Defy is the fifth studio album by American rock band Of Mice & Men. It was released on January 19, 2018, through Rise Records. The album was produced by Howard Benson and is the follow-up to the group's fourth album, Cold World (2016). This is the first album to feature Aaron Pauley as the sole lead vocalist following the departure of Austin Carlile, who left the band in late 2016 due to health issues. It sold 9,400 copies in the US in its first week.[6]

Defy
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2018
Recorded2017
StudioWest Valley Studios, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
Genre
Length45:31
LabelRise
ProducerHoward Benson
Of Mice & Men chronology
Cold World
(2016)
Defy
(2018)
Earthandsky
(2019)
Singles from Defy
  1. "Unbreakable"
    Released: April 24, 2017
  2. "Back to Me"
    Released: May 22, 2017
  3. "Warzone"
    Released: November 10, 2017
  4. "Defy"
    Released: November 27, 2017
  5. "Money"
    Released: January 12, 2018
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Exeposé[8]
Loudwire(very positive)[9]
Metal Hammer[10]
Renowned for Sound[11]
Rock Sound[4]

Track listing

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Defy track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Defy"3:41
2."Instincts"4:20
3."Back to Me"3:18
4."Sunflower"3:40
5."Unbreakable"4:09
6."Vertigo"4:14
7."Money" (Pink Floyd cover)3:55
8."How Will You Live"3:41
9."On the Inside"3:14
10."Warzone"3:13
11."Forever YDG'N"3:55
12."If We Were Ghosts"4:12
Total length:45:31

Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic.[12]

Of Mice & Men

  • Aaron Pauley – lead vocals, bass
  • Alan Ashby – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Phil Manansala – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Valentino Arteaga – drums, percussion, backing vocals on "Unbreakable"

Additional personnel

  • Howard Benson – production, recording
  • Mike Plotnikoff – co-production, engineering
  • Hatsukazu Inagaki – engineering
  • Zach Darf, Trevor Dietrich and Nik Karpen – assistant engineering
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Adam Chagnon – additional engineering
  • Ted Jensen and Chris Athens – mastering
  • Paul DeCarli – editing
  • Marc VanGool – guitar technician
  • Jon Nicholson – drum technician
  • Charles Tsuei – assisting
  • Stevie Aiello – composition on "Back to Me" and "How Will You Live"
  • Roger Waters – composition on "Money"
  • Scott Stephens – composition on "On the Inside"
  • Lindsey Byrnes – band photography
  • Kevin Moore – art direction, design
  • Laurie Belotti – art direction, design assisting

Charts

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Chart performance for Defy
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 29
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 44
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 98
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[16] 74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 58
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[18] 7
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 42
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 51
US Billboard 200[22] 48
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[23] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 7

References

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  1. ^ Carrol, Lucas (January 18, 2018). "Of Mice & Men // "Defy" Album Review". The Modern Record. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Grönecke-Preuss, Jeanette (January 6, 2018). "Of Mice And Men - Defy". Metal.de (in German). Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  3. ^ a b ""Defy" By Of Mice & Men-Album Review". The Haystack Music. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Of Mice & Men - Defy - Rock Sound Magazine". Rock Sound. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  5. ^ "Of Mice & Men – Defy (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. January 15, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Of Mice & Men album fails to chart on Billboard 200". Lambgoat. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ^ "Defy - Of Mice & Men - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Album Review: Of Mice and Men – Defy". Exeposé. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  9. ^ "Of Mice & Men 'Defy' the Odds and Overcome Lineup Change – Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Of Mice & Men - Defy album review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Album Review: Of Mice & Men - Defy". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Defy - Of Mice & Men - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Of Mice & Men – Defy". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Of Mice & Men – Defy" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Of Mice & Men – Defy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Of Mice Men Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Of Mice & Men – Defy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Of Mice & Men – Defy". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  22. ^ "Of Mice Men Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  23. ^ "Of Mice Men Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  24. ^ "Of Mice Men Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.