| New Empire, Vol. 2 | ||||
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| Released | December 4, 2020 | |||
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| Length | 31:50 | |||
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| Hollywood Undead studio album chronology | ||||
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| Singles from New Empire, Vol. 2 | ||||
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New Empire, Vol. 2 is the seventh studio album by American rap rock band Hollywood Undead. It was released on December 4, 2020 through Dove & Grenade Media and BMG and was produced by Matt Good. The album is the follow-up to the group's sixth album, New Empire, Vol. 1 (2020). [3] [4]
On July 31, the band released the first single titled "Idol" featuring Tech N9ne from the unannounced official follow-up to New Empire, Vol. 1. [5] [6] On September 18, the band released the second single "Coming Home". [7] [8]
On October 16, 2020, the band released the third single and remix version of the song "Heart of a Champion" featuring Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills along with an accompanying music video. At the same time, the band announced the album itself, the album cover, the track list, and release date. [9] [10] On November 13, three weeks before the album release, the band released the fourth and final single of the album "Gonna Be OK". [11] [12]
A Red-and-Yellow Color Vinyl version of the album is available at Tower Records website.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Dead Press! | 7/10 [2] |
| Distorted Sound | 5/10 [13] |
| Kerrang! |   [14] |
| Louder Sound | [1] |
| Rock Sins | 7/10 [15] |
| Sputnikmusic | [16] |
The album received mostly positive reviews, but also mixed reviews from several critics. Carlos Zelaya from Dead Press! rated the album positively calling it: "With New Empire, Vol. 2, Hollywood Undead won't exactly convert a new audience, but they will satisfy their existing fanbase. Continuing to grow their sound and embrace the hip-hop styles that they've invariably influenced, Hollywood Undead close out the year with an ambitious and revitalised approach to their sound." [2] Distorted Sound scored the album 5 out of 10 and said: "It was honestly surprising to hear a mostly lifeless album emerge from a group as full of piss and vinegar as HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD is. Credit is due to the band for attempting to get involved with the times and recognising what is popular now, but the execution leaves much to be desired. It's time to regroup and re-plan the strategy for the next record. They're sniffing out the right track, but they have some thinking to do when the artists they want to join go much harder lyrically and musically than they do." [13]
Writing for Kerrang! , Jake Richardson gave the album an overall positive review, saying: "If you've never liked this band, then there's little here that's likely to convert you, but for those already on board, New Empire, Vol. 2 is a more than satisfying confirmation that, a decade-and-a-half after they started, Hollywood Undead still have something to offer." [14] James Holder of Rock Sins rated the album 7 out of 10 and said: "New Empire, Vol. 2 is Hollywood Undead just as they've always been, and that's just the way they like it." [15]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Medicate" | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Comin' Thru the Stereo" (featuring Hyro the Hero) | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Ghost Out" | 2:43 |
| 4. | "Gonna Be OK" | 2:54 |
| 5. | "Monsters" (featuring Killstation) | 3:03 |
| 6. | "Idol" (featuring Tech N9ne) | 4:07 |
| 7. | "Coming Home" | 3:13 |
| 8. | "Unholy" | 2:39 |
| 9. | "Worth It" | 3:01 |
| 10. | "Heart of a Champion" (remix; featuring Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills) | 3:30 |
| Total length: | 31:50 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Idol" (featuring Ghøstkid) | 4:07 |
| 12. | "Idol" (featuring Kurt92) | 4:07 |
| Total length: | 40:04 | |
Credits adapted from AllMusic. [17]
Hollywood Undead
Additional musicians
Additional personnel
Jacoby Dakota Shaddix is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and TV presenter. He is best known as a founding member and the continuous lead singer of the California-based rock band Papa Roach since the band's formation in 1993.
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California, formed in 1993. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist Jacoby Shaddix, guitarist Jerry Horton, drummer Dave Buckner, bassist Will James, and trombonist Ben Luther.
Getting Away with Murder is the fourth and third major-label studio album by the American rock band Papa Roach. The album was a departure from the band's previous works, showcasing an alternative rock and hard rock sound instead of a nu metal and rap metal sound. Unlike their previous albums, the album features no rapping and instead only features Jacoby Shaddix singing. It was released on August 31, 2004, via Geffen Records and has been certified Gold in Canada, Silver in the United Kingdom and Platinum in the United States. Getting Away with Murder peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.
Infest is the second studio album and major-label debut by the American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on April 25, 2000, through DreamWorks Records, and became the 20th highest-selling album of 2000 in the United States. The sound of the album is nu metal and rap metal. Many of the album songs contains rapping and hip hop influences. It was certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. on July 18, 2001, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. This album earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. It is their best-selling album to date. To commemorate the album's 20th anniversary, Papa Roach got together and performed the album live in its entirety in studio to stream worldwide on June 20, 2020. The whole performance was released on YouTube on September 15, 2020.
Metamorphosis is the sixth studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released by DGC/Interscope on March 24, 2009. The album was originally planned to be titled Days of War, Nights of Love, which is a lyrical quote from the song "No More Secrets" on the band's previous album, The Paramour Sessions. Subsequently, two songs on the album are titled "Days of War" and "Nights of Love". It is the first album to feature Tony Palermo on drums, who joined the band in 2007 after original drummer Dave Buckner's departure.
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2005. All of the band members use pseudonyms and previously wore their own unique mask, most of which were based on the common hockey goaltender design. The band currently consists of five members: J-Dog, Funny Man, Johnny 3 Tears, Charlie Scene, and Danny. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011. Their third studio album, titled Notes from the Underground, was released on January 8, 2013.
Time for Annihilation: On the Record & On the Road is the first live album by the American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on August 31, 2010. Jerry Horton said in a blog on the band's official website that they recorded it on the last run of the tour with Shinedown. Later, Jacoby Shaddix reported on the site that five entirely new tracks had been written and would be studio recorded and released with the Time for Annihilation album. The first single, "Kick in the Teeth", was released on June 22, 2010. The album's name is a lyric quote from the song "Crash" from the band's 2006 album, The Paramour Sessions.
The Connection is the seventh studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on October 2, 2012, through Eleven Seven Music. The album was produced by Sixx:A.M. vocalist James Michael, who co-produced the band's previous full-length album Metamorphosis, and Goldfinger vocalist John Feldmann. The first single, "Still Swingin'", was released on July 24, 2012.
F.E.A.R. is the eighth studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on January 27, 2015.
"Help" is a single by American rock band Papa Roach, from their ninth studio album Crooked Teeth. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in April 2017 for six consecutive weeks.
"American Dreams" is a single by American rock band Papa Roach, from their studio album Crooked Teeth. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017.
"Don't Stop" is a song by American rock band Nothing More. It was released as a promotional single off of their album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Two versions of the song exist, the album version, and the single and music video version, which contains new guest vocals in the bridge by Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix.
"Born for Greatness" is a song by American rock band Papa Roach. It was their third single off of their album Crooked Teeth. The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2018.
"The Reckoning" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation's seventh studio album Resist, and features guest vocals from Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. It was released worldwide via digital download and streaming on 14 September 2018. A promotional lyric video accompanied the release. The official music video for the song was released on September 24. The video was nominated for an Edison Award for Best Video.
Who Do You Trust? is the tenth studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on January 18, 2019, through Eleven Seven Music. Four singles have been released from the album: "Who Do You Trust?", "Elevate", "Come Around" and "The Ending".
New Empire, Vol. 1 is the sixth studio album by American rap rock band Hollywood Undead. It was released on February 14, 2020 through Dove & Grenade Media and BMG and was produced by Matt Good.
"Come Around" is a song by American rock band Papa Roach. It was their third single off of their album Who Do You Trust?. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in December 2019.
Ego Trip is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on April 8, 2022, through New Noize. Five singles have been released from the album: "Swerve", "Kill the Noise", "Stand Up", "Cut the Line", and "No Apologies".
Hotel Kalifornia is the eighth studio album by American rap rock band Hollywood Undead. It was released on August 12, 2022 through Dove & Grenade Media and BMG. The album was produced by No Love for the Middle Child.
"Cut the Line" is a song by American rock band Papa Roach. Originally released as a promotional song ahead of the release of the eleventh studio album Ego Trip in March 2022, an alternative version of the song featuring Caleb Shomo of the band Beartooth was released in early 2023 in promotion of the expanded edition of the album. The latter version peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2023.
