Artist: Filter Album: The Amalgamut

Year: 2002
Duration: 56:57

Filter's The Amalgamut: A Critical Review

Filter's The Amalgamut, released in 2002, was a highly anticipated album for the band after their commercial success with their hit single Take a Picture from their previous album. As an alternative rock band, Filter's sound in The Amalgamut is a unique blend of industrial, electronic, and metal influences. In this critical review, we'll explore the history of the band, the genre of the album, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts, and my critique of the album.

Richard Patrick is the mastermind behind Filter, formed in 1993, after his departure from the band Nine Inch Nails. Filter made a name for themselves with their debut album, Short Bus, released in 1995. With their 2002 album, The Amalgamut, Filter evolves their sound with more electronic and industrial influences, different from their previous albums. This album showcases a unified and cohesive sound, mainly attributed to Richard Patrick's vision.

The Amalgamut can be described as an alternative rock album with hints of metal and industrial rock. The album features synthetic sounds and distorted guitars that create a perfect balance in every song. The album's opening track, You Walk Away, sets the album's tone, featuring the melodic yet intense vocal performance style that Richard Patrick employs. Another standout track is Where Do We Go from Here, with its catchy chorus and unrelenting guitar riffs.

The most innovative part of the album is the way Richard Patrick blends genres seamlessly. The Missing features a unique blend of heavy industrial sounds and a piano melody, making it sound like a great rock ballad. The song Columind brings to light Patrick's clever songwriting abilities, as he sings about the horrendous events of the Columbine shootings.

While The Amalgamut is a solid album, it falls short in a few songs. So I Quit, The Only Way, and God Damn Me sounded repetitive and lacked the excitement and depth the other songs offered. Although Richard Patrick's vocals are impressive in every track, some of the lyrics do not match the quality of the melodies.

In conclusion, The Amalgamut is Filter's finest album yet and showcases a more mature and developed sound compared to their previous works. Richard Patrick's genius of combining genres and creating something fresh in every track makes this album stand out. The Amalgamut offered a good blend of industrial and alternative rock with some of the most exceptional songs in alternative rock history. While some songs didn't match the album's overall quality, it's still a great listen for fans of industrial, metal, or alternative rock.