We Are the Nightmare
Arsis · 2008
77 min · 11 tracks · melodic death metal
A ferocious blend of intricate guitar work and relentless rhythms, underscored by visceral lyrical themes and melodic hooks.
Top tracks — play these first
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We Are the Nightmare — The title track exemplifies the album's thematic depth, combining haunting melodies with aggressive instrumentation that captures the band's signature style.
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Shattering the Spell — This track features dynamic shifts between melodic passages and brutal riffs, showcasing the band's ability to balance aggression with intricacy.
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A Feast for the Liar’s Tongue — With its complex structure and engaging lyrics about deceit, this song stands out as a highlight of both musicality and thematic exploration within the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases technical proficiency and thematic depth but struggles with cohesion due to its bonus content.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features rapid tempo changes and intricate guitar solos, setting a high-energy tone.
- Several tracks incorporate dual guitar harmonies that create a dense, layered sound, particularly evident in 'A Feast for the Liar’s Tongue'.
- The lyrical themes are consistently dark and introspective, with each song exploring different facets of despair and conflict.
- The final track is a making-of documentary, which disrupts the flow of the album by introducing non-musical content.
- 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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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
- steady build to a climax
- relentless energy for focused sessions
- intricate riffs for detail hunters
- haunting melodies for late nights
- immersive journey through intensity
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- avoid lengthy listening experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'We Are the Nightmare' was released in 2008, Arsis was establishing itself as a prominent force in melodic death metal. This album followed their critically acclaimed release, 'United in Regret,' and showcased their evolution with more complex arrangements and darker themes, solidifying their reputation within the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dark Tranquillity· In Flames· Soilwork
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 We Are the Nightmare 4:03
- 2 Shattering the Spell 4:03
- 3 Sightless Wisdom 3:39
- 4 Servants to the Night 4:15
- 5 Failing Winds of Hopeless Greed 3:36
- 6 Overthrown 3:44
- 7 Progressive Entrapment 4:16
- 8 A Feast for the Liar’s Tongue 3:48
- 9 My Oath to Madness 3:53
- 10 Failure’s Conquest 5:25
Disc 2
- 1 Making of “We Are the Nightmare” 36:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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