Selves We Cannot Forgive is the second full length album from American extreme metal band Black Crown Initiate. The album was released on July 22, 2016[4] with eOne Music.[4] It was produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland[4](August Burns Red, Texas In July, From Ashes To New) and recorded at Atrium Audio Recording Studio's[4] in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with cover art by Travis Smith[4](Opeth, Devin Townsend, Avenged Sevenfold).[5][6]
| Selves We Cannot Forgive | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 22, 2016 | |||
| Studio | Atrium Audio | |||
| Genre | Technical death metal | |||
| Length | 51:31 | |||
| Label | eOne Music | |||
| Producer | Carson Slovak, Grant McFarland | |||
| Black Crown Initiate chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Selves We Cannot Forgive | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metal Sucks | (4/5)[1] |
| Sputnik Music | (3.5/5)[2] |
| Metal Injection | (8/10)[3] |
To date it is the band's strongest-selling album, moving 1,825 copies in its debut week.[7]
Background
editAfter notching over 200 live performances while touring to promote The Wreckage of Stars in 2015, the band announced they were entering the studio to record their sophomore release in February of 2016.[8]
On April 20, 2016, the band announced the name of their upcoming album as well as the release date.[9] Selves We Cannot Forgive was set to debut on July 22, 2016.[9]
The album's first promotional single, "For Red Cloud" was released in May, exclusively via MetalSucks.[10] The second promotional single "Vicious Lives" was released in July.[11] A music video for the title track was debuted via VEVO on July 25.[12] The video was directed by Justin Reich.[12]
Selves We Cannot Forgive would prove to be the band's final album with long-time guitarist Rik Stelzpflug, who would depart the band shortly before the release of the album, though he would still receive co-writing credits on "Sorrowpsalm."[13]
Replacing Stelzpflug was former The Faceless and Glass Casket guitarist Wes Hauch, who provided a guest solo on "Again." Though Hauch was pictured with the band before the album was released, he was only credited with the single guitar solo on the album.[14]
Former Vale of Pnath guitarist Mikey Reeves provides a guest solo on "For Red Cloud" and "Transmit to Disconnect."[15]
A music video for "Selves We Cannot Forgive" was released on July 25.[16]
This would be the band's final release with eOne, as they would sign for Century Media Records in 2019.[17]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For Red Cloud" | 6:48 |
| 2. | "Sorrowpsalm" | 6:30 |
| 3. | "Again" | 5:40 |
| 4. | "Belie the Machine" | 8:59 |
| 5. | "Selves We Cannot Forgive" | 5:19 |
| 6. | "Transmit to Disconnect" | 6:28 |
| 7. | "Matriarch" | 7:21 |
| 8. | "Vicious Lives" | 4:26 |
| Total length: | 51:31 | |
Personnel
edit- Black Crown Initiate
- James Dorton – vocals
- Andy Thomas – guitars, clean vocals
- Nick Shaw – bass
- Jesse Beahler – drums
- Additional musicians
- Grant McFarland, Sarah Thomas, Amanda Mellinger, Adam Biggs, Jeremy Graeff – backing vocals on "Matriarch"
- Mikey Reeves – guitar solo on "For Red Cloud" and "Transmit to Disconnect"
- Travis Ryan – vocals on "Transmit to Disconnect"
- Wes Hauch – guitar solo on "Again"
- Grant McFarland – cello on "Selves we Cannot Forgive", "Matriarch", and "Fallen Angel"
- Rik Stelzpflug – co-writer on Sorrowpsalm
- Production
- Travis Smith – artwork
- Sean Marlow – design
- Paul Grosso – creative direction
- Alan Douches – mastering
- Carson Slovak, Grant McFarland – production
References
edit- ^ Boozeman, Phil.(2016-07-18). [1]. Metal Sucks. Retrieved on 2016-07-22.
- ^ Davis, Robert.(2016-08-03).[2]. Sputnik Music. Retrieved on 2016-09-18.
- ^ Lambert, Aaron.(2016-08-11).[3]. Metal Injection. Retrieved on 2016-09-18.
- ^ a b c d e eOne Music.(2016-06-14).[4]. eOne Music. Retrieved on 2016-07-23.
- ^ "BLACK CROWN INITIATE To Release 'Selves We Cannot Forgive' Album In July". Blabbermouth. April 21, 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ Senior, Nicholas (August 10, 2016). "Album Review: Black Crown Initiate – 'Selves We Cannot Fo". New Noise. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "Metal By Numbers 8/3: A crown atop the chartsMetal Insider". 3 August 2016.
- ^ "BLACK CROWN INITIATE ENTER THE STUDIO; NEW ALBUM DUE IN LATE SPRING". February 2, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Black Crown Initiate announces new album". April 20, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "The first new song from Black Crown Initiate's forthcoming LP has made its online debut". May 5, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Black Crown Initiate has debuted another track from their forthcoming LP". July 17, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Black Crown Initiate's new video for "Selves We Cannot Forgive" has made its online debut". July 25, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Finney, Graham. "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Part Ways with Longtime Guitarist Rik Stelzpflug". puregrainaudio.com.
- ^ "Looks Like Wes Hauch (Ex-THE FACELESS) Has Joined BLACK CROWN INITIATE". 10 May 2016.
- ^ "r/progmetal - We are Black Crown initiate! Ask Us Anything!". reddit.
- ^ bciVEVO (25 July 2016). "Black Crown Initiate - Selves We Cannot Forgive" – via YouTube.
- ^ "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Signs With CENTURY MEDIA". July 30, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2024.