Released 20 years ago
Sundowning
This Is Hell · 2006
28 min · 13 tracks · hardcore punk
Raw, relentless hardcore punk energy interspersed with moments of introspection and concise lyrical statements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Here Comes the Rains — This track exemplifies the band's ability to blend intense instrumentation with poignant lyrics that reflect on change and uncertainty. Its driving rhythm and urgency encapsulate the album's overall themes.
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The Polygraph Cheaters — With its sharp critiques of dishonesty and societal pressures, this track stands out for its incisive lyrics combined with a relentless musical backdrop. It highlights the band's knack for addressing serious topics within a hardcore framework.
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Nobody Leaves Without Singing the Blues — This closing track distills the album's emotional weight into a brief yet impactful statement, leaving listeners with a sense of reflection. Its haunting melody contrasts with the otherwise fast-paced nature of the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album balances raw energy with introspective lyrics, showcasing strong composition but uneven cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tone, maintaining high energy through the first half before introducing slower, introspective moments.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from aggressive riffs to quieter sections, creating a dynamic contrast within individual songs.
- Lyrically, the album employs concise statements that often reflect personal and societal themes, enhancing the emotional weight of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- 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
- short bursts of intensity
- gradual emotional escalation
- raw energy for catharsis
- intrusive thoughts explored audibly
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, drawn-out pieces
- seek polished, mainstream sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Sundowning' was released in 2006, This Is Hell had established themselves within the hardcore punk scene with their previous album, 'Weight of the World' (2005). This album marked a continuation of their aggressive sound while showcasing a more refined approach to songwriting and thematic depth as they gained recognition beyond their local New York roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Converge· H2O· Shai Hulud
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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The Polygraph Cheaters
A verse directly confronts dishonesty in personal relationships with biting language that cuts through pretense. The abruptness of delivery intensifies the mes…
The stark shift in tone reveals deeper frustrations beneath surface-level grievances, emphasizing the personal stakes involved in betrayal.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Retrospect 1:01
- 2 Prelude (Again) 2:30
- 3 Here Comes the Rains 2:26
- 4 Permanence 4:05
- 5 4/8/05 0:28
- 6 The Polygraph Cheaters 2:29
- 7 Deliver Me 1:03
- 8 The Absentee Ballot 1:49
- 9 Broken Teeth 3:21
- 10 8/27/05 2:08
- 11 Procession Commence 2:19
- 12 Nobody Leaves Without Singing the Blues 1:55
- 13 Epilogue 2:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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