Review by JD on February 15, 2014.

Japan has been giving their version of heavy metal for years, coming out with everything from the amazing and brilliant (Loudness and Condemned) to the truly absurd (too many to list). The Japanese are a people always trying to innovate in all they do – and I like that. Faintest Hope is one such band.

Originally formed under the name Deathabalone (2007), they changed their name early in 2013, and kept their explosive melodic death metal style they had on one lowly EP they had. Comprising three guys and a small woman with a big voice, they seem to be in a league of their own as they show on their first full album. Powerful, uncompromising and impressively melodic – they show greatness in every note.

I am so impressed by the combination of melodic death metal that have very distinct additions of thrash/power riffs and time changes that elevates the band, showing that special something that most bands seem to have none of. Songs like the infectious "Rewind" to the punch in the face that is "Your Day Breaks" show a complexity that some DM seems to have lost.

Vocalist Miho Morisaki is so emotional in her delivery... hate mixed with a shadow of pain while wrapped in pure sorrow in spots – awesome. Arch Enemy’s Angela needs to watch her back, Miho kicks ass!!! Faintest Hope actually brings Japanese metal true hope – and more than just an actual chance of being a force all over the world. Truly this is one of the best albums coming out of the land of the rising sun.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8.5 (a few tweaks would have made this a 10)
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by JD on February 15, 2014.

Japan has been giving their version of heavy metal for years, coming out with everything from the amazing and brilliant (Loudness and Condemned) to the truly absurd (too many to list). The Japanese are a people always trying to innovate in all they do – and I like that. Faintest Hope is one such band.

Originally formed under the name Deathabalone (2007), they changed their name early in 2013, and kept their explosive melodic death metal style they had on one lowly EP they had. Comprising three guys and a small woman with a big voice, they seem to be in a league of their own as they show on their first full album. Powerful, uncompromising and impressively melodic – they show greatness in every note.

I am so impressed by the combination of melodic death metal that have very distinct additions of thrash/power riffs and time changes that elevates the band, showing that special something that most bands seem to have none of. Songs like the infectious "Rewind" to the punch in the face that is "Your Day Breaks" show a complexity that some DM seems to have lost.

Vocalist Miho Morisaki is so emotional in her delivery... hate mixed with a shadow of pain while wrapped in pure sorrow in spots – awesome. Arch Enemy’s Angela needs to watch her back, Miho kicks ass!!! Faintest Hope actually brings Japanese metal true hope – and more than just an actual chance of being a force all over the world. Truly this is one of the best albums coming out of the land of the rising sun.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8.5 (a few tweaks would have made this a 10)
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by JD on February 15, 2014.

Japan has been giving their version of heavy metal for years, coming out with everything from the amazing and brilliant (Loudness and Condemned) to the truly absurd (too many to list). The Japanese are a people always trying to innovate in all they do – and I like that. Faintest Hope is one such band.

Originally formed under the name Deathabalone (2007), they changed their name early in 2013, and kept their explosive melodic death metal style they had on one lowly EP they had. Comprising three guys and a small woman with a big voice, they seem to be in a league of their own as they show on their first full album. Powerful, uncompromising and impressively melodic – they show greatness in every note.

I am so impressed by the combination of melodic death metal that have very distinct additions of thrash/power riffs and time changes that elevates the band, showing that special something that most bands seem to have none of. Songs like the infectious "Rewind" to the punch in the face that is "Your Day Breaks" show a complexity that some DM seems to have lost.

Vocalist Miho Morisaki is so emotional in her delivery... hate mixed with a shadow of pain while wrapped in pure sorrow in spots – awesome. Arch Enemy’s Angela needs to watch her back, Miho kicks ass!!! Faintest Hope actually brings Japanese metal true hope – and more than just an actual chance of being a force all over the world. Truly this is one of the best albums coming out of the land of the rising sun.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8.5 (a few tweaks would have made this a 10)
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by Tomek on December 29, 2017.

The package that came from Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions some time ago is like a treasure chest, no matter what I pull out of it seems to be some kind of a gem in one way or another. Time Lurker is a French one man band/project that I’ve been listening to lately, and his first full length, self titled album is another one of those albums that does not want to leave my player.

For those of you that wonder about Time Lurker doings I can tell you that black metal with lots of atmosphere, some post and some gaze thrown in for a good measure would be a half assed attempt to explain it. Mick, who is the main and the only force behind this name, is a multi-instrumentalist that not only played all the instruments but also recorded and mixed all of it. Mastering was given to Jack Shirley, and vocals were done by Mick himself, as well as by Thibo, Tony, Cedric and Clem.  Not much more info was given out but not much more is needed since music is what we are going to talk about anyway. One man projects or bands in black metal are fairly common, but unfortunately rarely innovative. Time Lurker is not breaking any new grounds with this record but is also quite far from walking the beaten path. The first song couldn’t be a better choice for an opener since it contains all elements that are to be found on this album. With running time of almost 12 minutes, it manages to exhibit everything the Time Lurker is about. Black metal riffs that are violent, ferocious, viciously fast but also wickedly memorable interchange with instrumental passages that sound hauntingly mesmerizing. The instrumental atmospheric parts that satiate songs with aspects of sadness, pain and melancholy are dramatic and insanely epic. Truly fascinating listen with attention steered just to those elements but once vocals are added into equation everything intensifies. Black metal shrieks, possessed screams, maniacal screech and some deeper growl at occasion are mere words when trying to explain insanity that happens here. To think about it, this could be an explanation of why there were so many people involved in recording of vocals. One throat could not handle this madness of the vocal chords! This album is crammed with many great segments but none of it would be happen without hard work of the rhythm section. From the very beginning to the very end, it carries whatever happens on this album with an excessive, consistent, machine gun force. It suits the music well and the more carefully I listened, the more I realized how important it is in this whole scheme. All pieces were put together masterfully and finished with production that’s more on organic side and somewhat blurred, which only helps the album achieving more original, untidy but still selective sound.

Time Lurker was a very satisfying experience of going into imaginative regions. It may take couple of spins to fully appreciate it, but if this is Mick’s first album, there is no telling where he is going to take us next. With the talent that he possesses, with the way he creates his fascinating musical passages and with how the whole story entangles, it is a must to keep an eye on this band. Give it a try but be ready for a long and introspective trip to where several universes gather as one.

Rating: 8 out of 10