Death Is Birth
| Death Is Birth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 5 December 2011 | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk | |||
| Length | 7:39 | |||
| Label | Thirty Days of Night, 6131 | |||
| Producer | Joby J. Ford | |||
| Gallows chronology | ||||
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Death Is Birth is an EP released by the British hardcore punk band Gallows, released 5 December 2011 through Thirty Days of Night Records. It is the band's first release with singer Wade MacNeil, formerly of Alexisonfire, who replaced original Gallows singer Frank Carter when the latter left the band in July 2011. The EP was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Joby J. Ford of The Bronx.[1] It includes a re-recording of the track "True Colours", previously released as a free download in August 2011.[2]
Background
Frank Carter the original vocalist of Gallows announced in early July 2011 that he would be leaving Gallows because of differing opinions in writing the band's follow-up album to their second release Grey Britain. His departure was effective on 1 August after the band's final tour dates.[3] Just eight days after Frank's departure, on the 9 August 2011, MacNeil was confirmed as the new Gallows vocalist. MacNeil has stated that the members of Gallows asked him initially out of coincidence that Alexisonfire had disbanded and Gallows needed a new singer.[4] With Frank's departure fans of the band started to believe that he left because he wanted to continue playing heavy music, while the band wanted to go in a more melodic direction; the band decided to release something to show this as false.[5]
From the moment Wade's arrived in Britain in July Gallows started writing new material to follow up to their 2009 album Grey Britain.
Themes
The EP has been seen by critics simply as "unapologetic hardcore punk"[8] and being the most aggressive work Gallows had done so far. A more Americanised influence can be heard throughout the EP as it's been likened to bands like Cancer Bats and Every Time I Die.[9] MacNeil had always stated the EP helped build on what he has always liked about Gallows; he considers it being "Four songs like a kick in the teeth".[7] In the writing of the new extended play the band focused on less typical song structures and focused on the chaotic sound from live shows. MacNeil believed that "sometimes you don't need to overcomplicate things. Obviously, we're trying to write music that's chaotic and is going to be something that comes across vicious-sounding live... you don't repeat it four times, you do it once, and you don't have a bridge."[4] Gallows guitarist Laurent Barnard said how the EP would not sound similar to the band's third studio album by saying "If you're going to make a punk rock EP, you might as well make it the most punk rock thing you can really."[5]
Music critics have described True Colours upon its release as a single as "the most brutal thing Gallows has done."[4] Andrew Ford of Hit The Floor Magazine considered it a "36 second middle finger to all those who have suggested this is the end of the road for the Watford lads."[9] Something which both critics and Wade MacNeil himself have acknowledged is his distinct tone of voice from Frank Carter[4] even to the point in which their fan base could be divided over the decision to have Wade in the band.[9] Wade wanted the EP and the future lyrics of Gallows records to have a much more global view. Believing that the band's second studio album Grey Britain had too much of a British perspective.[4]
Release and promotion
The band released the first song from the EP, True Colours for free download on 29 August 2011 from their band website.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Popmatters |   [17] |
| Rock Sound | 9/10[18] |
| Thrash Hits |   [19] |
Death Is Birth received positive reception from music critics. British publication
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mondo Chaos" | 2:37 |
| 2. | "True Colours" | 0:36 |
| 3. | "Hate! Hate! Hate!" | 2:02 |
| 4. | "Death Is Birth" | 2:24 |
| Total length: | 7:39 | |
Personnel
- Wade MacNeil – lead vocals
- Laurent "Lags" Barnard – guitar, backing vocals
- Steph Carter – guitar, backing vocals
- Stuart Gili-Ross – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Lee Barratt – drums, percussion
References
- Footnotes
- ^ New Musical Express. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ SpinMedia.
- ^ "Frank Carter to quit Gallows". NME. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Zaleski 2011, p. 1.
- ^ a b c Bezer 2012, p. 54.
- ^ a b Knapper 2012, p. 11.
- ^ a b "Gallows to release new EP 'Death Is Birth' in December". NME. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
For me this record builds on what I've always loved about Gallows. No posturing. No pretense. Four songs like a kick in the teeth.
- ^ Alex Hudson (14 November 2011). "Gallows Unveil 'Death Is Birth' EP". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ Glam Media. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ "Gallows offer first song with Wade MacNeil as free download". NME. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ "Videos: Gallows: "Mondo Chaos"". Punknews.org. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- Alternative Press. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Zaleski 2011, p. 2.
- ^ "Gallows release "Death Is Birth" EP on vinyl via 6131 Records". Alternative Press.
- ^ Alternative Press.
- ^ ISSN 0262-6624.
- Popmatters. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- ISSN 1465-0185.
- ^ a b Danger, Vincent (8 December 2011). "EP: Gallows - Death Is Birth". Thrash Hits. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- Bibliography
- Bezer, Terry (February 2012). Darren Taylor (ed.). "Class Of 2012: Gallows". ISSN 1465-0185.
- Knapper, Rob (24 September 2012). "Issue 15 of Stencil Mag". Stencil Magazine. pp. 11–15. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
- Zaleski, Annie (9 August 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Wade MacNeil on becoming Gallows' new singer". Alternative Press. Retrieved 9 July 2012.