Exi(s)t
| Exi(s)t | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 22, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | Audio Hammer Studios Orlando, Florida | |||
| Genre | Metalcore, djent, progressive metal[1] | |||
| Length | 42:39 | |||
| Label | eOne, Good Fight | |||
| Producer | Eyal Levi | |||
| Reflections chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Exi(s)t | ||||
| ||||
Exi(s)t is the second studio album by American metalcore band, Reflections. The album was released October 22, 2013 through labels eOne Music and Good Fight Entertainment.[3][4] The album was produced by Eyal Levi, who has produced albums for bands such as August Burns Red, The Black Dahlia Murder, Motionless in White, Unearth, and Whitechapel.[5]
The first single from Exi(s)t, titled "My Cancer," was released for download through iTunes and all other digital retailers on September 10, 2013.[2] Reflections simultaneously released a lyric video for the single through their YouTube channel.[6] Vocalist Jake Wolf explained "My Cancer" and some of the background to their music writing: "This song was written to speak to a lot of people in my life and I hope that other people can use it the same way and connect with us... we aren't writing music as a gimmick. We write music to express our struggles and triumphs to try and let people know that they are not alone. We couldn't be more excited for everyone to hear the new song. Hopefully everyone enjoys the new album."[7][8]
The album was leaked a few days prior to its actual release date.[9]
Chart performance
[edit]Exi(s)t debuted at #179 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 1,972 copies within the first week of being released.[10][11] The album made it onto five Billboard charts:[11]
- Heatseeker Chart - #6
- Hard Rock Chart - #12
- Independent Album Chart - #35
- Top Current Album Chart - #179
- Digital Albums Chart - #130
The album also made it onto four of iTunes' album charts—three U.S. charts and one Canadian chart:[12][13][14]
- iTunes Metal Album Chart - #1
- iTunes Rock Album Chart - #15
- iTunes Canadian Album Chart - #91
- iTunes Album Chart (all genres) - #68[15]
Guitarist Charles Caswell was excited to have made it onto the charts: "We want to sincerely thank everyone for the continuing support of our debut record. It's unreal to think our music hit the charts! We can't express enough how much it means to us!"[11]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Headbang 'n Buttonmash |   [16] |
| The Circle Pit |  [17] |
| Me Gusta Reviews |   [18] |
| Metal Blast |  [19] |
| New Noise Magazine | [20] |
Exi(s)t was well received by most critics, though some had nothing good to say of the album. Austin Weber from No Clean Singing spoke very positively, stating "Exi(s)t is a big step up from Reflections' promising but not yet diverse enough debut, The Fantasy Effect. Sonically, Reflections have matured into a band capable of giving us a very nasty, massive-sounding assault of heaviness, and yet the undercurrents of sadness and beauty that find their way into the music counterbalance the aggression nicely. The end result is both catchy and calming, a byproduct of Reflections writing in a more sophisticated format then most of their peers. With Exi(s)t, Reflections have just climbed up from the pile into elite status."[21] Dave from Hellhound Music also had much positive to say of the album: "Every song on Exi(s)t is a sonic roller coaster blazing through with enormous depth and shockingly-raw personal exposition."[22]
Metal Blast gave a very negative review, stating that Exi(s)t "frankly just isn't very good" and that "I rarely regret listening to an album... Exi(s)t... is one of those albums."
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Reflections
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Exit" | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Delirium" | 2:48 |
| 3. | "Vain Words from Empty Minds" | 5:04 |
| 4. | "Bridges" | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Lost Pages" (featuring Becka Graham) | 5:35 |
| 6. | "My Cancer" | 2:55 |
| 7. | "Candle" | 4:14 |
| 8. | "This House" | 5:21 |
| 9. | "Stories Through Storms" | 4:41 |
| 10. | "Exist" | 5:06 |
| Total length: | 42:39 | |
Personnel
[edit]- Reflections[23]
- Jake Wolf – lead vocals
- Patrick Somoulay – lead guitar
- Charles Caswell – rhythm guitar, second lead guitar, backup vocals
- Francis Xayana – bass
- Cam Murray – drums
- Additional personnel[23]
- Eyal Levi - production, recording, and mixing
- Alan Douches - mastering
- Jason Suecof - mix engineering
- John Douglas - assistant engineer
- Jeremy Frost - guitar technician
- Ronn Miller - drum technician
- Daniel Wagner - artwork and layout
- Jason Mageau - management
- Eric Powell - booking agent
- Greg Johnson - intro music production on "Exit"
- Becka Graham - vocals on "Lost Pages"
References
[edit]- ^ "Album Review: Reflections – "Exi(s)t" | New Noise Magazine". Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ a b "iTunes - Music - My Cancer - Single by Reflections". iTunes. 10 September 2013.
- ^ Brian Kraus (August 22, 2013). "Reflections announce new album, 'Exi(s)t - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ Benanne (August 23, 2013). "Reflections: new album 'Exi(s)t' announced | got-djent.com". Got-djent.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ "eOne Music/Good Fight signs Reflections | Comments | Lambgoat". Lambgoat. May 1, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- ^ ReflectionsMN (September 10, 2013). "Reflections | My Cancer | NEW SONG 2013 - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "REFLECTIONS DEBUT NEW SINGLE "MY CANCER"". New-Transcendence. September 10, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ Johnny Price (11 September 2013). "REFLECTIONS DEBUT NEW SINGLE OFF UPCOMING ALBUM | Rock Revolt Magazine". Rock Revolt Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "After album leak, Twin Cities metal band pleads with fans - Yahoo News". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04.
- ^ "Metal by Numbers 10/30: Motörhead's 21st Album Shocks the Charts | Metal Insider". 30 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "Reflections' new album has debuted at #179 on the Billboard 200 chart".
- ^ "Twin Cities' REFLECTIONS Hit #1 on iTunes Metal Chart". 24 October 2013.
- ^ "ITunesCharts.net: Reflections (Canadian iTunes Music Chart Performance)". Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
- ^ "ITunesCharts.net: 'Exi(s)t' by Reflections (Canadian Albums iTunes Chart)". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
- ^ "ITunesCharts.net: 'Exi(s)t' by Reflections (American Albums iTunes Chart)". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
- ^ "Reflections Head Towards the Exi(s)t - Headbang 'n Buttonmash". Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
- ^ "REFLECTIONS "EXI(S)T" ALBUM REVIEW | the Circle Pit".
- ^ "Reflections - Exi(s)t (2013)".
- ^ "Album Review: Reflections – Exi(s)t | Metal Blast!". November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Album Review: Reflections – "Exi(s)t" | New Noise Magazine".
- ^ Austin Weber (October 22, 2013). "NO CLEAN SINGING » REFLECTIONS: "EXI(S)T". No Clean Singing. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ DaveHMM (October 21, 2013). "Hellhound Music Reflections full album stream of 'Exi(s)t'". Hellhound Music. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Exi(s)t (Album notes). Reflections. eOne/Good Fight. p. 6.
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