| A Cruel World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 29, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | Warehouse Studios Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:49 | |||
| Label | Bullygoat/Reprise | |||
| Producer | GGGarth and Bloodsimple | |||
| Bloodsimple chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [4] |
A Cruel World is the debut album by American heavy metal band Bloodsimple, released on March 29, 2005.
In broad terms, Cruel World's songs can be seen as falling into one of three categories, the categories being hardcore but commercially digestible nu metal ("Straight Hate", "Path to Prevail", "What If I Lost It", "Blood in Blood Out", "Cruel World", "Falling Backwards"), Alice in Chains styled alternative metal ("Sell Me Out", "Running from Nothing", "Flatlined"), and two softer alternative rock ballads ("The Leaving Song", "Plunder"). This kind of stylistic direction, to some extent, shows the record carrying on that of From Bliss to Devastation , Tim Williams and Mike Kennedy's main band Vision of Disorder's last release before its split-up.
The band’s debut record was recorded with rock producer GGGarth Richardson in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Richardson had previously worked with a number of alternative metal acts, including Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, 40 Below Summer, Chevelle and Trapt. According to the band, Richardson understood the sound the band was seeking and did not attempt to "tone it down".
The record's production was a lengthy process, spanning approximately three years from beginning to end. After an extended period of writing, the band spent three and a half months in the studio. The basic elements of the album, including most of the vocals, were recorded in six weeks. After taking some time off, the band received an initial mix of the record, but were dissatisfied with the results. The record was remixed with more success by Mike Fraser.
The themes of Cruel World include war ("Straight Hate"), failed relationships ("Leaving Song", "Sell Me Out"), paranoia ("Running from Nothing") and drug addiction ("Flatlined").
The album's first single, the brutal "Straight Hate", was written about American soldiers fighting in Iraq. Vocalist Tim Williams stated that the song was about how difficult it was for the soldiers and that he wanted to write something where the words would help them through the day. Williams denies that the song is political, stating that he does not care about the Government's reasons for deployment of troops to the Gulf. [5]
The song "Flatlined," is about drug addiction, and was written from the perspective of a drug addict who eventually dies. Williams states that one of his best friends, who loved the song, ended up dying in the same way. [5]
The track "Falling Backwards" features a guest performance by Mudvayne's Chad Gray.
"What if I Lost it" was used as the theme music for Fuse TV's Metal Asylum .
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Top Heatseekers | 44 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Sell Me Out" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 39 |
| 2005 | "What if I Lost it?" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 38 |
Nu metal is a subgenre of alternative metal that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu metal rarely features guitar solos or other displays of musical technique, and emphasizes rhythm with instrumentation that is heavily syncopated. Nu metal guitarists typically use seven-string guitars that are down-tuned to produce a heavier sound. Vocal styles are often rhythmic and influenced by hip hop, and include singing, rapping, screaming and sometimes growling. DJs are occasionally featured to provide instrumentation such as sampling, turntable scratching and electronic background music. Nu metal is one of the key genres of the new wave of American heavy metal.
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
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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 five million records worldwide. 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 underground music scene, and they 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.
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Chad Gray is an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal bands Mudvayne and Hellyeah.
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Pass Out of Existence is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Chimaira, released on October 2, 2001. According to vocalist Mark Hunter, as of 2003, the band has sold 44,000 copies of the album in the United States alone. Pass Out of Existence features an altogether different sound when compared to the band's later albums, leaning more towards nu metal rather than the groove metal style featured in later material. Its heavy use of electronics has also been noted.
Violence is the third album by the Washington, D.C.-based alternative metal band Nothingface. The album was released on September 5, 2000, via TVT Records. The album received positive reviews, but didn't experience mainstream popularity, selling only 87,000 copies in the United States.
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Kill, I Oughtta is the debut extended play of American heavy metal band Mudvayne. It was self-released by the band in 1997. In 2001, the EP was reissued by Epic Records under the title The Beginning of All Things to End. The reissue featured, as additional tracks, remixes of "Dig", and "L.D. 50", a 17-minute sound collage which originally appeared as interludes on that album. It is the only release by Mudvayne to have any participation from original bassist Shawn Barclay.
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Garth "GGGarth" Richardson is a Canadian record producer and music engineer. He is the son of music producer Jack Richardson, a pioneer of the music recording industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Garth Richardson has done music engineering work for the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nickelback, and Mötley Crüe, and produced for Kittie, Biffy Clyro, Rage Against the Machine, Mudvayne, Melvins, Shihad, Kensington, and many others. He cofounded the Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia together with Bob Ezrin and Kevin Williams. The school was named after Richardson's father's production company, Nimbus 9, and offers courses in production, recording, and audio. Richardson has the nickname 'GGGarth' due to his mild stutter.
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