 | This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations .(October 2019) |
| Pressure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 30, 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:41 | |||
| Label | Fearless | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Wage War chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Pressure | ||||
| ||||
Pressure is the third studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. It was released on August 30, 2019, through Fearless Records. The album was produced by Drew Fulk, Andrew Wade and Jeremy McKinnon.
About the album, its title, and the concept of pressure, the band stated: "Anytime you go into make a record, there's pressure. What you in that studio with those people affects the next however many years of your career and if you play your cards right, it can change your life. It really felt like a make or break situation. The 'Pressure' to make the perfect Wage War album, one that harvests what people have come to love about our band yet still grow and explore new territory and push ourselves harder than ever before."
"However, that's not the only pressure this album talks about. There are songs on the album that deal with mental health, and the pressure to act 'ok' even when things aren't. There are songs on the album that speaking of not succumbing to pressure and being just another face in the crowd, but more so making a change in yourself and the world around you. Being in a band, making music, playing shows in one way or another all comes with a 'Pressure' and how you deal with it is what determines who you are. This record is our response." [5]
When asked about recording the album, Cody Quistad stated: "We were all out of our comfort zone, which was really cool, we couldn't just go home after the day. We all lived in the same house. It was a great opportunity for us to reconnect. We'd go to shows together, come back, and write at 2am. Los Angeles is inspiring, because there's a youthful drive and passion. Everyone is there to chase a dream. It gives you a mindset. You talk about going to L.A. to make a record when you're 13. It was a bucket list thing for us." [5] "Low" was the first song to be completed after the release of Deadweight . "It started as most songs do with the main riff." The band recorded a demo of it while on Vans Warped Tour 2018.
"We went back to Andrew Wade and Jeremy McKinnon for the production and engineering side of things and were honored to have metal legend, Mark Lewis, mix it! The song went through many structure changes before landing on what it is today. 'Low' represents everything you've come to expect from Wage War, but in its most refined state." [6]
On January 9, 2019, the band released a single titled "Low" through their label Fearless Records. Six months later, on July 9, they released a second single, "Who I Am". Then later that month, on July 30, the band released two singles, "Prison" and "Me Against Myself". In addition to the album news, the band announced a fall headlining tour. Kicking off September 27, just a few weeks after their Worcester Self Help Fest appearance, Wage War was on the road with Like Moths to Flames, Polaris, and Dayseeker in 2019. [7]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Dead Press! | 9/10 [8] |
| Exclaim! | 3/10 [2] |
| Hysteria Magazine | 9/10 [3] |
| KillYourStereo | 45/100 [4] |
| New Noise |   [9] |
| Rock Sins | 6/10 [10] |
| Wall of Sound | 7/10 [11] |
The album received mostly positive reviews, but also mixed reviews from several critics. Damon Taylor from Dead Press! rated the album positively and saying that "...Pressure pushes Wage War further than before to stunning results. Determined and streamlined, the record stands out from numerous releases from the band's contemporaries. With a make or break mentality behind them, Pressure could well be the record that thrusts Wage War further into the spotlight." [8] Max Morin of Exclaim! gave it 3 out of 10 and said: "You can't fault Wage War for trying this; similar moves have worked wonders for Bring Me the Horizon and Bad Wolves. But a move this blatant after a monster of a record like Deadweight feels disingenuous. Pressure will undoubtedly be huge. The question of whether or not that's a good thing is open to debate." [2] Hunter Hewgley from KillYourStereo gave the album 45 out of 100 and said: "To me, Pressure is a tragic event, as it is a huge missed opportunity for Wage War to create something unique for themselves. The good songs here are great, and you can tell that they could've made a great rock/metal album (or a shorter EP) with the new electronic additions. Instead, it all winds up as a confused, contrived, confidence-lacking mess that feels like it's reluctant to step too far away from its generic metalcore roots. A fantastic example of a band doing just that is Northlane and their masterful new record, Alien . With all the problems this new Wage War album has, the good songs ('Hurt', 'The Line') are still very much worth a listen. But it leaves me upset that I just cannot say that about the rest of the record. I also do strongly admire the fact that Wage War wished to push themselves in a different direction, and don't get me wrong, that's pretty damn cool. More bands should only be so bold in willing to change. But Pressure misses the mark entirely for a new, worthy change, instead leaving me with a void that not even a good breakdown can fill." [4]
New Noise gave the album a 4 out of 5 and stated: "Compared to their last release, Pressure is a more memorable and impressionable record. Though there will be fans that dislike the focus shift in singing over screaming (and melodies over breakdowns), the transition sounds natural and almost necessary. Whatever your preference, it will hard to deny that the band has enhanced their skills since Deadweight, and that's what's really important here." [9] Simon Crampton of Rock Sins rated the album 6 out of 10 and said: "Pressure isn't the world album you will hear this year. It's just insepid, uninspired and completely devoid of artistry, it will leave you cold and longing for something more." [10] Wall of Sound gave the album 7/10 and saying: "Overall, Pressure is a solid effort that has a bunch of really good tracks, some okay tracks, and some not good tracks. The Florida boys teased us with two super heavy, and super great tracks and the album is definitely worth a listen, just don't expect to walk away from it feeling completely happy and satisfied with what's been delivered." [11]
Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019. [1]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Who I Am" | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Prison" | 2:48 |
| 3. | "Grave" | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Ghost" | 3:21 |
| 5. | "Me Against Myself" | 3:57 |
| 6. | "Hurt" | 3:15 |
| 7. | "Low" | 3:47 |
| 8. | "The Line" | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Fury" | 3:19 |
| 10. | "Forget My Name" | 3:22 |
| 11. | "Take the Fight" | 3:38 |
| 12. | "Will We Ever Learn" | 4:00 |
| Total length: | 41:41 | |
Notes
Credits adapted from AllMusic. [12]
Wage War
Additional personnel
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [13] | 67 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [14] | 78 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [15] | 14 |
| US Billboard 200 [16] | 112 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [17] | 16 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [18] | 5 |
New Jersey is the fourth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 19, 1988, by Mercury Records. The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The album was the follow-up to the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in its second week of release after debuting at number eight. It remained at the top for four consecutive weeks and was Bon Jovi's last album to do so until Lost Highway (2007). The album was named after the birth state of Jon Bon Jovi, New Jersey.
The Sickness is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on March 7, 2000, by Giant and Reprise Records. The album peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard 200, and spent a total of 106 weeks on the chart. It was Disturbed's only album to not hit number one on the US Billboard 200 until their seventh album Evolution debuted at number 4 in 2018. In 2018, The Sickness was certified five times platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over five million copies in the US, making it the band's most successful album.
Paranoid is the second studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released on 18 September 1970 by Vertigo Records in the United Kingdom and on 7 January 1971 by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 on the UK charts.
Count Your Blessings is the debut studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Recorded at DEP International Studios in Birmingham with producer Dan Sprigg, it was originally released in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2006 by Visible Noise. The album was later issued by Earache Records in the United States on 14 August 2007. Count Your Blessings was supported by the release of music videos for two of the album's tracks: "Pray for Plagues" on 4 June 2007 and "For Stevie Wonder's Eyes Only (Braille)" on 6 March 2008.
Bring Me the Horizon are a British rock band, formed in Sheffield in 2004. The group currently consists of lead vocalist Oli Sykes, drummer Matt Nicholls, guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean. They are signed to RCA Records globally and Columbia Records exclusively in the United States.
Whitechapel is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band is named after the Whitechapel district in East London, England, where Jack the Ripper committed a series of murders. The group comprises vocalist Phil Bozeman, guitarists Ben Savage, Alex Wade, and Zach Householder, bassist Gabe Crisp and drummer Brandon Zackey. Founded in 2006 by Bozeman and Savage, the band has released eight studio albums and fourteen music videos, and it's currently signed to Metal Blade Records. Whitechapel's 2010 album A New Era of Corruption, sold around 10,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release and debuted at position No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band's self-titled fourth album was released in 2012 and debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 9,200 copies in its first week. In 2014 the band released their fifth full-length album, Our Endless War to generally positive reviews. The album sold roughly 16,000 copies in its first week and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. They released their sixth full-length album Mark of the Blade in 2016 to greater critical acclaim, selling roughly 8,000 copies in the first week of its release. In 2019, Whitechapel released their seventh album, The Valley, which debuted at No. 143 on the Billboard 200 also to critical acclaim. Their newest album, Kin, was released on October 29, 2021.
Homesick is the third studio album by American rock band A Day to Remember, produced by Chad Gilbert and the band, and released on February 3, 2009. It was the band's second album for Victory. The album features material written while the band had been touring, which Andrew Wade helped them demo. Recording took place between October and November 2008 at The Wade Studio, located in Ocala. Featured on the album are guest vocalists Mike Hranica, Vincent Bennett and Sierra Kusterbeck (VersaEmerge). Several of the album's songs appeared on the band's MySpace profile before the release of the album.
What Separates Me from You is the fourth studio album by American rock band A Day to Remember, and their third and final for Victory Records. Originally planned for release in late-October 2010, the album was delayed by a few weeks until mid-November. What Separates Me from You was released on November 15, 2010, in the UK, and on November 16 in the US. The album, which was recorded mainly at The Wade Studios in Ocala, Florida, from May to July 2010, was the first to feature guitarist Kevin Skaff. The album was produced mostly by Chad Gilbert, with help from Andrew Wade and the band's vocalist, Jeremy McKinnon. "All I Want" was released as the first single. It reached number 12 on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart and number 25 on the Rock Songs chart.
Falling in Reverse is an American rock band that formed in 2008 by lead vocalist Ronnie Radke. The band's original name was "From Behind These Walls", but it was quickly renamed to Falling in Reverse shortly after formation. They are currently signed to Epitaph Records. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes, with Radke being the only remaining original member.
Common Courtesy is the fifth studio album by American rock band A Day to Remember. The album was self-released on October 8, 2013. Songs for the album were written in mid-2011. Recording started in early 2012 and continued into the following March, the same month the recordings were mixed. During that time, an unmixed version of "Violence " was streamed from the band's website. The band then embarked on the Right Back at It Again Tour in March 2013, with the namesake of the tour being the new song which was performed at each show. From mid-August to late-September, the group released webisodes to tie-in with the album. "Dead & Buried", another song that would appear on the album, was played at each show on their month-long House Party Tour, which began in September 2013.
Bad Vibrations is the sixth studio album by American rock band A Day to Remember, released on September 2, 2016, by ADTR Records and Epitaph Records. This is the second album since the band's departure from Victory Records, and their first and only album to be featured in partnership with Epitaph. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's highest-charting album in the United States. The album was supported by six singles: "Paranoia", "Bad Vibrations", "Bullfight", "Naivety", "We Got This", and "Same About You", and was met with widespread critical acclaim.
Wage War is an American metalcore band formed in Ocala, Florida in 2010 under the name Empires. The band consists of lead vocalist Briton Bond, lead guitarist Seth Blake, rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist Cody Quistad, bassist Chris Gaylord, and drummer Stephen Kluesener.
Deadweight is the second studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. It was released on August 4, 2017, through Fearless Records. It is also the first album to have lead vocalist Briton Bond do clean vocals alongside Cody Quistad on the songs "Never Enough" and "Gravity".
Blueprints is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. It was released on November 27, 2015, through Fearless Records. Prior to its release, the band had been through three name changes and an EP called The Fall of Kings when named Empires. On November 13, 2020, the band announced a vinyl re-release for December 4, 2020 including a brand new bonus track to celebrate the album's fifth anniversary. A digital version was released on November 27, 2020.
American metalcore band Wage War has released four studio albums, one EP, twenty-one singles, and eighteen music videos. The band self-released one EP, The Fall of Kings (2011). In 2015, the band signed to Fearless Records. The band released their first studio album, Blueprints, later in 2015 via Fearless. Their second studio album Deadweight was released under the same label in 2017. Their third studio album, Pressure, was released in 2019. Their fourth studio album, Manic, was released in 2021.
"Popular Monster" is a song by American rock band Falling in Reverse. It was released on November 20, 2019. The song was ranked number four in late 2019 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart. As of 2023, the song has over 300 million streams on Spotify. The song was released as a standalone single and was later included as the title track on band's fifth studio album, Popular Monster.
The Ghost Inside is the fifth album by American metalcore band The Ghost Inside. The album was released on June 5, 2020, through Epitaph Records. It is the band's first release since they were involved in a serious tour bus crash in 2015, and is also the first to feature rhythm guitarist Chris Davis, who joined the band in 2016 after serving as a touring member, and the first to feature Zach Johnson on lead guitar.
Manic is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. The album was released on October 1, 2021, through Fearless Records. It was produced by Drew Fulk, Andrew Wade, Jeremy McKinnon and Cody Quistad.
Searching for Solace is the sixth album by American metalcore band The Ghost Inside. The album was released digitally on April 19, 2024, through Epitaph Records, with a physical release scheduled for June 7.
Stigma is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. The album was released on June 21, 2024, through Fearless Records and was produced by Drew Fulk.
