Tear the World Down

Last updated

Tear the World Down
We Are The Fallen - Tear the World Down coverart.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 10, 2010 (2010-05-10)
RecordedOctober – December 2009
Genre Hard rock, nu metal
Length46:13
Label Universal Republic
Producer We Are the Fallen, Dan Certa
Singles from Tear the World Down
  1. "Bury Me Alive"
    Released: February 2, 2010
  2. "Tear the World Down"
    Released: October 12, 2010

Tear the World Down is the first and only album released by the hard rock band We Are the Fallen. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2010 [1] and the United States on May 11, 2010 [2] under the Universal Republic record label. It includes their first single "Bury Me Alive". The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 33, selling 13,000 for the week. [3] It has sold 41,000 copies as of September 2010. [4]

Contents

Critical reception

Andy Greenwald Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B−, writing: "Smithson’s voice shines over Moody’s familiar stew of metal riffs and gothy strings. Too bad the subject matter seems cribbed from a teen's Tumblr." [5] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars, stating that the group sounds exactly like Fallen -era sans "the sour charisma of Amy Lee" and the "genuine" musical tension Lee and Moody had. Singer Carly's presence "steers [the album] toward pure product, but that was the intention" and the record would "please those who like the sound of Fallen but could do without all the sulkiness." [6] Faye Lewis of Rock Sound rated it 8 out of 10 stars, opining that it is "familiar terrain revisited" but the songs show "the bite of a band with something to prove" and the band "rock harder than Evanescence ever could." [7] Kirsten Coachman of Seattle Post-Intelligencer said that "the main issue with the album and the band is that they don't seem to have developed an identity of their own, yet", lacking authenticity in the music or a "sound that would set them apart". However, some songs indicate "there is potential for this band to set itself apart and stand on its own." [8] Trey Willie Sputnikmusic gave the album a "poor" rating of 2 out of 5 stars, writing that it "sounds old and tired" in its Fallen likeness and "without the strong songwriting" of Fallen. The riffs "lack any real identity or true variation", the "symphonic elements feel as if their inclusion was an afterthought", and "the melodic sections ... are either too weak or too brief to make a real impact", concluding that "absolutely no effort was made to do more than cash in on Evanescence fans' nostalgia for a seven year old album." [9]

The album's musical style was regarded as hard rock [8] and nu metal. [7]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Bury Me Alive"4:46
2."Burn"3:43
3."Paradigm"3:55
4."Don't Leave Me Behind"3:33
5."Sleep Well, My Angel"4:07
6."Through Hell"3:41
7."I Will Stay"4:07
8."Without You"3:16
9."St. John"3:58
10."I Am Only One"4:37
11."Tear the World Down"6:30
Total length:46:13
B-Sides

Personnel

We Are the Fallen
Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 [10] 33
U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Albums [11] 7
U.S. Billboard Top Digital Albums [12] 17
U.S. Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums [13] 6
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums [14] 12

Release history

CountryDate
United Kingdom [1] May 10, 2010
United States [2] May 11, 2010
Canada [15]
BrazilMay 21, 2010

Related Research Articles

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

Evanescence is an American rock band founded in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. After releasing independent EPs as a duo in the late '90s and a demo CD, Evanescence released their debut studio album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Propelled by the success of hit singles like "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal", Fallen sold more than four million copies in the US by January 2004, garnering Evanescence two Grammy Awards out of six nominations. The band released their first live album and concert DVD, Anywhere but Home, in 2004, which sold over one million copies worldwide.

<i>Fallen</i> (Evanescence album) 2003 studio album by Evanescence

Fallen is the debut studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on March 4, 2003 by Wind-up Records. Co-founders singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody began writing and recording songs as Evanescence in 1994, and after releasing two EPs and a demo CD, they signed to Wind-up in January 2001. Several of the songs from their earlier independent releases feature on Fallen. The album was recorded between August and December 2002 in several studios in California. It is Evanescence's only studio album to feature Moody, who left the band in October 2003.

<i>Origin</i> (Evanescence demo album) 2000 demo album by Evanescence

Origin is a demo album by American rock band Evanescence. A compilation of home-recorded demos from 1996-1999, the CD was self-released and sold at local shows, and then packaged to showcase to record labels. A total of 2,000 copies were made and sold by the Bigwig Enterprises website from November 4, 2000 to 2003. Origin contains demos written and recorded by co-founders Amy Lee and Ben Moody for their earlier independent EPs in the 1990s, including "Whisper", "Imaginary", and "My Immortal", which appear on their debut album Fallen (2003).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Moody</span> American guitarist

Benjamin Robert Moody II is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as co-founder, former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of rock band Evanescence until his departure in 2003 after the band's debut album, Fallen. After leaving Evanescence, Moody co-wrote and co-produced songs for Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Anastacia, Lindsay Lohan, Bo Bice, Daughtry, and Celine Dion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me to Life</span> 2003 song by Evanescence

"Bring Me to Life" is the debut single by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up as the album's lead single on January 13, 2003, following its inclusion in the soundtrack of the film Daredevil. The song was written by Amy Lee when she was 19 about having been desensitized in an abusive relationship and realizing things she had been missing in life. Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges also share songwriting credits on the song, which features guest vocals from Paul McCoy of the band 12 Stones. Produced by Dave Fortman, "Bring Me to Life" is primarily a nu metal song. The male vocals, which are rapped, were forced by the label against Lee's wishes in order to market it in the musical landscape of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John LeCompt</span> American musician (born 1973)

John Charles LeCompt is an American guitarist. He has played in multiple bands including Machina, Kill System and We Are the Fallen, and was a tour guitarist for the rock band Evanescence from 2003 to 2007.

William Caldwell "Rocky" Gray is an American drummer and guitarist. He played drums for the rock band Evanescence from 2003–2007 and was the lead guitarist for Solus Deus. He is the lead guitarist for Living Sacrifice and the drummer for Soul Embraced, Mourningside, Machina, and We Are the Fallen. Gray also released a solo album titled Accursed (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Immortal (song)</span> 2003 song by Evanescence

"My Immortal" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up Records on December 8, 2003 as the album's third single, following its inclusion on the soundtrack to the film Daredevil. The song was written by singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody when they were 15. Several versions were recorded, with the earliest in 1997. Wind-up used the recording from their 2000 demo CD on Fallen against Lee's wishes, which featured Lee's demo vocals and a MIDI keyboard. Strings from Daredevil composer Graeme Revell were added during the production of Fallen. The single, dubbed "band version", is the re-recording Lee and Moody made for Fallen, featuring guitar, drums and bass after the bridge and a string arrangement by David Campbell. An alternative version of the song appears on the band's fourth studio album Synthesis (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Going Under</span> 2003 song by Evanescence

"Going Under" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up Records as the album's second single on August 18, 2003. Lee wrote the song about coming out of a difficult relationship. Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges share songwriting credits on the song, produced by Dave Fortman. Musically, "Going Under" is primarily a nu metal song featuring electronic drum beats and a piano interlude.

<i>The Open Door</i> 2006 studio album by Evanescence

The Open Door is the second studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on September 25, 2006, by Wind-up Records. Amy Lee had full creative control of the record, incorporating new elements into their previous musical styles, including her classical influences, homemade sounds, industrial rock, symphonic metal, progressive rock, electronica and the use of choirs on several songs. The album was written in the course of 18 months, and the recording process was delayed as a result of guitarist Terry Balsamo's stroke. Most of the songs were co-composed by Lee and Balsamo, with production handled by Dave Fortman.

"Alone" is a song composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who recorded it under the name i-Ten on their 1983 album Taking a Cold Look.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lights and Sounds (song)</span> 2005 single by Yellowcard

"Lights and Sounds" is a song by American pop punk band Yellowcard. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their fifth album, Lights and Sounds (2006). The track is built around a guitar riff, which is then followed with a repetitive drumming beat, then it is followed by a roaring guitar sound. The song's lyrics are based on the band coping with the success they were enduring when writing songs for their second album. It is also based on how they have aged in the process. "Lights and Sounds" also goes with what vocalist Ryan Key described as when he was preoccupied with making the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Lee</span> American musician (born 1981)

Amy Lynn Lee is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is the co-founder, lead vocalist, lead songwriter and keyboardist of the rock band Evanescence. A classically trained pianist, Lee began writing music at age 11 and co-founded Evanescence at age 13, inspired by various musical genres and film scores from an early age. Lee has also participated in other musical projects, including Nightmare Revisited and Muppets: The Green Album, and composed music for several films, including War Story (2014), Indigo Grey: The Passage (2015), and the song "Speak to Me" for Voice from the Stone (2017). She has also released the covers EP Recover, Vol. 1 (2016), the soundtrack album to War Story, the children's album Dream Too Much (2016), and collaborated with other artists such as Korn, Seether, Bring Me the Horizon, Lindsey Stirling, Body Count, and Wagakki Band. Lee has a mezzo-soprano voice type.

<i>Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces</i> 2007 studio album by Seether

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces is the fourth studio album by South African rock band Seether. The album was released in South Africa and Switzerland on 19 October 2007, and released worldwide on 23 October 2007. It is the first album by the band without lead guitarist Pat Callahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Smithson</span> Irish singer

Carly Sarah Smithson is an Irish soul and pop rock singer who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008. In 2001, Smithson had released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. Smithson was dropped from the record label in 2002. After being introduced to former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody in early 2009, plans for Smithson's post-Idol solo album were scrapped and instead she became the lead singer of the rock band We Are the Fallen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are the Fallen</span> American gothic metal band

We Are the Fallen is an American hard rock band consisting of Irish singer and former American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, guitarist Ben Moody, guitarist John LeCompt, drummer Rocky Gray, and bassist Marty O'Brien. Moody, LeCompt, and Gray are former members of American rock band Evanescence. Their debut album, Tear the World Down, was released in May 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty O'Brien</span> American bassist

Marty O'Brien is an American bassist. He plays professionally for live touring musical acts, recording sessions, television, and film scores all of which encompass a range of genres such as pop and rock, thereby collaborating with various musical artists. O'Brien's discography is generally diverse yet also maintains a notable background and standing in the hard rock and metal music genres.

<i>Evanescence</i> (Evanescence album) 2011 studio album by Evanescence

Evanescence is the third studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on October 7, 2011, by Wind-up Records. The band began writing the album in June 2009. Its release was delayed several times; on February 22, 2010, the band entered the studio with producer Steve Lillywhite but later stopped working with him because he "wasn't the right fit". At the time the album was scheduled for an August or September 2010 release, but Lee later announced that Evanescence had postponed recording to write more material. In April 2011, the band returned to the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Evanescence is the first Evanescence album to be written as a band, with Lee, guitarist Terry Balsamo, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, bassist Tim McCord and drummer Will Hunt co-writing the music together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What You Want (Evanescence song)</span> 2011 song by Evanescence

"What You Want" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released as the lead single from the band's third eponymous album on August 9, 2011 through Wind-up Records. The song was written by Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo and Tim McCord and produced by Nick Raskulinecz. Lee described "What You Want" as a departure from the band's previous sound and said she was inspired to write the song by several experiences she had with her fans. Musically "What You Want" contains a variety of musical elements and it uses drums, guitars, synthesizers and a piano. Lyrically, the song has a theme of freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Heart Is Broken</span> 2011 song by Evanescence

"My Heart Is Broken" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on October 31, 2011, as the second single for their eponymous third studio album (2011). An alternative version appears on the band's fourth studio album Synthesis (2017). The track was written by Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo, Tim McCord, Will Hunt and Zach Williams, while production was handled by Nick Raskulinecz. Musically, "My Heart Is Broken" is an uptempo rock ballad, whose instrumentation consists of piano, guitars and drums. Lee revealed that the song was written after seeing victims of sex trafficking. The recording received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised the combination between Lee's vocals and piano playing, as well as its fellow instrumentation; several of them chose it as a highlight on the album. On music charts, "My Heart Is Broken" reached number 36 on the Austrian Singles Chart, number 92 on the German Singles Chart and number 34 on the US Adult Top 40.

References

  1. 1 2 "We Are The Fallen get set for debut album". Kerrang! . March 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "We Are the Fallen's Debut Album 'Tear the World Down' In-Stores on May 11th". Marketwire. March 1, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  3. Idol Chatter 05-19-2010
  4. WE ARE THE FALLEN: First Episode Of 'Interrogation Video Blog' - Sep. 7, 2010
  5. Greenwald, Andy (May 11, 2010). "Tear The World Down". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tear the World Down Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Lewis, Faye (May 11, 2010). "We Are the Fallen - Tear the World Down". Rock Sound . Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Music Review: We Are The Fallen - Tear The World Down". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  9. Bentham, Jeremy (May 10, 2010). "We Are the Fallen Tear the World Down". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  10. "Billboard 200 - Week of May 29, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  11. "Billboard Alternative Albums - Week of May 29, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  12. "We Are the Fallen Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  13. "Billboard Hard Rock Albums - Week of May 29, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  14. "Billboard Rock Albums - Week of May 29, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  15. "We Are the Fallen - Tear the World Down". amazon.ca. May 16, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.