Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Structural Disorder: And The Cage Crumbles ...
Structural Disorder - And The Cage Crumbles In The Final Scene CD Album Review

Structural Disorder: And The Cage ...

Progressive Metal
3.0/5.0

Almost to the month, Sweden's Structural Disorder has released a new album every two years. They return with their third album with a very clever title: ... And The Cage Crumbles In The Final Scene. And the provocative title may be the best thing about this album.

Structural Disorder Band Photo

Spartan Warrior

Honestly, I didn't much like this album, finding it a difficult listen over all. It's heavy, thrashy, and thumping in large parts with generous thick riffs and a deep bottom end. There's also a lot of staccato drumming, especially within Nine Lies and Mirage. Then there's the vocals. I'm not sure who the lead vocalist is; four players are given credit for vocals. But the vocals seem all over place: clean and melodic to monotone moaning to screamo to death vocals. The latter are particularly harsh within Mirage, The Fool Who Would Be King, and Drowning.

But here's the thing: those last two songs are examples of where Structural Disorder can be interesting, but in parts. Within the former there's carnival like electric accordion. In Drowning, there's a nice acoustic guitar and bass breakdown after the midpoint, and more accordion at the end. I never thought I would find or like accordion in progressive metal, but I did. Weird Al Yankovic would be so proud.

In the end, the best, most accessible, and pleasing song here is the instrumental Kerosene which, driven by a fine piano melody, casts aside the problems of the thrashy heaviness and disappointing vocals. Basically, I found Structural Disorder's ... And The Cage Crumbles In The Final Scene to be, in parts, curious and interesting, but as a whole, mostly disappointing. You may feel differently.

No Video Provided by Artist or Label


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

I found Structural Disorder's ... And The Cage Crumbles In The Final Scene to be, in parts, curious and interesting, but as a whole, mostly disappointing and a difficult listen. You may feel differently.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]