The 2019 Arsies: February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

Emotion	●●○	●●●
Memorability	●●●	●●●
Replayability	●●●	●●●
Innovation	●●○	●●●
Pace	●●○	●●○
Shredding	●●●	●●○
Vocals	●●○	●●●
Production	●●●	●●○
		✓

Today’s outcome reminds me why it’s so important to actually do the listening. Coming into the contest, I was sure that Decapitated had it in the bag. After all, Carnival Is Forever is clearly the more brutal — nay, metal — of today’s offerings, yes? And yet, for me brutality is a measure of something bigger: an emotional euthenticity. It matter less that a musician bangs their head, and more that what they do make me headbang along. On the basis of emotionality, Dualism has always resonated with me more, and in more ways. Shockingly, for the last time a former overall winner of the Arsies fails to make it into this year’s Quarterfinals. Textures advance!
And that’s it for the Round Of 16. Tomorrow, we get ready for the weekend with the first of our Quarterfinals matches: BTBAM₂₀₁₈ vs The Human Abstract!