| Umbilical | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 31, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | December 2023 | |||
| Studio | Hightower Recording (New Orleans, Louisiana) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:46 | |||
| Label | Sacred Bones | |||
| Thou chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternate cover art | ||||
 | ||||
Umbilical is the sixth studio album by American sludge metal band Thou. It was released on May 31, 2024, through Sacred Bones Records. Recording sessions took place in December 2023 at Hightower Recording in New Orleans.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100 [1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Beats Per Minute | 78% [2] |
| Distorted Sound | 10/10 [3] |
| The Guardian |  [4] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5 [5] |
| Louder Than War | 4.5/5 [6] |
| Pitchfork | 7.9/10 [7] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4/5 [8] |
Umbilical was met with positive 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 88, based on six reviews, which the website catgorized as "universal acclaim". [1]
Harry Sword of The Guardian praised the album, saying "what results is the most maximalist and invigoratingly cathartic exercise in introspection you could possibly imagine – and one of the finest metal albums of the past decade". [4] Olly Thomas of Kerrang! resumed: "this is simultaneously both the most pulverising and the most memorable release the band have put their name to in years". [5] Sputnikmusic staff Sunnyvale concluded: "Umbilical unleashes a different side of the band's signature blend of bone-crunching riffs and ear-splitting screeching, but it's characteristically well-crafted and certain to satisfy music fans previously seduced by Thou's grim and imposing style". [8] Patrick Lyons of Pitchfork stated: "Thou are a blast even when Funck is digging into esoteric philosophy over the slowest riff you've ever heard, but it's refreshing to hear them get real with themselves, jogging their music out of the enthralling but insular world they've created over the past 15-plus years". [7] John Amen of Beats Per Minute concluded, "with Umbilical, Thou toe the doom-metal line re the inevitability of suffering/the urgent need for defiance while rummaging in an expanded playbook. The band flirt with songs and song structures, writhing, per usual, in a hellish din, Bryan Funck exuding immeasurable discontent". [2]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Narcissist's Prayer" | 6:12 |
| 2. | "Emotional Terrorist" | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Lonely Vigil" | 3:04 |
| 4. | "House of Ideas" | 6:43 |
| 5. | "I Feel Nothing When You Cry" | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Unbidden Guest" | 3:43 |
| 7. | "I Return as Chained and Bound to You" | 6:38 |
| 8. | "The Promise" | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Panic Stricken, I Flee" | 4:39 |
| 10. | "Siege Perilous" | 5:18 |
| Total length: | 48:46 | |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [9] | 34 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [10] | 32 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [11] | 12 |
Around the Fur is the second studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 28, 1997, by Maverick Records. The songs "My Own Summer " and "Be Quiet and Drive " were released as singles with accompanying music videos. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in 1999, and was later certified platinum in 2011.
Option Paralysis is the fourth studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. It marks The Dillinger Escape Plan's first release to feature Billy Rymer on drums, since Gil Sharone left the band in September 2008 due to the frequent touring schedule and to focus on his brother's band Stolen Babies.
Esoteric Warfare is the fifth full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. It was released by Season of Mist on 6 June 2014 in Europe and Asia, and on 10 June 2014 in North America. It is the band's first album with Teloch on guitar since Blasphemer's departure from the band in 2008.
Venom is the fifth studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on 14 August 2015 via RCA Records, their second and last album under the label. It is the first album by the band since the departure of bassist Jason "Jay" James, which was announced in February 2015 while the band was recording the album. Jamie Mathias was announced as his replacement on 18 May 2015, along with the album's title, release date and release of the album's first single, "No Way Out". This would also be the final album with founding drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas who parted ways with the band officially in 2017.
Polaris is the third studio album by British progressive metal band Tesseract. It was released on 18 September 2015, both digitally and physically on vinyl and CD. There is also a 2-disc version with the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound.
You, Whom I Have Always Hated is a collaborative album by American sludge metal bands the Body and Thou. Released on January 27, 2015 through Thrill Jockey record label, the album was included on the reissue of bands' first collaborative effort, Released from Love EP (2014).
Medium Rarities is a compilation album by American metal band Mastodon. It was released digitally and on limited edition vinyl on September 11, 2020 via Reprise Records. The album is a collection of rare tracks that include covers, instrumental versions of previous songs, and live recordings. Its opening track, a new song titled "Fallen Torches", was released on July 31, 2020. The song features Scott Kelly from Neurosis for his final guest appearance with Mastodon before his withdrawal from the public eye that was not announced until August 2022.
Ohms is the ninth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on September 25, 2020, through Reprise Records. The album was produced by Terry Date, making it their first collaboration since the unreleased Eros and the final with bassist Sergio Vega who departed from the band in early 2021. The album was preceded by the release of two singles: "Ohms" and "Genesis". The song "Ceremony" was later released as a single. Ohms received acclaim from critics. The opening track Genesis was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance and the closing track and title track Ohms was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
Post Human: Survival Horror is a commercial release by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. It was released on 30 October 2020 and is intended to be the first in a series of four projects to be released by the band under the Post Human name. The release was produced by frontman Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, with additional production from composer Mick Gordon. Stylistically, the release marks return to the heavier and more aggressive metalcore sound of the band's earlier material.
May Our Chambers Be Full is a collaborative studio album by American singer-songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle and doom metal band Thou. It was released on October 30, 2020, through Sacred Bones Records as a part of the label's 'Alliance Series'. Recording sessions took place in August 2019 at Hightower Studios in New Orleans.
Infinite Granite is the fifth studio album by American band Deafheaven, released on August 20, 2021, through Sargent House. The album represents a dramatic departure from the black metal influences of the band's previous albums, and a shift toward a shoegaze style with mostly clean vocals from frontman George Clarke.
Celestial Blues is the second studio album by Kristina Esfandiari-fronted American doom metal band King Woman, released on July 30, 2021 through Relapse Records. It follows King Woman's debut album, 2017's Created in the Image of Suffering. The album was recorded by Jack Shirley in December 2019 at The Atomic Garden in Oakland, California. Like Created in the Image of Suffering, Celestial Blues is thematically-inspired by Esfandiari's childhood with her charismatic Christian parents.
Crisis of Faith is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Billy Talent, released on January 21, 2022, through Spinefarm Records. It was preceded by six singles; "Forgiveness I + II" "Reckless Paradise", "I Beg to Differ ", "End of Me" featuring Rivers Cuomo, and "The Wolf". The album had particular success on the charts in German-speaking Europe, debuting at number one in Germany and Switzerland, and number two in Austria.
"Maybe" is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on March 16, 2022, as the fourth single from his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout. The song features performances from members of the British rock band Bring Me the Horizon.
Sunrise on Slaughter Beach is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Clutch. It was released on September 16, 2022, through the band's own label Weathermaker Music. It is Clutch's first studio album since Book of Bad Decisions in 2018. The album was originally intended as a positive counterpoint to the social volatility and divisiveness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the lyrics eventually touched on a more diverse range of social topics.
...So Unknown is the second studio album by American metalcore band Jesus Piece. Released on April 14, 2023, it comes five years after debut Only Self and has received positive reviews from critics.
Evergreen is the fourth studio album by American rock band Pvris, released on July 14, 2023, through Hopeless Records. It was preceded by the release of five singles, the first of which was a double A-side of "Animal" and "Anywhere but Here", followed by "Goddess", "Good Enemy", "Love Is a..." and "Evergreen".
Rat Wars is the sixth studio album by American noise rock band Health, released on December 7, 2023, through Loma Vista Recordings. It was produced by Stint and received positive reviews from critics.
Ilion is the third studio album by French progressive rock band Slift, released on 19 January 2024 through Sub Pop. It received acclaim from critics.
Half Divorced is the sixth studio album by American hardcore punk band Pissed Jeans, released on March 1, 2024, through Sub Pop. It is their first album in seven years, following 2017's Why Love Now. The album was produced by the band with Dan Godwin, and was preceded by the lead single "Moving On", released alongside the album announcement on January 8.
