 11 Kaleidoscope 3:28
- 12 For Days 5:01
- 13 Mercury 4:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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