The Heart Is a Monster
Failure · 2015
63 min · 18 tracks · alternative rock
A cosmic blend of heavy instrumentation and ethereal melodies, encapsulating a journey through emotional landscapes and existential musings.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hot Traveler — This track exemplifies the album's blend of heavy riffs with atmospheric layers, creating a dynamic listening experience that captures the band's unique style.
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Snow Angel — With its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics, this song highlights the emotional depth of the album, showcasing the band's ability to balance heaviness with vulnerability.
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Come Crashing — This track features an explosive energy that encapsulates the band's return to form, blending intricate guitar work with powerful vocals that drive the narrative forward.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy instrumentation with ethereal melodies, maintaining a cohesive flow through its segues.
What we noticed
- The album features multiple interludes, with seven segues that create a sense of continuity and thematic flow between the main tracks.
- Several tracks incorporate heavy guitar riffs paired with atmospheric synths, creating a contrast between aggression and ethereality.
- The song structures often shift unexpectedly, with changes in tempo and dynamics that keep the listener engaged throughout its lengthy runtime.
- 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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8/10
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
- cosmic soundscapes for introspection
- patient emotional explorations unfold
- late-night existential musings
- ethereal melodies with heavy instrumentation
- immersive journey through feelings
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer upbeat and concise tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on June 30, 2015, The Heart Is a Monster marked Failure's first album in nearly two decades since their breakup in 1997. This album came after their reunion and serves as a follow-up to their 1996 release, Fantastic Planet, showcasing the band's evolution while retaining their signature sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Hum· Catherine Wheel· A Perfect Circle
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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I Can See Houses
A transition in perspective occurs when the imagery shifts from personal reflection to broader societal commentary, creating a poignant contrast.
This shift enhances the thematic complexity by juxtaposing intimate feelings with larger existential questions, deepening the listener's engagement with the lyrics.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Segue 4 1:07
- 2 Hot Traveler 4:52
- 3 A.M. Amnesia 4:50
- 4 Snow Angel 3:32
- 5 Atom City Queen 3:57
- 6 Segue 5 1:22
- 7 Counterfeit Sky 4:46
- 8 Petting the Carpet 4:50
- 9 Mulholland Dr. 4:32
- 10 Fair Light Era 3:09
- 11 Segue 6 1:15
- 12 Come Crashing 4:02
- 13 Segue 7 1:09
- 14 The Focus 3:36
- 15 Otherwhere 3:22
- 16 Segue 8 1:59
- 17 I Can See Houses 6:33
- 18 Segue 9 4:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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