Before A Million Universes
by Big Ups
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. No Ripcord
    Apr 13, 2016
    60
    The whole of it is too calculated, even if they occasionally hit the mark with an obvious attention to craft which, to be fair, certainly counts for something.
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Mar 16, 2016
    60
    While this doesn’t exactly add up to any profound reinvention of genre, Before a Million Universes thrives best without thinking.
  3. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Mar 15, 2016
    60
    Before a Million Universes is made up of good songs. Certain ones, you'll want to listen to over and over. But as a full record with two centered roadblocks, it needs you to earn the experience.
  5. Clash Music
    Mar 4, 2016
    60
    On occasions it’s a disappointing walk through ‘hardcore by numbers’ routines peppered in clever imagery and breakneck instrumentation.
  6. DIY Magazine
    Mar 4, 2016
    60
    They don’t often get the time to build a song from nothingness to explosion quite as well as they mastered on their debut. It’s a powerplay that largely works, yet still takes enough rests to showcase a frantically beating heart and a definite intelligence underneath.

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Custom_Concerns
    Apr 9, 2016
    7
    TLDR: Some big Slint fans make an album 20 years too late...but it is really quite good.

    Do you like math rock? Post-hardcore? Midwest emo?    TLDR: Some big Slint fans make an album 20 years too late...but it is really quite good.

    Do you like math rock? Post-hardcore? Midwest emo? Big Ups sure must, as they've taken directly from the likes of Slint, Fugazi, Modest Mouse, and others on their sophomore record. The punk band brings an entertaining ferocity to these tracks with raw guitar, bombastic drums, and, in true Slint style, mostly spoken-word, whispered vocals. Despite being extremely derivative, Big Ups definitely hold their own with some fantastic instrumentation and very solid songwriting. They know exactly what they are doing on this record and own it. Definitely check it out if you want to something raw and aggressive.

    76/100    … Full Review »
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