Radical (Every Time I Die album)

Radical is the ninth and final studio album by American metalcore band Every Time I Die. It was released on October 22, 2021, and was the band's first studio album in 5 years, since 2016's Low Teens, as well as their only release to feature drummer Clayton "Goose" Holyoak. Radical was named album of the year in 2021 by Kerrang!

Radical
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 22, 2021 (2021-10-22)
Recorded2019–2020
StudioGCR Audio, Buffalo, New York
Genre
Length51:24
LabelEpitaph
ProducerWill Putney
Every Time I Die chronology
Low Teens
(2016)
Radical
(2021)
Singles from Radical
  1. "A Colossal Wreck"
    Released: December 8, 2020
  2. "Desperate Pleasures"
    Released: December 8, 2020
  3. "AWOL"
    Released: February 1, 2021
  4. "Post-Boredom"
    Released: August 17, 2021
  5. "Planet Shit"
    Released: September 13, 2021
  6. "Thing with Feathers"
    Released: October 22, 2021
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Classic Rock7/10
Exclaim!8/10[5]
Kerrang!4/5[1]
Metal Hammer[6]
The Music[7]
Rock Hard8.5/10[8]
Sputnikmusic4.2/5[9]

Background and release edit

On September 9, 2019, the band confirmed that they had started work on their ninth album.[10] They later announced during the January 2020 UK/EU tour supporting While She Sleeps, that the recording process of the album would start once they returned to the US. The band completed recording before the COVID-19 pandemic escalated in the United States in early 2020, leading them to hold off on releasing the album until they were able to tour in support of it.[11] Vocalist Keith Buckley explained in a recent interview, "I dared myself to make some drastic changes in my life. During the pandemic, everything just came to a head. The thing is, we were already done writing and recording the record. The pandemic didn’t actually influence the record at all, but it did influence the way that the record lives. Songs like “Post-Boredom” came to have a new meaning after the pandemic. Songs like “Dark Distance” look a little strange now in hindsight, considering it was written before the pandemic, asking for a plague to happen."

On December 8, 2020, the band released two new songs called "A Colossal Wreck" and "Desperate Pleasures" in the lead-up to their live stream event which took place on December 19, 2020 instead of their annual Tid the Season show.[12] A third track, "AWOL" was released on February 1, 2021.[13]

On August 17, 2021, the band released the song "Post-Boredom" as a single for their album Radical, which they also announced that day.[14] The band also did a pop-up show in Buffalo on August 26,[15] as well as a show for the Ghost Inside's east coast return show on August 28,[16] where they debuted "Post-Boredom".

Two more singles were released in advance, closer to the album's release date; "Planet Shit" on September 13, 2021[17] and "Thing with Feathers", via music video on the album's release date, October 22, 2021.[18] The latter song features Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra, and it was written in memory of the Buckley brothers' sister Jaclyn, who lived with Rett syndrome and died from it in early 2017.[19] Since then, Keith has encouraged disabled attendees of the band's shows to tag him personally.[20]

As with Low Teens, the album was again produced by Will Putney, guitarist of Fit for an Autopsy, known for his production work with the Acacia Strain, Body Count, and The Amity Affliction.[21]

Touring cancellation and band's split edit

In support of the album, the band was set to tour the UK from January 27 to February 5, 2022, with other bands such as Sanction, Jesus Piece, and the Bronx.[22] However, on December 4, 2021, vocalist Keith Buckley announced that he is taking a hiatus from the band for his mental health.[23] Due to Keith's departure and their UK tour being cancelled by COVID restrictions, the band eventually broke up in January 2022.

Accolades edit

Year-end lists edit

Publication Country Accolade Rank Ref.
Consequence US Top 30 Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 2021 16 [24]
Invisible Oranges US 20 Best Metalcore Albums of 2021 1 [25]
Kerrang! UK The 50 best albums of 2021 1 [26]
Loudwire US The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021 2 [27]
Revolver US 25 Best Albums of 2021 4 [28]
Loudwire US The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021 ("Planet Shit") 10 [29]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Every Time I Die

No.TitleLength
1."Dark Distance"2:55
2."Sly"2:31
3."Planet Shit"3:56
4."Post-Boredom"3:22
5."A Colossal Wreck"2:32
6."Desperate Pleasures"3:11
7."All This and War" (featuring Josh Scogin of '68)3:10
8."Thing with Feathers" (featuring Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra)3:43
9."Hostile Architecture"2:36
10."AWOL"2:10
11."The Whip"2:30
12."White Void"3:34
13."Distress Rehearsal"3:13
14."sexsexsex"3:27
15."People Verses"3:32
16."We Go Together"5:02
Total length:51:24

Personnel edit

Every Time I Die

  • Keith Buckley – vocals
  • Jordan Buckley – guitar
  • Andrew Williams – guitar
  • Stephen Micciche – bass
  • Clayton “Goose” Holyoak – drums

Guest musicians

Production

Visual art

  • Corey Meyers – art, design

Studios

Charts edit

Chart performance for Radical
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 23
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 87
UK Albums (OCC)[32] 73
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[33] 4
US Billboard 200[34] 45
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[35] 6
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[36] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[37] 7

References edit

  1. ^ a b Emily Carter (October 22, 2021). "Album review: Every Time I Die − Radical". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Radical - Every Time I die | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Radical at Metacritic  
  4. ^ Monger, James Christopher. Review of 'Radical' at AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Morawitz, Owen (October 20, 2021). "Every Time I Die's Ninth Album Gives a 'Radical' Edge to Their Dark Metalcore". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Leaver, Elliott (October 20, 2021). "Every Time I Die's Radical: metalcore crossover kings' run of form continues". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Speter, Tiana (October 20, 2021). "Every Time I Die / Radical". The Music. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Everytime Time I Die − Radical". Rock Hard (in German). No. 413. January 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Every Time I Die − Radical". Sputnikmusic. October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "NEWS: Every Time I Die begin work on ninth album! | Dead Press! | It's more than "just music" to us". Deadpress.co.uk. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2020-03-29.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Kennelty, Greg (November 2, 2020). "Every Time I Die Will Not Release New Album Until Touring Can Happen Again". Metal Injection. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  12. ^ brownypaul (2020-12-07). "Surprise! Every Time I Die Dropped Two New Tracks". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  13. ^ Slingerland, Calum (February 1, 2021). "Every Time I Die Are "AWOL" on New Single". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Young, David James (August 17, 2021). "Every Time I Die announce ninth studio album 'Radical', share 'Post-Boredom'". NME. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Every Time I die Pop up Show".
  16. ^ "The Ghost Inside".
  17. ^ "Every Time I Die Drops New Single 'Planet S**t'". Blabbermouth.net. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  18. ^ Em Moore (October 22, 2021). "Every Time I Die release "Thing With Feathers" video". www.punknews.org. Punknews.org. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "Spare Only the Ones I Love: Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley Gets 'Radical'". Knotfest. 25 October 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley Offers to Personally Help Concertgoers With Disabilities". Loudwire. 8 November 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  21. ^ Sanchez, Anissa (October 22, 2021). "Every Time I Die Release Long-Awaited Ninth Studio Album, 'Radical'". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  22. ^ Rogers, Jack (April 12, 2021). "Every Time I Die Have Announced the Details of 2022 UK Tour". Rock Sound. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Every Time I Die Frontman Announces Hiatus From Band, Says He Feels "Ostracized" From Bandmates". Metal Injection. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Top 30 Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 2021". Consequence. December 14, 2021. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  25. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 20, 2021). "20 Best Metalcore Albums of 2021". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  26. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2021". Kerrang!. December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  28. ^ "25 Best Albums of 2021". Revolver. November 25, 2021. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  29. ^ Al-Sharif, Rabab; DiVita, Joe; Hartmann, Graham; Richardson, Jake; Trapp, Philip; Summan, Yasmine (December 6, 2021). "The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  30. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Every Time I Die – Radical". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Every Time I Die – Radical" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  33. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "Every Time I Die Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "Every Time I Die Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  36. ^ "Every Time I Die Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  37. ^ "Every Time I Die Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2021.

External links edit