Infliction is the debut studio album by Northern Irish rock band Scheer. It was released on 28 May 1996 through 4AD record label. The album became a minor alternative hit following the release of the singles "Shéa" and "Wish You Were Dead".[1]

Infliction
Studio album by
Released28 May 1996 (1996-05-28)
GenreAlternative metal
Length44:39
Label4AD
Producer
  • Head
  • Scheer
Scheer chronology
Shéa EP
(1996)
Infliction
(1996)
Wish You Were Dead EP
(1996)

The record features an alternative metal sound[2] with influences from power pop and shoegaze.[1][3][4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[5]

AllMusic critic Jonathan Lewis described the record as "a promising but inconsistent debut" and stated: "The problem Scheer encounter is not being able to make the songs different enough or to keep the vocals from sounding exposed."[2] Anya Sacharow of Entertainment Weekly stated that the frontwoman Audrey Gallagher’s "airy, Bjorkian vocals contrast nicely with the mostly metal guitar on Infliction, despite "occasionally lapsing into a monotonous drone". Sacharow also regarded the record as "both hard and pretty — as if you morphed Hole with the Cocteau Twins."[5]

Brad Reno of Trouser Press wrote: "The band kicks up an okay racket and Audrey Gallagher is certainly a strong vocalist, but the material is not desperately memorable."[3] CMJ's Aaron Clow thought that the record showcases the band's technical prowess without overshadowing their songwriting. Clow further stated: "The band lives up to its name in a few ways — it's fuzzy and velvety, but watch out for that bed of nails lurking underneath."[6]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Scheer, except where noted.

  1. "Shéa" — 2:21
  2. "Howling Boy" — 4:02
  3. "Wish You Were Dead" — 3:15
  4. "In Your Hand" — 6:33
  5. "Demon" — 4:48
  6. "Babysize" — 6:03
  7. "Sad Loved Girl" — 4:12
  8. "Driven" — 3:21
  9. "Screaming" — 4:02
  10. "Goodbye" (Gallagher, Calderwood, Fleming) — 5:37

Personnel

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Album personnel as adapted from the album liner notes.[7]

Scheer
  • Audrey Gallagher — vocals
  • Neal Calderwood — guitar
  • Paddy Leyden — guitar
  • Peter Fleming — bass guitar
  • Joe Bates — drums
Other personnel
  • Audrey Riley — cello (10)
  • Scheer — production
  • Head — production
  • Ted Jensen — mastering
  • Mike "Spike" Drake — mixing
  • Steve Cook — assistant mixing
  • Timothy O'Donnell — art direction, design
  • Vaughan Oliver — art direction, design
  • Nicola Schwartz — photography

Chart position

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Album
Charts (1996) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[8] 83

References

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  1. ^ a b Lewis, Jonathan. "Scheer". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Lewis, Jonathan. "Scheer - Infliction". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b Reno, Brad. "Scheer". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. ^ Monk, J. (19 March 2012). "1996: Scheer - "Shea"". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Sacharow, Anya (12 April 1996). "Scheer - Infliction". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  6. ^ Clow, Aaron (May 1996). "Scheer - Infliction". CMJ (33): 42.
  7. ^ Scheer — Infliction liner notes
  8. ^ "Scheer - Infliction chart position". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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