Lies They Tell Our Children (stylized in all caps) is the thirteenth and final studio album by American punk rock band Anti-Flag from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was released on January 6, 2023, via Spinefarm Records. Primary production, recording, and mixing was handled by Jon Lundin, while the mastering was done by long-time Anti-Flag producer and mastering engineer Mass Giorgini. It is also the band's first concept album, and features multiple guest musicians from notable acts such as Rise Against, Bad Religion, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Pinkshift, and Silverstein.
| Lies They Tell Our Children | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 6, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | April–May 2022 | |||
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| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | 33:02 | |||
| Label | Spinefarm | |||
| Producer | Jon Lundin | |||
| Anti-Flag chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lies They Tell Our Children | ||||
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Background edit
Following the release of their previous album, 20/20 Vision, Anti-Flag was forced to put their touring schedule on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed the band to spend much more time than usual on writing and recording their next album. Unlike their previous albums, Lies They Tell Our Children is the band's first concept album that looks at various anti-war, climate devastation, and racism topics, but attempts to go back to the sources of these issues and understand how they came to be.[1]
The album also features a large number of guest musicians that range from friends of the band to different music genres and political perspectives.[2]
Release and reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Distorted Sound | 8/10[3] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[4] |
The majority of songs from Lies They Tell Our Children were released ahead of the album. Alongside the announcement of the album, the band also released its first single, "Laugh. Cry. Smile. Die.", along with a corresponding music on July 29, 2022.[5] This was followed by six additional singles, all of which featured a guest musician.[6][7][8][9]
In support of the album, the band also embarked on a North American tour ahead of its release, beginning in Burlington, Vermont on September 16, 2022.[5]
Gavin Brown of Distorted Sound called the album "an urgent and supremely well-executed collection of rousing anthems that perfectly encapsulates the rage at the problems that we as a world have faced in recent times".[3] John Longbottom of Kerrang! called it "a truly great and timely album from a band who continue to fearlessly, articulately and aggressively address the issues of the here and now".[4]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Justin Sane, Chris Barker, Chris Head, and Pat Thetic
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sold Everything" | 1:30 | |
| 2. | "Modern Meta Medicine" (featuring Jesse Leach) | 3:36 | |
| 3. | "Laugh. Cry. Smile. Die." (featuring Shane Told) | 3:04 | |
| 4. | "The Fight of Our Lives" (featuring Tim McIlrath and Brian Baker) | Stevie Aiello | 2:52 |
| 5. | "Imperialism" (featuring Ashrita Kumar) | 2:56 | |
| 6. | "Victory or Death (We Gave 'Em Hell)" (featuring Campino) | Aiello | 3:31 |
| 7. | "The Hazardous" | 3:10 | |
| 8. | "Shallow Graves" (featuring Tré Burt) | 2:30 | |
| 9. | "Work & Struggle" | 2:22 | |
| 10. | "Nvrevr" (featuring Stacey Dee) | 4:40 | |
| 11. | "Only in My Head" | 2:45 | |
| Total length: | 33:02 | ||
Notes
- All songs titles are stylized in all caps.
Personnel edit
Anti-Flag
- Justin Sane – lead guitar, lead vocals
- Chris Head – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Barker – bass, co-lead vocals
- Pat Thetic – drums
Additional musicians
- Jon Lundin – backing vocals
- Josh Massie – backing vocals
- Jesse Leach – vocals (track 2)
- Shane Told – vocals (3)
- Tim McIlrath – vocals (4)
- Brian Baker – guitar (4)
- Ashrita Kumar – vocals (5)
- Campino – vocals (6)
- Tré Burt – vocals (8)
- Stacey Dee – vocals (10)
Technical
- Jon Lundin – production, mixing, engineering
- Mass Giorgini – mastering
- Tom Zwanzger – engineering
- Arnaud Bascunana – engineering
- Vincent Sorg – engineering
- Justin Francis – engineering
Visuals
- Doug Dean – artwork, design, concept
- Josh Massie – photography
Charts edit
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] | 6 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 35 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[12] | 71 |
References edit
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 29, 2022). "Anti-Flag announce guest-filled new LP 'Lies They Tell Our Children,' share new song & video". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ "Anti-Flag Announce New Album 'Lies They Tell Our Children' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Brown, Gavin (January 5, 2023). "Album Review: Lies They Tell Our Children – Anti-Flag". Distorted Sound. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Longbottom, John (January 5, 2023). "Album review: Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Hadusek, Jon (July 29, 2022). "Anti-Flag announce new album, share "Laugh. Cry. Smile. Die." feat. Silverstein's Shane Told: Stream". Consequence. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (August 10, 2022). "Anti-Flag team with Rise Against's Tim McIlrath & Bad Religion's Brian Baker on new song & video". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Heasley, Ellis (September 8, 2022). "Anti-Flag release new music video for 'IMPERIALISM'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Qureshi, Arusa (October 6, 2022). "Listen to new Anti-Flag 'Modern Meta Medicine' featuring Killswitch Engage's Jesse Leach". NME. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Stickler, Jon. "Anti-Flag Post New Track NVREVR Featuring Stacey Dee Of Bad Cop/Bad Cop - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2023.