official Covenant Forum

Too fast here too... one vote for the Northern Light the next should go to.....








...*drrrrrrrrrrrrums*...
























...Skyshaper

You know my answer to this question would definately change by the cay and the mood that I am in... i voted for USOM and Northern Lights.... those two always seem to be on the top...

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Originally posted by erichazann
Once again, I pulled the trigger too soon and only voted for one: Europa... but I can't even think what my second fave would be.. so I guess that worked.

I did just the same, my vote was for Northern Lights, but if I could redo and pick a second, it would be a tossup between Sequencer and United States of Mind. I loved Sequencer for Stalker, just the same my roommate did, and then he pointed out Tour De Force on USOM, so, just for my pick, Sequencer.

It's always interesting to see the many different opinions on albums within a fan communitiy. I'm for one very surprised by the high ranking of Sequencer. In my opinion it's by far their weakest album, apart from "Stalker", which is also overrated, no real song with an exciting melody line, too monotonous, everything sounds too similar, just doesn't ooze the songwriting class of the following albums. anyway, obvious choice 1. "Skyshaper 2. "Northern Light. One of the few bands out there who have grown constantly better and become (with the aformentioned exception of the first two) more musical and exciting with every album!

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Originally posted by grudge
It's always interesting to see the many different opinions on albums within a fan communitiy. I'm for one very surprised by the high ranking of Sequencer. In my opinion it's by far their weakest album, apart from "Stalker", which is also overrated, no real song with an exciting melody line, too monotonous, everything sounds too similar...

I think what you interpret as monotony and similarity is intentional though- for one, look at the subject matter of the song. The musical composition fits it quite well imo; heavy, repetitive, persistent; with the emphasis on persistent. The composition feels, well, *stalker-y*. My interpretation anyway.

Personally, I love Sequencer- it's a tossup between that, Europa, and Skyshaper as to the one I like best. The tone, feel, and composition of those albums holistically seem the most consistent and tight to me. I'm not so fond of Northern Light and United States of Mind, unlike most people here. Aside from a few tracks on each, they as a whole don't really move me like other albums do and I find I skip a lot of tracks. And to me, "Helicopter" doesn't sound like it should even *be* on United States of Mind. It's too introspective compared to the other tracks. Doesn't quite fit, imo.

Anyway. Just my thoughts.

Interesting points, but no matter whether the monotony is intentional and "fits to the subject matter of the song", it's eventually just monotonous and boring for me. Thus, I also find the popular "Helicopter" on USOM the probably "worst track" on an otherwise brilliant album. I definitely couldn't have become a fan within the release period of the first three albums but in hindsight those albums "make sense" in Covenants musical progression. Nowadays they are not only able to create rythm, beats and atmosphere but also wonderful songs

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Originally posted by grudge
Interesting points, but no matter whether the monotony is intentional and "fits to the subject matter of the song", it's eventually just monotonous and boring for me. Thus, I also find the popular "Helicopter" on USOM the probably "worst track" on an otherwise brilliant album. I definitely couldn't have become a fan within the release period of the first three albums but in hindsight those albums "make sense" in Covenants musical progression. Nowadays they are not only able to create rythm, beats and atmosphere but also wonderful songs

It's nice to see that you DO :perfekt: recognize that their earlier works shouldn't be ignored and shouldn't be criticized basing yourself on newer works. While you feel the song (Stalker) is too monotonous, I personally felt the monotony to fit and compliment the message, like many other fans here. However, I disagree with your statement about Helicopter being on the wrong album. If you listen to each of their albums, you'll notice that there's at least 1 song that touches a little further back and feels it needs to be on the previous album. I always chalked this up to the fact they can't put everything on a single disc, and just held onto it until next release. I think this happened with Dead Stars, i've seen it show up on early promos as the finished version but didn't see it on an actual album until a bit later, somebody please correct me if i'm wrong. Anyways, browse through your collection of Covenant, i'm sure you'll see what I'm talking about with the step back into the past, they've done it consistently, whether intentionally or unintentionally only they will know, it's always been a great thing to look forward to for me. a touch back to roots.

Enjoy they that are the Covenant. They've been for 20 years, and they've gained a following, for good reason, they're good at what they do. Like you said "putting together beats, a rhythm, and atmosphere." Here's a hint for older stuff, ignore newer stuff and set your mind for that album only, and then listen, you'll get into the groove of where they were then. They were good back then too, just gotta hear it.

Europa and United States of Mind are my current albums that are played most.

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Originally posted by Niggels
Just listening to USOM, and it strikes me how underrated this album is. After all, this album was a kind of breakthrough for the band and features all-time classics like Dead Starts and Like Tears In Rain/Der Leiermann.

Though I'm still not too fond of No Man's Land I really think that some of the album tracks like Helicopter and The Unforgiven belongs to the bands best stuff.

*Totally* agree with you about Helicopter, and I still stand by my sentiment that it's the strongest track on the album imho...

I wish I could answer this poll.

Personally, there is no song or album I hate or even dislike. I've listened to every album, to every Single, to every song (well sans the extras from the american releases) and I love them all. Course there may be a few songs I prefer but.. I don't think I've ever skipped a song or not enjoyed a track off any album.

I guess I will say Dreams of a Cryotank is my favourite. I read a few earlier posts about there being errors in this album and it is excusable since it's the debut and such but to me.. It is probably their best due to it BEING their debut. Without this album, who knows what could've happened. We may not even know of the band we know today, this is what started everything so to speak and if you cannot love that (or respect it) then I personally don't think you truly admire this group.

For me perfection is only seen through a flawed beauty.. You love something because of this or that, not despite of it. You accept the flaws for what they are and love it because of them.

..I'm rambling. Should I try for a second album?

i love all albums of them, but especially the live album synergy (helicopter!) and sequencer.

I didn't mean admire to the full.. well "strength" of the word. More of a lack of a synonym on my behalf, I didn't sleep for two nights prior to these posts so they're a little all over the place. It wasn't really about "admiring" the band moreso just understanding their roots and respecting that because without it you possibly wouldn't have a lot of the tracks you enjoy fom that.

Sorry for any mistranslation on my behalf, though I will blame it on the lack of sleep and still some slight annoyance at missing the concert, lol.

done. U.S.O.M.
but also northern light is very beautiful!

Definitiv Northern Light.
Es enthält die meisten "songs" mit Bullet, Call the Ships, We stand alone", aber auch atmosphärische Stücke wie "When winter comes", "Scared" und "Atlas". Eine gute Mischung!

Northern Light
Sequencer

I voted for United States of Mind and Northern Lights, in that order. Reason being that those two albums, with Skyshaper coming in a near third, contain my enduring favorite songs by Covenant. USoM especially, I think, is terribly underrated. Whereas Sequencer was an extremely consistent album even to be point of being repetitive, USoM struck me as being powerful because each of the songs was exceptionally well-developed. I can recall sitting down to listen to Sequencer and afterwards not being able to distinguish one song from the others. This was absolutely not the case with with songs like No Man's Land, Helicopter, Tour De Force, Afterhours, Dead Stars, or Still Life.

sequencer and northern light