In the Randomised Record series, I take us both on an adventure to (re)discover my record collection. Fate decides: whether it be that obscure grunge album I bought recently or that emo rap record from 2017. Nothing is safe from the hands of the randomiser! I will listen to the entire album and highlight my favourite song off of it here on the blog. Do I still enjoy my records as much as when I bought ‘em? Let’s find out. Today, episode 2: ‘Doppelgänger’ (2005) by The Fall of Troy.

I am in luck today! My second Randomised Record turns out to be one of my favourite albums of all time. The Fall of Troy’s classic ‘Doppelgänger’ had been on my wishlist for absolute years before I was finally able to get my hands on this beauty last August, during a gig of the math rock icons. Never did I thought it would be an actual beauty, given its ‘Purple with Neon Green & Black Splatter’ appearance remained a surprise for me right until I opened it after the gig. A colour combination that unique surely must make for a first in my collection. One thing you should know is that I love myself some coloured vinyl. No picture discs, though. I hate picture discs. Let that be clear! Before getting too side tracked, let me tell you some stories about this album.

With ‘F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.‘, ‘Mouths Like Sidewinder Missiles’, and ‘I Just Got This Symphony Goin’, ‘Doppelgänger’ already has quite the representation on the blog. However, if it’s up to me, pretty much the entire album deserves to be in the playlist. Probably like many others, my first ever introduction to The Fall of Troy was when playing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as a kid. ‘F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.’ features on the soundtrack and quickly became my favourite song to play due to its fast paced melodies and unique song structure. The older I got, the more I started to enjoy this eccentric and distinctive sound that mathcore and -rock have to offer. Before I knew it, I found myself listening to ‘Doppelgänger’ over and over again. Listening to this album is like watching a Charlie Kaufman film for the 6th time and yet again noticing some key details you didn’t spot before. It’s a puzzle within a puzzle. These complex and captivating symphonies combined with powerful instrumentation and high BPM make for an enthralling piece of art. For me, ‘Doppelgänger’ truly is one of a kind. It lured me in and never let me go. And I will listen to it again, over and over.