Gravity (Bullet for My Valentine album)

Gravity is the sixth studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on 29 June 2018 via Spinefarm Records, their first album under the label. It is the first album with former Pitchshifter drummer Jason Bowld, who joined in 2016 to replace founding drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas.[6] It is also the first album to feature bassist Jamie Mathias as a contributing member. Gravity represents a significant change in sound compared to the band's previous releases, moving toward the nu metal sound similar to their early years as "Jeff Killed John".[2]

Gravity
Studio album by
Released29 June 2018 (2018-06-29)
Recorded2016-2017
StudioMetropolis Studios, London, England
Genre
Length41:37
LabelSpinefarm
ProducerCarl Bown
Bullet for My Valentine chronology
Venom
(2015)
Gravity
(2018)
Bullet for My Valentine
(2021)
Singles from Gravity
  1. "Don't Need You"
    Released: 6 November 2016
  2. "Over It"
    Released: 1 April 2018
  3. "Piece of Me"
    Released: 27 April 2018
  4. "Letting You Go"
    Released: 18 May 2018

On 1 April 2018, Bullet for My Valentine debuted "Over It", the first single from Gravity, on BBC Radio 1.[7]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound Magazine[8]
MetalSucks[9]
Exclaim![10]
Metal Hammer[11]
Sputnikmusic[12]
Blabbermouth.net[13]

Critical reception edit

Upon its release, Gravity has received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, primarily due to the band's departure from their signature metalcore/thrash metal sound to a more nu metal style. Jeff Treppel of MetalSucks gave the album an extremely negative 0.5 out of 5, criticizing the sound for being a "bastard hybrid of Linkin Park-style radio rock" as well as the album's lyrical content and Matt Tuck's vocals.[14] A significantly more positive review came from Lukas Wojcicki of Exclaim!, who stated that the "newly implemented formula works as intended", and commented that the "tracks are easily digestible and regrettably catchy", although stated that "metal purists" would find the album "frustrating".[15]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Leap of Faith"
3:19
2."Over It"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:47
3."Letting You Go"3:43
4."Not Dead Yet"3:21
5."The Very Last Time"
  • Tuck
  • Bown
3:57
6."Piece of Me"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:26
7."Under Again"
  • Tuck
  • Schwartz
4:10
8."Gravity"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
4:00
9."Coma"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
  • Bown
  • Fulk
3:33
10."Don't Need You"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
4:50
11."Breathe Underwater"3:41
Total length:41:47
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Radioactive" (Imagine Dragons cover)3:10
13."Letting You Go" (Zardonic remix)
  • Tuck
  • Schwartz
  • Caggiano
5:14
Total length:50:06
United Kingdom and Target exclusive bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Breaking Out"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:27
13."Crawling"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:54
Total length:49:08
Japanese edition bonus tracks[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Breaking Out"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:27
13."Crawling"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:54
14."Breathe Underwater" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Bown
  • Simpson
3:41
15."The Very Last Time" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Bown
3:57
16."Under Again" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Schwartz
4:10
17."Don't Need You" (live from O2 Brixton Academy on 10 December 2016)
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
4:50
Total length:1:09:24
Digital deluxe edition[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Breaking Out"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:27
13."Crawling"
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
3:54
14."Radioactive" (Imagine Dragons cover)3:10
15."Letting You Go" (Zardonic remix)
  • Tuck
  • Schwartz
  • Caggiano
5:14
16."Breathe Underwater" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Bown
  • Simpson
3:41
17."The Very Last Time" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Bown
3:57
18."Under Again" (piano version)
  • Tuck
  • Schwartz
4:10
19."Don't Need You" (live from O2 Brixton Academy on 10 December 2016)
  • Tuck
  • Bowld
4:50
Total length:1:14:10

Personnel edit

Bullet for My Valentine

Technical

  • Carl Bown – production, mixing, keyboards
  • Colin Richardson – production on "Don't Need You"
  • Alex Robinson – mixing assistant
  • Daniel Holub – art direction, design
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, NYC

Charts edit

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] 10
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] 7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 21
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 27
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 18
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[23] 29
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] 65
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 12
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 7
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[27] 27
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[28] 50
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[29] 34
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[30] 39
Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 15
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[32] 87
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[33] 50
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 13
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[37] 2
US Billboard 200[38] 17
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[39] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[40] 6

References edit

  1. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine 'Gravity' - Album Review". HeavyMag. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Album Review Bullet For My Valentine – Gravity". AltWire. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-bullet-my-valentine-go-throat-new-song-knives
  4. ^ Yadav, Dylan (2 July 2018). "Bullet For My Valentine Lay Out Their Emotions In "Gravity"". Immortal Reviews. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine To Release New Studio Album, 'Gravity'". Spine Farm Records. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine's Jason Bowld Officially Named Drummer". Loudwire. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Bullet For My Valentine To Release 'Gravity' Album In June; 'Over It' Single Receives World Premiere". Blabbermouth. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  8. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Gravity - Bullet for My Valentine". 29 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Album Review: Bullet for My Valentine's Gravity". 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Gravity | Exclaim!".
  11. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity album review". 28 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Review: Bullet for My Valentine - Gravity | Sputnikmusic".
  13. ^ "Gravity - BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE". 9 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Album Review: Bullet for My Valentine's Gravity". MetalSucks. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Bullet For My Valentine Gravity". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  16. ^ "グラヴィティ[CD]". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Gravity (Deluxe Edition)". Spotify. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 27.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine: Gravity" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  27. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 27. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  28. ^ "Gravity on Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine". Oricon. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  30. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 27, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  32. ^ "Slovak Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 15 August 2022. Note: On the chart page, select SK - Albums - Top 100 under the left field and "201827" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 27: del 29.6.2018 al 5.7.2018" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  34. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 July 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bullet for My Valentine – Gravity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  37. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  39. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  40. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2018.