Watchers of Rule

Last updated

Watchers of Rule
Unearth - Watchers of Rule.jpg
Studio album by
Unearth
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)

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, as well as the first album to feature former The Faceless drummer Nick Pierce on drums. [1]

Contents

Overview

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 . [2] The band announced in April 2013 that they would 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. [3] The album artwork was provided by Richey Beckett, who has also provided artwork for Converge, Baroness, Mastodon, and Metallica. [4] [5]

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, with 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]

Critical reception

The album was met with positive reception Ray Van Horn, Jr. writing for Blabbermouth.net stated “UNEARTH may destroy drummers from the vigorous demand of their music, but that demand is why this band is tops of their breed. "Watchers of Rule" kills it — and how. [10] Metal Injection added This is definitely one of Unearth’s best albums, and should be considered a benchmark for metalcore in 2014. [11]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Blabbermouth.net 8.5/10 [14]
Exclaim! 8/10 [15]
Metal Injection Positive [16]

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 [17]
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 [18]
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. [19]

Unearth
Guest musicians
Production
Artwork and design
Studios

Charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [21] 117
US Billboard 200 [6] 105
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [22] 25
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [23] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [24] 22

Release history

RegionDateLabel
North America October 28, 2014 eOne Music [25]
Japan October 29, 2014Howling Bull [18]
Australia October 31, 20143Wise [26]
Germany, Austria, Switzerland Century Media [27] [28]
Rest of Europe November 3, 2014

References

  1. ↑ "Faceless, The - Akeldama (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs . Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Ex-Faceless Drummer Nick Pierce Joins Unearth". January 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "UNEARTH Begin Work on New Album". April 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Meet Richey Beckett, Reclusive Artist Behind Black Sabbath, Metallica, Mastodon Visuals". August 31, 2017.
  5. ↑ "About".
  6. 1 2 "Unearth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. ↑ Brown, Matt (November 6, 2014). "Metal By Numbers 11/6: Here Come The Brides - Metal Insider". www.metalinsider.net. Metal Insider. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Unearth Officially Sign with eOne | Metal Insider". June 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Unearth swarm your eyeballs with new video | Metal Insider". January 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ Blabbermouth (October 29, 2014). "Watchers of Rule". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Album Review: UNEARTH - Watchers of Rule". Metal Injection. October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ kapper, Andrew. "Unearth - Watchers Of Rule Review". heavymetal.about.com. About.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ Slessor, Dan (October 27, 2014). "Unearth - Watchers Of The Rule - Alternative Press". www.altpress.com. Alternative Press . Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ Van Horn, Jr., Ray (October 29, 2014). "CD Reviews - Watchers Of Rule Unearth - Blabbermouth.net". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  15. ↑ Zorgdrager, Bradley (October 24, 2014). "Unearth Watchers of Rule". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  16. ↑ https://metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-unearth-watchers-of-rule
  17. ↑ wookubus (September 9, 2014). "Unearth Stream New Track "The Swarm", Cover Slayer For "Watchers Of Rule"". www.theprp.com. THEPRP.COM. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Watchers Of Rules - 世界のメタル、パンク、ハードコア、エモを扱うレーベル HOWLING BULL （ハウリングブル）". howling-bull.co.jp (in Japanese). Howling bull. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ Watchers of Rule (liner notes). Unearth. Century Media Records. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ Adams, Gregory (June 18, 2013). "Unearth Sign to eOne Music, Prepping New Lamb of God-assisted LP". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  21. ↑ "アンアースのアルバム売上ランキング - ORICON STYLE".
  22. ↑ "Unearth Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Unearth Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  24. ↑ "Unearth Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  25. ↑ Zorgdrager, Bradley (August 11, 2014). "Unearth Announce 'Watchers of Rule' LP". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  26. ↑ "WATCHERS OF RULE - 3Wise". www.3wiserecords.com. 3Wise Records. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  27. ↑ "UNEARTH kündigen neues Album "Watchers Of Rule" an!". www.centurymedia.com (in German). Century Media. August 28, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  28. ↑ "UNEARTH announce new album "Watchers Of Rule"!". www.centurymedia.com. Century Media. August 28, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
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