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Hypermagic Mountain Image
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 106 Ratings

  • Summary: The abrasive bass/drums duo of Brian Gibson and Brian Chippendal return with a follow-up to 2003's 'Wonderful Rainbow.'
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. This is a great record, if it is a record.
  2. The compressed, cleaned-up ferocity of Hypermagic Mountain is a leap of refinement in every way, a sign that the band, while lushly unripe, is ripening gracefully.
  3. Essentially, the Brians don't really need to innovate that much anymore and instead are just fine-tuning their craft in glorious ways.
  4. Mojo
    80
    Lightning Bolt consistently sound like no one else. [Dec 2005, p.105]
  5. Uncut
    80
    Their heaviest to date. [Nov 2005, p.108]
  6. Underneath all the scuzz and spasm, though, they're a groove band, hustling a hard-edged experimentalism you don't have to work hard to enjoy.
  7. Hypermagic Mountain absolutely trounces nearly every other act in its general stylistic area. Regrettably, however, the duo’s fourth album lacks the formal and emotional peaks and valleys that encourage listening and re-listening to albums in other less hectic and punishing genres.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 76
  2. Negative: 29 out of 76
  1. md7md7
    Oct 26, 2005
    10
    A bloody F@#$ing Trip. Great Heights and on and on and on. It lasted an hour it felt like 10 minutes. Really Nice. It appeals in both ways: A bloody F@#$ing Trip. Great Heights and on and on and on. It lasted an hour it felt like 10 minutes. Really Nice. It appeals in both ways: difficul and experimental opposed by simplicity and appealness of their sound. Expand
  2. funkink
    Apr 16, 2006
    10
    relentless. I'd never listen to anything else, that is, of course, if i can sew my ears back on and scoop my spattered skull from the relentless. I'd never listen to anything else, that is, of course, if i can sew my ears back on and scoop my spattered skull from the wall behind me. Expand
  3. SeanP.
    Mar 7, 2007
    10
    I've seen polarized views, but this is definitely the apex of what i've seen. 5.6 overall customer rating, pockmarked with 0s, 1s, I've seen polarized views, but this is definitely the apex of what i've seen. 5.6 overall customer rating, pockmarked with 0s, 1s, 9s, and 10s. Haha, and as it should be, because this is absolutely a love-it-or-hate-it work of art. You're either on its wave-length, or you're denounce it as trash halfway through the first song. I'm the former, and i will not be able to live without owning this music. My girlfriend is the latter. So be it. Lightning Bolt has accomplished its mission. A cult they remain. And boy am i glad to be in that cult. Expand
  4. DrGoob
    Oct 29, 2005
    9
    When I first got this album, I thought it was the worst, most unlistenable noise I had ever heard. I couldn't even listen to it the When I first got this album, I thought it was the worst, most unlistenable noise I had ever heard. I couldn't even listen to it the whole way through. Since I try to give everything a chance before I decide to hate it, the next day I came back to it, even though I dreaded having to listen to something so crap again. And it was awesome . I spent the next hour alternately rocking out to the dense, sweaty riffs and beats and laughing my arse off at the sheer crazyness of it. So make sure you give this album a chance, and it will reward you well. It's also awesomely good for annoying uptight neighbours and roommates. The only downside is that your friends and family will think you've gone insane the first time they hear it. Expand
  5. Matt
    Nov 5, 2005
    3
    I give it 3 points because this music has its place in the music world. But I don't hear the melody, and it grates on me a lot. Might I give it 3 points because this music has its place in the music world. But I don't hear the melody, and it grates on me a lot. Might have been a bit better with stronger vocals. Expand
  6. MarkR
    Oct 30, 2005
    1
    Intense is not the same as good. Where are the hooks and the melody that u can return too?
  7. jubjubpoooop
    Oct 25, 2005
    0
    hated it!

See all 76 User Reviews

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