Stranger Fruit

Last updated

It's kind of a continuation of the thoughts of strange fruit, of people hanging, and, by extension, of people being shot or dying. It's not that happy of an idea, all in all. But that's kind of the times we live in." [11]

Gagneux drew inspiration from non-metal artists such as Tom Waits, A Clockwork Orange composer Wendy Carlos and French composer Erik Satie during the writing of the album. [11] Additionally, he listened to the field recordings of Alan Lomax. [11] The album features references to Goetia, Yoruba, as well as obscure occult literature and history. [12]

The album is produced by Gagneux and Zebo Adam, mixed by Kurt Ballou, and mastered by Alan Douches. [13]

Album artwork

The front cover features a green Granny Smith apple almost entirely obscured by the band's logo and a purple foreground. Each single features the apple in various states of disrepair; bruised ("Gravedigger's Chant"), [14] chopped in half ("Waste" [15] and "Built on Ashes" [16] ), and with bites taken out of it ("You Ain't Coming Back" [17] ). The photographs of the apple were taken by drummer Marco Von Allmen. [18]

About the album's artwork, Gagneux stated "We thought way too long about it, and then just thought, 'What's a fruit?'. We just bought an apple and figured we needed to mess it up as a reference to The Beatles album and the forbidden fruit and also the poem from Billie Holiday." [18]

Song information

Zeal & Ardor expanded to a full band after recording the previous album. 4L8A3217 web (36795037792).jpg
Zeal & Ardor expanded to a full band after recording the previous album.

The first track, "Intro", is a short track which Gagneux states "establishes a mood for the album to follow." [19] "Gravedigger's Chant" features the lyrics "Bring the dead down low, Bring the dead body down to the graveyard, son. You can't run, you can't hide.", alongside piano and gospel-style vocals. [4] Gagneux described the song, stating "The gravedigger's chant is the song sung by the people who lay your body to rest. These people don't care where you were, but they know what you did and who loved you. All they know is what lies before them. So they sing this song, since you can no longer breathe a note." [4] He also stated the song was released as the lead single because "it's really not a metal song.. it's not typically what you would expect." [19] "Servants", described as more melodic than other tracks, [20] and featuring tremolo guitar [21] is about "either a slave revolution" or a "message to the American Middle class". [19]

"Don't You Dare" was first released in February 2017, and was performed live before being included on Stranger Fruit. [22] Gagneux described the song as saying "The idea of something so horrible that merely looking at it will end you is fascinating to me.. Don't You Dare thematically plays with biblical demons as well as Lovecraftian elements that lend themselves well to this idea." [23] He described the song as "portraying a different kind of character", calling it "commanding". [19] "Fire of Motion" features an Aleister Crowley sample. [19] "The Hermit" is one of four instrumental tracks on the album (alongside "The Fool", "Solve" and "Coagula"), which serve as "breathers for your ears before the heavy parts". [19] "Row Row" is stated to have more soul elements, with Gagneux comparing it to Motown music, as well as saying it's the "turning point in the story" of the album. [19] Loudwire described the song as the most blues based song by the band. [24] "Ship on Fire" features occult chanting and is considered the 'second chapter' of "Row Row". [19]

"Waste" is a purposely contradictory song, using the Millennial whoop (a simplistic style used in many pop songs) in contrast to what Gagneux called "The darkest song on the album", fully incorporating the gospel and soul elements into black metal. [19] [25] The song features "crackling production, hellish screams, and out-of-nowhere blastbeats". [26] "You Ain't Coming Back" was created with the intent of having a hard-hitting song without the extreme metal. [19] Gagneux used guitar string dissonance to help achieve the effect. [19] The song was released (alongside an instrumental version) as a single in September 2018. [7] "We Can't Be Found" was the song that was worked on the longest, being described as "a bunch of riffs and beats we managed to amalgamate into something cohesive." [19] "Stranger Fruit" was written with the intent of making a song difficult to listen to because of the lyrical narrative of the song. [19] "Built On Ashes" references Strange Fruit, with the lyrics "like a strange fruit out of season, You are bound to die alone, And you will swing free in the breeze then." [27] The song was written as a "bittersweet ending" to the album, as a way to summarize the entire album. [27]

Critical reception

Stranger Fruit
Strngfruit.jpg
Studio album by
Released8 June 2018 (2018-06-08)
Genre
Length47:52
Label MVKA
Producer Zebo Adam, Manuel Gagneux
Zeal & Ardor chronology
Devil Is Fine
(2016)
Stranger Fruit
(2018)
Live in London
(2019)
Zeal & Ardor studio album chronology
Devil Is Fine
(2016)
Stranger Fruit
(2018)
Zeal & Ardor
(2022)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 77/100 [28]
Review scores
SourceRating
The A.V. Club A− [29]
Exclaim! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Loudwire Positive [24]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [30]
Kerrang! Positive [31]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Metal Storm 9.5/10 [32]
The National Student Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [33]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [34]
Ultimate Guitar Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [35]

Stranger Fruit received positive reviews. Loudwire praised the album, stating "The talent and vision Manuel Gagneux possesses is rarer than the strangest fruit, and it would be a crime to sleep on this magnificent piece of art. Stranger Fruit is Album of the Year material and will surely be celebrated as the record which solidified Zeal & Ardor as irrefutably significant". [24] Metal Hammer gave the album a 4.5 out of 5, stating "Working your way through the 16 tracks, you are confronted with a lot that is going on, as the album constantly walks a tightrope between brute force and sensitivity, from blastbeats to chorals to piano parts. But you never feel lost in this eclecticism, because the essence of what Manuel does is crystal clear." [3]

Echoes and Dust also gave a positive review, stating "Stranger Fruit then is an album that bridges a gap between genre and meaning, and by extension between past and present. But it's an album that is focused, using the theme as a catalyst whilst never letting it take precedence over catchy and powerful song writing." [36] The National Student, in a 5 out of 5 review, stated "This is modern metal's Terminator 2; its Empire Strikes Back; its Dark Knight – a sequel so well-executed that it surprisingly but undeniably leaves a fantastic original in its dust. [33] Exclaim! compared the album favorably to the works of Deafheaven, also stating it was "unlike anything else you've ever heard." [21] Kerrang! named it their album of the week upon release, stating "Stranger Fruit sounds like only half a step forward, stranger in some places, but familiar in others. That is not to take away from the eye-bulging intensity on display here, though... Stranger Fruit is a singularly raging proposition, and one that is still worthy of the Luciferian seal that adorns its cover." [31]

Dansende Beren gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, stating "We do not like to mention the word masterpiece, but other than this, Stranger Fruit is almost impossible to describe. The record is so catchy and haunting that we can hardly get enough of it." [37] Metal Insider stated "Stranger Fruit shattered these expectations. Zeal & Ardor has created 13 songs that flawlessly integrate the band's doleful disposition and phonic soul with instrumental ferocity". [38] It Djents gave the album a positive review, stating "the band's sophomore effort is anything but a slump, showing that there's a lot more to explore at the intersection of soul and Satan... You will likely not hear another album so satisfyingly contradictory, anachronistically pleasing, or aesthetically challenging this year, or at least one done this well." [39] In a 9/10 review, Kill Your Stereo stated "With 'Stranger Fruit', Zeal & Ardor are unlike any other band making waves through black metal, blues and other underground music circles of late. With this sublime second LP, they've summoned up a magical, morose, macabre and, for the most part, a masterful sound – a stunning sequel in every sense. This is undeniably Zeal & Ardor proving to the world that they weren't just some flash-in-the-pan act back in 2016, but rather, something truly special to behold." [40]

Loudwire included the album in its June 2018 column of the Best Metal Albums of 2018 So Far. [41] Metal Hammer also included it on their list of 50 Best Metal Albums of 2018 So Far, [42] and it placed 5th on the Reader's Poll of the same subject. [43] Revolver placed the album on its list of the "25 best albums of 2018 so far", [44] as did The AV Club. [45]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Decibel Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2018
33
Bandcamp Daily The Best Albums of 2018
47
Revolver Revolver's Top 30 Albums of 2018
6
The A.V. Club A.V. Club's 10 Best Metal Albums of 2018
Loudwire Loudwire's 30 Best Metal Albums of 2018
4
Consequence of Sound Top 25 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2018
11
Loudwire 30 Best Metal songs of 2018
11 ("Ship on Fire")
Upset MagazineThe Best of 2018
50
All Things LoudTop 10 Albums of the year
9
Metal InsiderJoe Koza's Top 10 Metal Albums of 2018
1
Metal InjectionMetal Injection Writers' Collective Top 20 Albums of 2018
4
MondoSonoroBest albums of 2018
20
Yahoo! EntertainmentJon Wiederhorn's Top 10 albums of 2018
1
WMMR.com Sara's 20 Favorite Rock + Metal Albums of 2018

Commercial performance

Upon release, the album charted on several international charts. It debuted on the US Billboard Independent album charts at 24, [60] the Billboard Heatseekers chart at 3, [60] the UK Rock and Metal charts at 15, [61] the German album charts at 27, [62] the Flemish charts at 112, [63] the Swiss charts at 2, [64] and the Austrian charts at 30. [65]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [66]

All tracks are written by Manuel Gagneux. "Fire of Motion" features samples of speeches by Aleister Crowley, "Don't You Dare" features samples of speeches by Anton Lavey

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"2:14
2."Gravedigger's Chant"3:11
3."Servants"3:30
4."Don't You Dare"3:29
5."Fire of Motion"2:28
6."The Hermit (instrumental)"2:42
7."Row Row"3:06
8."Ship on Fire"3:33
9."Waste"3:19
10."You Ain't Coming Back"3:19
11."The Fool (instrumental)"2:25
12."We Can't Be Found"3:32
13."Stranger Fruit"3:29
14."Solve (instrumental)"1:22
15."Coagula"1:38
16."Built on Ashes"4:35
Total length:47:52

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [66]

Manuel Gagneux was the main creative force behind the album, writing every song and playing every instrument except for drums. 4L8A8867 (24484505347).jpg
Manuel Gagneux was the main creative force behind the album, writing every song and playing every instrument except for drums.

Zeal & Ardor

Production

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [67] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [68] 112
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [69] 27
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [70] 2
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [71] 15
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [72] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [73] 24

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax (American band)</span> American thrash metal band

Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast. The band's current lineup consists of Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. Ian and Benante are the only two members to appear on all of Anthrax's albums, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing Lilker.

<i>Toxicity</i> (album) 2001 studio album by System of a Down

Toxicity is the second studio album by American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on September 4, 2001, through American Recordings and Columbia Records. Expanding on their 1998 eponymous debut, it incorporated more melody, harmonies, and singing than the band's first album. Categorized primarily as alternative metal and nu metal, Toxicity features elements of multiple genres, including folk, progressive rock, jazz, and Armenian and Greek music, including prominent use of instruments like the sitar, banjo, keyboards, and piano. It contains a wide array of political and non-political themes, such as mass incarceration, the CIA, the environment, police brutality, drug addiction, scientific reductionism, and groupies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Days Grace</span> Canadian rock band

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 originally as Groundswell. Groundswell played in various local Norwood backyard parties and area establishments before disbanding in 1995 and regrouping in 1997 under its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenged Sevenfold</span> American heavy metal band

Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As I Lay Dying (band)</span> American metalcore band

As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by vocalist Tim Lambesis, the band's first full lineup was completed in 2001. The band has released seven albums, one split album, and two compilation albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Them Bones</span> 1992 single by Alice in Chains

"Them Bones" is a song by American rock band Alice in Chains. It is the opening track and the second single from their second album, Dirt (1992). "Them Bones" peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and at No. 30 on the Alternative Airplay chart. The song was also included on the compilation albums Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999), Music Bank (1999), Greatest Hits (2001), The Essential Alice in Chains (2006). A live performance of the song is included on their live album Live (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Undead</span> American rap rock band

Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2005. All of the band members use pseudonyms and previously wore their own unique mask, most of which were based on the common hockey goaltender design. The band currently consists of five members: J-Dog, Funny Man, Johnny 3 Tears, Charlie Scene, and Danny. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011. Their third studio album, titled Notes from the Underground, was released on January 8, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avatar (band)</span> Swedish heavy metal band

Avatar is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed in Mölndal, Gothenburg in 2001. The band has released nine studio albums, the most recent being Dance Devil Dance in 2023. The band has had some success on US rock radio, notably with their song "New Land", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2017.

<i>All I Was</i> 2012 studio album by Tremonti

All I Was is the debut studio album by Tremonti, a band formed by the lead guitarist for the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge, Mark Tremonti. Produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, the album shows prominent thrash metal influences. It showcases the debut of Tremonti as a lead vocalist and features guitarist, bassist, and backing vocalist Eric Friedman and drummer Garrett Whitlock, both former members of Submersed. The album was released to critical acclaim on July 17, 2012, by FRET12 Records.

<i>Meliora</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Ghost

Meliora is the third studio album by Swedish rock band Ghost. The album was produced by Klas Åhlund and released on August 21, 2015. The album was generally well received, placing on several music publications' lists of the best heavy metal albums of the year and winning Best Hard Rock/Metal Album at the 2015 Grammis Awards. Lead single "Cirice" won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. In September 2016, the band released a special edition of the album, called Meliora Redux.

<i>Vessels</i> (Starset album) Second studio album by rock band Starset

Vessels is the second studio album by American rock band Starset, released on January 20, 2017 through Razor & Tie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeal & Ardor</span> Swiss avant-garde metal band

Zeal & Ardor is a Swiss avant-garde metal band started and led by Manuel Gagneux, a Swiss-American musician who had previously created a chamber pop project called Birdmask. Formed in 2013, the band mixes sounds of African-American spirituals with black metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astronoid</span>

Astronoid is a post-metal band from Lowell, Massachusetts, formed in 2012. Started by vocalist Brett Boland and bassist Daniel Schwartz, the current lineup includes Boland, Schwartz, guitarist Casey Aylward, and drummer Matt St. Jean. They have released two extended plays, November (2012) and Stargazer (2013), and three studio albums, Air (2016), the eponymous Astronoid (2019) and Radiant Bloom (2022).

<i>All I See Is War</i> 2018 studio album by Sevendust

All I See Is War is the twelfth studio album by Sevendust. It was released on May 11, 2018. Three songs were showcased from the album ahead of its full release; the first single, "Dirty", along with two other promotional songs, "Not Original", and "Medicated". "Unforgiven" and "Risen" followed as further singles.

<i>Devil Is Fine</i> 2016 studio album by Zeal & Ardor

Devil Is Fine is the debut studio album by Swiss avant-garde metal musician Manuel Gagneux, under his alias Zeal & Ardor. Initially released independently in April 2016, it was re-released by MVKA records on March 27, 2017. The album received critical acclaim, and was included on many publications' year-end best of lists.

"Uncomfortable" is a song by American hard rock band Halestorm from their fourth studio album, Vicious. The song was written by Lzzy and Arejay Hale, alongside Josh Smith and Joe Hottinger. It was recorded at Rock Falcon Studios in Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz. The song was released on May 30, 2018 as the album's lead single, through Atlantic Records.

<i>Live in London</i> (Zeal & Ardor album) 2019 live album by Zeal & Ardor

Live in London is the first live release by avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor. Released 22 March 2019, the performance captured was from a 2 December 2018 show at Electric Ballroom in London. The live album features three non-album tracks performed by the band as part of their setlist. Vocalist Manuel Gagneux stated of the album "Since we're really proud of our performance, we are releasing the entire show consisting of our entire catalogue of songs." Gagneux also stated the reason for the live album was to capture the live shows that were "more energetic and way more aggressive" than the recorded material.

<i>Wake of a Nation</i> 2020 EP by Zeal & Ardor

Wake of a Nation is the first extended play released avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeal & Ardor discography</span>

This is the complete discography of Swiss black metal band Zeal & Ardor. They have released three albums, two live albums, one EP, six B-sides and 15 singles.

<i>Zeal & Ardor</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Zeal & Ardor

Zeal & Ardor is the self-titled third studio album by avant-garde metal artist Zeal & Ardor, released on 11 February 2022.

References

  1. Gerrard, Audrey (25 May 2018). "Album Reviews : Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit". Metal Obsession.
  2. Dylan Gordeuk (6 June 2018). "Review: Zeal & Ardor's 'Stranger Fruit' a full album this time, promise". Metal Insider. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit album review". LouderSound. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ross, Alex Robert (29 March 2018). "Good Lord, This New Zeal & Ardor Song Is So Good". Vice. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Listen To New ZEAL & ARDOR Song 'Waste'". Blabbermouth.net. 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 Wookubus (25 May 2018). "Zeal & Ardor Premiere "Built On Ashes"". The PRP. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. 1 2 "You Ain't Coming Back - Single by Zeal & Ardor". iTunes . 7 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  8. "ZEAL & ARDOR To Release 'Stranger Fruit' Album In June". Blabbermouth.net. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. Zeal & Ardor (20 March 2018). "ZEAL & ARDOR - Intro (Official Video)" . Retrieved 14 June 2018 via YouTube.
  10. Zeal & Ardor (29 March 2018). "ZEAL & ARDOR - Gravedigger's Chant (Official Video)". Archived from the original on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018 via YouTube.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Zeal & Ardor's Provocative Black Metal/Spirituals Mash-Up Gets Stranger". 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  12. "ZEAL OVER HERE - MaximumVolumeMusic". 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. Evans, Morgan Ywain (3 May 2018). "Interview: Zeal and Ardor's Manuel Gagneux on strange times and "Stranger Fruit"". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  14. "Gravedigger's Chant, by Zeal and Ardor". Zeal and Ardor. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  15. "Waste, by Zeal and Ardor". Zeal and Ardor. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  16. "Built On Ashes, by Zeal and Ardor". Zeal and Ardor. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  17. "You Ain't Coming Back". 7 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  18. 1 2 "From Stranger Fruit to the Stage: Interview with Manuel Gagneux of Zeal & Ardor - OUTBURN MAGAZINE". www.outburn.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit track by track". 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. "ALBUM REVIEW – Zeal & Ardor, Stranger Fruit". Rock Revolt. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  21. 1 2 3 Max Morin (7 June 2018). "Zeal and Ardor Stranger Fruit". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  22. "Listen to a Chilling New Zeal & Ardor Song, "Don't You Dare"". 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  23. "'Don't You Dare' Look Away From Zeal & Ardor's New Track". Loudwire. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 "Zeal & Ardor's 'Stranger Fruit' is Gorgeous, Twisted + Virtuosic". Loudwire. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  25. "Hear Zeal & Ardor Channel Mayhem on Vicious New Song "Waste"". 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  26. "ZEAL & ARDOR's New Song "Waste" Is Soulfully Raw Black Metal". 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  27. 1 2 Desk, TV News. "Zeal & Ardor Share New Song BUILT ON ASHES from Upcoming Album STRONGER FRUIT Out June 8". Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  28. Metacritic
  29. "Lykke Li, Zeal & Ardor, and more albums to know about this week". The A.V. Club. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  30. "Stranger Fruit - Zeal & Ardor | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  31. 1 2 "Album Of The Week: Zeal & Ardor's Stranger Fruit — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  32. RaduP (8 July 2018). "Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit". Metal Storm. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  33. 1 2 "Album review: Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit". www.thenationalstudent.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  34. "Zeal & Ardor: Stranger Fruit Album Review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  35. "Zeal & Ardor: Stranger Fruit Review". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  36. "Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit". 5 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  37. Meyer-Horn, Simon (8 June 2018). "Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit (★★★★1/2): Het stevigste meesterwerk van het jaar!" [Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit (★★★★1/2): The firmest masterpiece of the year!] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  38. "Review: Zeal & Ardor's 'Stranger Fruit' a full album this time, promiseMetal Insider". 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  39. "REVIEW: Zeal & Ardor - "Stranger Fruit" - It Djents". www.itdjents.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  40. "Album Review: Zeal & Ardor - 'Stranger Fruit' - Killyourstereo.com". Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  41. "2018's Best Metal Albums... So Far". Loudwire. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  42. Morton, Luke (22 June 2018). "The 50 best metal albums of 2018 (so far)". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  43. "Ghost – Prequelle voted best metal album of the year so far". 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  44. "25 Best Albums of 2018 So Far". 25 June 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  45. Club, The A.V. (27 June 2018). "The best albums of 2018 so far". Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  46. Mudrian, Albert (15 November 2018). "SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2018". Decibel . Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  47. Editorial (12 December 2018). "The Best Albums of 2018: #60 – 41".
  48. "30 Best Albums of 2018". 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  49. Anthony, A.A. Dowd and David (27 November 2018). "The best metal albums of 2018". Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  50. "The 30 Best Metal Albums of 2018". Loudwire . 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  51. "Top 25 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2018". 5 December 2018.
  52. Loudwire Staff (3 December 2018). "The 30 Best Metal Songs of 2018". Loudwire.
  53. "The Best of 2018: 50-41". Upset. 17 December 2018.
  54. Parker, Jack (5 December 2018). "ALL THINGS LOUD'S 2018 ALBUM OF THE YEAR: THE TOP 10".
  55. "Metal Insider's Joe Koza's Top 10 Metal Albums of 2018Metal Insider". 20 December 2018.
  56. "Metal Injection Writers' Collective Top 20 Albums of 2018". Metal Injection. 28 December 2018.
  57. "Los mejores discos internacionales de 2018". 28 November 2018.
  58. "The best albums of 2018: Yahoo Entertainment staff picks". www.yahoo.com. 25 December 2018.
  59. "Sara's 20 Favorite Rock + Metal Albums of 2018". 31 December 2018.
  60. 1 2 "Zeal & Ardor Chart History". Billboard.
  61. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  62. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de.
  63. "Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit". ultratop.be.
  64. "Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com.
  65. "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". austriancharts.at.
  66. 1 2 Stranger Fruit (Media notes). Zeal & Ardor. MKVA. 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  67. "Austriancharts.at – Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  68. "Ultratop.be – Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  69. "Offiziellecharts.de – Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  70. "Swisscharts.com – Zeal & Ardor – Stranger Fruit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  71. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  72. "Zeal Ardor Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  73. "Zeal Ardor Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2018.