II | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 4, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2014 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 29:50 | |||
Label | Sub Pop | |||
Producer | METZ | |||
METZ chronology | ||||
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Singles from II | ||||
II is the second studio album by Canadian noise rock three-piece band METZ. It was released on 4 May 2015, via Sub Pop. Recording sessions took place at Basketball 4 Life, The Dream House, Candle Recording and Taurus Recording in 2014. [3] Production was handled by METZ themselves. [4]
The album was a long-listed nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize. [5]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100 [6] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Consequence of Sound | B [7] |
DIY | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10 [9] |
Exclaim! | 8/10 [10] |
Pitchfork | 6.7/10 [11] |
PopMatters | 8/10 [12] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 8/10 [14] |
The A.V. Club | B [15] |
The Line of Best Fit | 8.5/10 [16] |
II was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 78 based on twenty-three reviews. [6]
Matthew Davies Lombardi of DIY praised the album, calling it "an advert to be a whole new generation's Sonic Youth or Nirvana and on this performance, you'd be foolish not to buy in". [8] James Appleyard of The Line of Best Fit stated: "with II, Metz have done more than enough to cement themselves as the new kings of transgressive hard rock, and that's a crown which is going to be difficult for anyone to wrestle from them". [16] Marc Burrows of Drowned in Sound called it "beautifully brutal weirdo punk". [9] Jibril Yassin of Exclaim! wrote: "it's a bleak listen, but there's something comforting about hearing three musicians playing punishing music as a complete unit, knowing there are few that could do it like them". [10] Ian King of PopMatters found the album "does find the band more often playing to their strengths than looking for ways to expand their horizons". [12] Colin Joyce of Spin wrote: "II, like the record that preceded it, is still a seasick and unyielding document of brutalist experimentation. But because the trio is willing to explore different avenues, there's more corners to get lost in". [14] Dusty Henry of Consequence of Sound resumed: "it may take a few listens to soak in all the vitriol and venom, but it's worth the effort". [7] Carl Williott of The A.V. Club wrote: "if that self-titled first outing was like picking at a scab, Metz's second effort is equivalent to ripping off a Band-Aid. Either way, it's still music to bleed to". [15] Brandon Geist of Rolling Stone wrote: "singer-guitarist Alex Edkins flirts with full-on nihilism, but there are hooks hidden in the onslaught, and Edkins' fever-pitch angst never feels less than honest". [13] Paul Thompson of Pitchfork stated: "by sticking so closely to the script laid out by their debut, II is the one thing punk rock should never be: careful". [11]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Acetate" | 3:55 |
2. | "The Swimmer" | 2:41 |
3. | "Spit You Out" | 4:49 |
4. | "Zzyzx" | 0:34 |
5. | "I.O.U." | 2:52 |
6. | "Landfill" | 2:42 |
7. | "Nervous System" | 2:09 |
8. | "Wait in Line" | 3:16 |
9. | "Eyes Peeled" | 2:33 |
10. | "Kicking a Can of Worms" | 4:19 |
Total length: | 29:50 |
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
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UK Vinyl Albums Chart (OCC) [17] | 27 |
UK Record Store Chart (OCC) [18] | 20 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [19] | 22 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [20] | 3 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [21] | 13 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [22] | 17 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [23] | 4 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [24] | 26 |
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [25] | 8 |
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard) [26] | 7 |