Watchers of Rule

Last updated
Watchers of Rule
Unearth - Watchers of Rule.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 28, 2014 (2014-10-28)
StudioAudio Hammer Studios
Genre Metalcore
Length35:00
Label eOne Music
Producer
Unearth chronology
Darkness in the Light
(2011)
Watchers of Rule
(2014)
Extinction(s)
(2018)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blabbermouth.net 8.5/10 [3]
Exclaim! 8/10 [4]

Watchers of Rule is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Unearth, released on October 28, 2014 by eOne Music in North America. This marks the first album since their debut The Stings of Conscience that does not feature long time bassist John "Slo" Maggard, also the first album to feature former The Faceless drummer Nick Pierce on drums. [5]

Contents

The album entered the US Billboard 200 at No. 105, [6] selling 3,950 copies in its first week. [7]

It is the band's only release for eOne Music, for whom they signed in 2013. [8] It is also the band's first studio album since 2001's The Stings of Conscience to not be released via Metal Blade Records. [9]

Unearth announced in early 2012 that Nick Pierce had signed on as their full-time drummer. He officially replaced Derek Kerswill, who left the band in 2010, though Justin Foley provided drums for 2011's Darkness in the Light . [10]

Album artwork was provided by Richey Beckett, who has also provided artwork for Converge, Baroness, Mastodon, and Metallica. [11] [12]

The band announced in April 2013 that they'd be working with Mark Lewis to record the then-titleless Watchers of Rule. Lewis had previously produced albums for bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, DevilDriver, and Deicide. [13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Unearth

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"0:43
2."The Swarm"3:24
3."Lifetime in Ruins"4:12
4."Guards of Contagion"3:16
5."From the Tombs of Five Below"3:35
6."Never Cease"3:25
7."Trail to Fire"3:30
8."To the Ground"3:15
9."Burial Lines"3:04
10."Birth of a Legion"3:11
11."Watchers of Rule"3:25
Total length:35:00
Limited edition deluxe version bonus tracks [14]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."Throes of Remission"  3:34
13."Spirit in Black" (Slayer cover) Kerry King Jeff Hanneman 4:10
Total length:42:46
Japanese release [15]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Intro"  0:43
2."The Swarm"  3:24
3."Lifetime in Ruins"  4:12
4."Guards of Contagion"  3:16
5."From the Tombs of Five Below"  3:35
6."Never Cease"  3:25
7."Burial Lines"  3:04
8."Birth of a Legion"  3:11
9."Watchers of Rule"  3:25
10."Throes of Remission"  3:34
11."Spirit in Black" (Slayer cover) Kerry King Jeff Hanneman 4:10
Total length:36:01

Credits

Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes. [16]

Unearth
Guest musicians
Production
Artwork and design
Studios

Charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [18] 117
US Billboard 200 [6] 105
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [19] 25
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [20] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [21] 22

Release history

RegionDateLabel
North America October 28, 2014 eOne Music [22]
Japan October 29, 2014Howling Bull [15]
Australia October 31, 20143Wise [23]
Germany, Austria, Switzerland Century Media [24] [25]
Rest of Europe November 3, 2014

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  12. "About".
  13. "UNEARTH Begin Work on New Album". 24 April 2013.
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