(The) New Release

Last updated
(the) New Release
Primer 55 The New Release.jpg
Studio album by
Primer 55
ReleasedAugust 14, 2001
RecordedEarly 2001
Studio
Genre
Length44:58 [2]
Label Island
Producer
Primer 55 chronology
Introduction to Mayhem
(2000)		(the) New Release
(2001)		 Family for Life
(2007)
Singles from (the) New Release
  1. "This Life"
    Released: July 16, 2001

(the) New Release is the second and final studio album by American nu metal band Primer 55. Released on August 14, 2001, the album peaked at number one on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 102 on the Billboard 200. It had one single, "This Life," which peaked at number 37 on Mainstream Rock Tracks. [3] This would be the band's final record with Island Records, who allegedly cut support shortly after the album's release due to the September 11 attacks. [4]

Contents

Recording

Primer 55 had underdone various lineup changes preceding and during the recording process of (the) New Release. After the band's first eighteen months of touring, guitarist Bobby Burns started writing the band's second major label album. He played all guitars and bass in the studio and brought in ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier. While in the studio, Burns also began talks with drummer Preston Nash of Dope with whom Primer 55 had previously toured. By May 2001, the band had officially recruited former Cut.Love.Kill bassist Chris Sprinkle but mere weeks later announced Kobie Jackson as their new bassist. [5]

Musical style

Whereas the band's major label debut, Introduction to Mayhem , boasted strong hip hop tendencies, (the) New Release demonstrated a broader variety with bluesy vocals, saxophone, and piano scattered throughout. Regarding the band's new musical direction, Bobby Burns stated "I just grew very, very sick of the whole music scene last year... All the plastic bands that were put together by record companies, etc. I didn't want to hear any of that music any longer... So I didn't... I went back to what was real to me and what made me feel good growing up... Sabbath, Zeppelin, and Kiss... Back then you could tell all those bands apart, and music of today just sounds like the same records made over and over with all the same guitar sounds and shit." [6] Vocalist Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell remarked in 2001 that "During the writing and recording period, we never listened to the radio or watched MTV because we didn't want any outside influences creeping into the songs. We wanted everything to be fresh." [7]

Promotion and touring

By mid-May, Primer 55 announced the title and release date of their upcoming album as well as its lead single. A tentative track listing was announced in June but later modified. The band released various tracks from (the) New Release, including a rough mix of its upcoming single, on their official website in the months leading up to its release. [8]

Although Burns had hoped to see "Texas" become the second single, (the) New Release featured only one single, "This Life" which was released to radio on July 16. It had no accompanying video but gained moderate radio rotation in late summer and early fall of 2001. The track was also included on More Fast and Furious: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture The Fast and the Furious and Nu Rock Traxx, Vol. 32. Promotion was allegedly cut short by Island, forcing the album's success to rely heavily on touring. [4]

From June through August, the group joined Fear Factory's The Evolution of Revolution tour. Primer 55 then supported Vision of Disorder for some August dates. [9] and played at the Riverfront Rampage to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the WSOU college radio station in Newark, New Jersey. They also joined Slipknot's Pledge of Allegiance tour and performed into the following year.

In October 2002, bassist Kobie Jackson was asked to leave the band due to "personal and creative problems." He was temporarily replaced with Toomey, formerly of 12v Negative Earth. In November and December, Primer 55 played on the Jägermeister-sponsored $12 Riot Tour with Dope, Skinlab, and Society 1.

Reception

Commercial success

(the) New Release peaked at number one on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 102 on the Billboard 200. The album's single, "This Life" peaked at number 37 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. [3] In the week ending on November 11, the album's thirteenth week of release, SoundScan reported sales figures at 53,191. [10]

However, despite debuting on the Billboard 200 and selling 15,000 copies in its first week, Island allegedly cut support for the album merely two months after its release. Guitarist Bobby Burns reflected on the matter in a 2008 interview, exclaiming, "It totally fucking sucked! The album was out two months then 9/11 happened and we got lost in that shuffle that was going on in New York at that time." [4]

A music video was also allegedly in the works for "This Life," but in September 2001, Burns defused this claim, lamenting, "I have no idea what's going on with our label." [6]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Allmusic's Michael Gallucci criticizes the album, declaring, "Plenty of other bands do this stuff a whole lot better and with much more conviction." [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Burns/Luttrell

No.TitleLength
1."Time...Trapped Under a Rock"0:38
2."This Life"3:28
3."Growing"3:06
4."Texas"3:41
5."Tricycle"4:50
6."Pills"2:52
7."Lessons"3:38
8."(502)"0:25
9."Lou Evil"4:25
10."Hesitation"3:07
11."No Sleep"3:50
12."My Girl"5:39
13."Ricochet"1:31
14."All in the Family"3:48

B-sides

Charts

Album

YearChartPosition
2001 Billboard 200 102
2001 Heatseekers 1

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
2001"This Life" Mainstream Rock Tracks 37

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staind</span> American rock band

Staind is an American rock band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki. The lineup has been stable outside of the 2011 departure of Wysocki, who was replaced by Sal Giancarelli. Staind has recorded and released eight studio albums: Tormented (1996), Dysfunction (1999), Break the Cycle (2001), 14 Shades of Grey (2003), Chapter V (2005), The Illusion of Progress (2008), Staind (2011), and Confessions of the Fallen (2023). The band was most successful in the early 2000s, with Break the Cycle going five times platinum in the United States and producing a top-five Billboard Hot 100 hit with its lead single "It's Been Awhile". Break the Cycle, along with the band's following two full-length albums, also topped the Billboard 200, and the two after peaked within the top five. Several of their other singles also became rock and crossover hits, including "Fade", "For You", "Price to Play", "So Far Away", and "Right Here". The band's activity was more sporadic into the 2010s, with Lewis pursuing a solo country music career and Mushok subsequently joining the band Saint Asonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disturbed (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Disturbed is an American heavy metal band from Chicago, formed in 1994. The band includes guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren, lead vocalist David Draiman and bassist John Moyer. Donegan and Wengren have been involved in the band since its inception, with Draiman replacing original lead vocalist Erich Awalt in 1996 and Moyer replacing original bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orgy (band)</span> American industrial rock band

Orgy is an American industrial rock band formed in 1994, from Los Angeles, California. They have described their music as "death pop". The band is best known for their cover version of the New Order song "Blue Monday", and the song "Stitches", both from their 1998 album Candyass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet (band)</span> American alternative metal band

Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Helmet has had numerous lineup changes with Hamilton as the only constant member. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.

<i>Aftertaste</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Helmet

Aftertaste is the fourth studio album by American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. It was the band's final album with original members John Stanier (drums) and Henry Bogdan (bass). Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard. Subsequently, the album was recorded as a three-piece, with Page Hamilton covering all the guitar parts. Guitarist Chris Traynor came on board for the supporting tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saliva (band)</span> American rock band

Saliva is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. Saliva released their self-titled debut album in 1997 through Rockingchair Records, a label owned and operated by Mark Yoshida. The release was recorded and produced by Bill Pappas at Rockingchair Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soulfly</span> Brazilian-American heavy metal band

Soulfly is an American heavy metal band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1996. To date the band has released twelve studio albums, one tour EP, twenty-three singles, one video album, and twelve music videos. Their debut album, Soulfly, was released on April 21, 1998, while their most recent album, Totem, was released on August 5, 2022

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevelle (band)</span> American rock band

Chevelle is an American rock band formed in Grayslake, Illinois, in 1995. The band was originally composed of two brothers, Pete Loeffler and Sam Loeffler, along with Matt Scott. Scott was replaced by Sam and Pete's brother, Joe Loeffler, in 1996. When Joe left the band in 2005, Geno Lenardo subbed in as the touring bassist until he was replaced by Pete and Sam's brother-in-law, Dean Bernardini. Bernardini departed from the band in 2019, and in 2021, Kemble Walters joined the band as a touring bassist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snot (band)</span> American metal band

Snot is an American nu metal band from Santa Barbara, California. Formed in 1995, the band released their only studio album Get Some with founding vocalist Lynn Strait in 1997 and disbanded after his death in 1998. In 2008, the lineup of lead guitarist Mikey Doling, bassist John Fahnestock, drummer Jamie Miller and rhythm guitarist Sonny Mayo reunited. In 2009, a new band, Tons, was formed, with Brandon Espinosa as vocalist. As of February 2014, Snot has reformed again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothingface (band)</span> American metal band

Nothingface was an American nu metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1993. Their best-known and most prolific line-up consisted of Matt Holt (vocals), Tom Maxwell (guitar), Bill Gaal (bass) and Chris Houck (drums). They disbanded in 2004, only to reform the following year, reuniting with Gaal and Houck, and then disband four years later. In 2017, Holt died from a degenerative disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mudvayne</span> American metal band

Mudvayne is an American heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over six million records worldwide, including nearly three million in the United States. The group consists of guitarist Greg Tribbett, drummer Matthew McDonough, lead vocalist Chad Gray, and bassist Ryan Martinie. The band became popular in the late-1990s Peoria, Illinois underground music scene, and found success with the single "Dig" from their debut album L.D. 50 (2000). After releasing four more albums and touring relentlessly for nearly a decade, Mudvayne went on hiatus in 2010. They reunited in 2021 and continue to perform live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machine Head (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Robb Flynn, who remains the only original member of the band. Machine Head's aggressive musicianship made it one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal. Its current lineup comprises Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern, lead guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka and drummer Matt Alston. Bassist Adam Duce, lead guitarists Logan Mader, Ahrue Luster and Phil Demmel, and drummers Tony Costanza, Chris Kontos and Dave McClain are former members of the band; Mader and Kontos toured with the band in 2019 and 2020 as part of the 25th anniversary tour for its first album, Burn My Eyes (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonpoint</span> American rock band

Nonpoint is an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band currently consists of vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, rhythm guitarist Rasheed Thomas, bassist Adam Woloszyn, and lead guitarist Jaysin Zeilstra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomahawk (band)</span> American rock band

Tomahawk is an American rock supergroup. They formed in 1999 when singer/keyboardist Mike Patton met guitar player Duane Denison and the pair started swapping tapes with the intention of collaborating. Denison then recruited drummer John Stanier (Helmet), while Patton invited bass player Kevin Rutmanis (Melvins/ex-Cows). The group recorded three albums and toured extensively from 2000–2007 then went on extended hiatus, and reformed in 2013 with Trevor Dunn replacing Rutmanis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taproot (band)</span> American metal band

Taproot is an American alternative metal band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 1997. They are best known for their hit single "Poem", which peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 2002.

Primer 55 was an American nu metal band which formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1997. The name originated from the combination of Primer, meaning "something that's unfinished", and 55, which refers to Interstate 55, "the road that drugs run on to get to Chicago through Memphis".

Flaw is an American heavy metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed by guitarist Jason Daunt in 1996. After a string of rough independent recordings in the 1990s, the band signed to Republic and Universal Music Group and released two major label albums, Through the Eyes in 2001 and Endangered Species in 2004. Breakups, line-up changes, and internal strife plagued the band for the rest of the decade, though from 2015 to 2017, the band reformed with three of their core members to tour and write music. The band released their third studio album, Divided We Fall, in 2016, and a fourth studio album, Vol IV: Because of the Brave in 2019. An album of cover songs, Revival, was later released in 2022. The band's lineup frequently shifts; lead vocalist Chris Volz is the only constant member.

Skrape was an American nu metal band formed in Orlando, Florida in 1997.

<i>Introduction to Mayhem</i> 2000 studio album by Primer 55

Introduction to Mayhem is the major label debut album by the American nu metal band Primer 55. Released on January 25, 2000, it is a reissue of the band's 1999 EP As Seen on TV.

References

  1. ↑ Lemeshow-Barooshian, Rae (January 8, 2019). "Top 50 Best Nu-Metal Albums of All-Time". Loudwire . Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Gallucci, Michael (2001-08-14). "The New Release - Primer 55". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  3. 1 2 "Charts and awards for The New Release". Allmusic . Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Wright, James Interview with Primer 55 guitarist Bobby Burns Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine PureGrainAudio.com (January 16, 2008). Retrieved on 7-31-11.
  5. ↑ Archive News - May 29, 2001 Archived 2005-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth.net (May 29, 2001). Retrieved on 7-31-11.
  6. 1 2 Interview: Primer 55 thePRP.com (September 27, 2001). Retrieved on 7-31-11.
  7. ↑ "The Gauntlet - Primer 55 bio".
  8. ↑ June 2001 Music Archive Archived 2004-07-11 at the Wayback Machine (June 2001). Retrieved on 7-31-11.
  9. ↑ Archive News - June 25, 2001 Archived 2004-01-28 at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth.net (June 25, 2001). Retrieved on 7-29-11.
  10. ↑ Archive News - Nov. 21, 2001 Archived 2004-01-25 at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth.net (November 12, 2001). Retrieved on 7-31-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.