Pale Horses
by mewithoutYou
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Aug 24, 2015
    90
    mewithoutYou once more have put out a unique assortment of tracks.
  2. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jun 25, 2015
    90
    mewithoutYou have done something that feels nearly impossible with Pale Horses, and that’s recreate themselves without losing what made them interesting. It’s so effortless that it’s hard not to wonder if a higher power was involved.
  3. Clash Music
    Jul 27, 2015
    80
    It's as personal an album as he's ever written--more than just an amalgamation of the band's previous work, it is perhaps the purest distillation yet of everything that makes them who and what they are: rewarding, confusing, joyous, heartbreaking, immediate and profound, all in one.
  5. Kerrang!
    Jul 23, 2015
    80
    Aaron and mewithoutYou have authored what's possibly their best album. [25 Jul 2015, p.52]
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  6. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 24, 2015
    80
    Pale Horses easily stands on its own as one of the year’s better albums. It entails almost all of the band’s greatest strengths, with the vigor that comes from a renewed focus on the post-hardcore stylings of yesteryear.
  7. Alternative Press
    Jun 24, 2015
    80
    A well-rounded album that might be mewithoutYou’s best.
  8. Exclaim
    Jun 24, 2015
    80
    Pale Horses compiles all of the strengths of mewithoutYou into a gorgeous, dense package that remains engaging throughout.
  9. Pitchfork
    Jun 24, 2015
    72
    Musically, Pale Horses functions as a kind of career summary, compressing their musical digressions into a coherent whole.
  10. The Line of Best Fit
    Jul 21, 2015
    70
    Pale Horses stands as a testament that it will be a good while before brothers Weiss and co. are long gone.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. BrushedRed
    Jun 25, 2015
    9
    Wonderful album! Better than Ten Stories, but not quite on Brother, Sister or Catch For Us the Fox's level. The sound is both old and new andWonderful album! Better than Ten Stories, but not quite on Brother, Sister or Catch For Us the Fox's level. The sound is both old and new and combines all of them very well. I was very excited to listen to this after hearing "Red Cow" and it certainly does not disappoint. Critics have it wrong with this one as it's better than a 78. Pitchfork's review made me laugh. They basically praised the whole album but then gave it a 7.2. God forbid anyone but Kanye get over a 9. If you're a fan of the band then this is a must-have.… Full Review »
  2. MacsMusic
    Nov 3, 2018
    8
    Pale Horses is an extremely bleak, depressing, dark album. The main theme of the album is no less that the end of the world. It revels inPale Horses is an extremely bleak, depressing, dark album. The main theme of the album is no less that the end of the world. It revels in vibrant imagery, most of which comes from the book of Revelation (the final book of the Bible in which the earth is devastated and re-made). The lyrics reference historical characters and events as well, like on "Rainbow Signs" where Mewithoutyou reference Napoleon and Waterloo. The singing ranges from soft and subtle to aggressive and loud, often changing on a single song. The final song is the boldest example of this, starting subtle and quiet, slowly becoming extremely loud and aggressive, and ending on almost a whisper. The quiet singing on this album sounds magical and beautiful, giving the poetic lyrics another layer of power and beauty. The music is high-quality throughout, with many great moments. "Mexican War Streets" sounds great, and the same can be said of pretty much every song on this album. These songs feel meaningful and powerful, with great poetry, darkness, and mystery. The most impressive song on this album has to be the closer, "Rainbow Signs." It's profound, haunting, and very memorable. With great singing and haunting, powerful lyrics and music, Pale Horses is an unquestionably strong album.… Full Review »
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