Rank Pentakill II songs

Rank the songs on the album and give reasons, y'all! Here's mine.

1. Infinity Edge: Out of all the songs on this album, I keep coming back to this one. And to be perfectly honest, it's probably because one line just sticks the hell in my mind. "The edge cares not, so why should I?" I could probably go on and say more about eerie vocals and a mixture of drums and deliciously crunchy bass that make for a truly powerful backing track, but everything I want to think about that song just tracks right back to that one gloriously cheesy line.

2. Dead Man's Plate: Metal screams and some truly excellent guitar work in the quieter bits make for a piece that I didn't really expect to like as much as I did. Seriously though, that wavering, rolling guitar in the opening minute and a half or so just keeps sticking with me even when it gets replaced by the heavier bass and chugging riffs that Jørn's steel scream signals. Fortunately, it shows up again for the solo...man, I wish I could play guitar like that.

3. The Bloodthirster: This one's all Jørn, honestly. He wrings every bit of power and motive force out of himself and into this one that he can, and the cadence and pronunciation is truly excellent. But aside from a decent solo and some rather good bass work, that's really it for what's noticeable about this song.

4. Frozen Heart: Honestly, the opening of this song doesn't match the rest of it. It goes from somewhat aggressive and heavy to what is most definitely the ballad of this album. And it's an interesting ballad, in that it takes the form of some poetic interludes and a chorus. But of course what is most interesting and noticeable about this song is the dual vocals, and the rather beautiful harmonies that come from them. Real talk, I didn't expect the female turn on the poetic bits would be so...uh, deep and scratchy. But it works, and when she goes high, he follows and they work beautifully.

5. Tear of the Goddess: Ballad-like, this is definitely one of the quieter and slower pieces on the album. But the soaring vocals and the truly excellent chorus convince me that I'm not wrong in placing it up here in the top half of the list.

6. The Cull: Going with a slow opener was definitely the right choice. Jørn and the bass are once again prominent features, but this time the drums are a little more apparent, and Jørn gets to be less forceful and instead is a little harsher. Good, but ultimately surpassed.

7. Mortal Reminder: This could (should) be higher, but the quieter speaking bits just kind of didn't work for me. Also, I don't think Jørn does story songs particularly well as opposed to ones he can just unleash on? Maybe I'm just rationalizing here. The closing portion is excellent though.

8. Rapid Firecannon: The pounding speed and aggression that this song begins with is promising, but the way it kind of descends into chaos and the fairly strained growling of the vocals means it basically squanders that promise. Could probably stand to be half as long and half again as fast.

9. Blade of the Ruined King: As a very great fan of power/symphonic metal, I like this. I want to like this more, but I'm honestly burned the hell out on operatic chorus backing vocals and songs that meander all over without overarching themes or really knowing when they want to end. It may just be that seven minutes of pure instrumental is too much for me.

10. Hex Core Mk 2: It's a good beat, and I like the scratchy sampling, but despite the verse being pretty good and the solo on it being bitchin', it's a song with only one verse (and a repeating verse at that) and that just takes so much away from it for me.

So what about you folks?