Catawba – Rhododendron catawbiense

by | Dec 19, 2023 | Rhododendron

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

Aggressive is the second studio album by American rock band Beartooth. It was released on June 3, 2016, through Red Bull Records and UNFD. The single "Aggressive" was released on April 22, 2016, along with the pre-order for the album.

Background and release

In August 2015, Caleb Shomo revealed on Instagram that the band was working on new material.[4] Shomo described the album as "intense" and "heavy," but also tried not "to make a new sound or anything."[5] In January 2016, the group headed into the studio to record the album.[6] In February 2016, it was announced that the group finished recording the album.[7] On April 16, 2016, it was leaked that Beartooth would release the album, Aggressive on June 3.[8] On April 22, the band released the title track as the lead single from the album.[9] On April 24, the song "Always Dead" was made available on streaming.[10] On May 5, "Loser" was released as the album's third single, premiering on Corey Taylor's Beats 1 radio show, via Apple Music.[11] The fourth single, "Hated" was released on May 19.[12] On June 1, "Fair Weather Friend" was streamed exclusively via Billboard.[13] On May 2, 2017, "Sick of Me" was serviced to rock radio as the fifth single.[14]

On March 4, 2016, the group announced a headlining tour from March to May 2016, in support of their album, Aggressive, and were joined by Silent Planet, Ghost Key, Stray from the Path, My Ticket Home and Former.[15] However, on April 6, the group parted ways with drummer Brandon Mullins, but stated his departure would not effect the tour.[16] They also embarked on a fall headlining tour from October to November 2016.[17]

On December 18, 2020, the band re-released the album with an entirely new mix and master done by Shomo on streaming and vinyl.[18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Alternative PressPositive[21]
Exclaim!7/10[3]
Kerrang!8/10[22]
Metal Hammer[23]
New Noise MagazineMixed[24]
Rock Sound8/10[25]
Upset Magazine[26]

Aggressive received positive reviews from critics, based on an aggregate Metacritic score of 82/100.[19] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic praised Shomo's melodies, highlighting it as his "main strengths" and compared it to the likes of Hands Like Houses, Crossfaith, and Escape the Fate. He also stated, "the lyrical attacks are effective as self-deprecating indictments, but they're also verbal missiles for lashing out against external forces."[20] Jason Pettigrew of Alternative Press remarked, "Aggressive is probably the most compelling statement you're going to hear for the validity of heavy rock music in 2016. Shomo ducks and weaves his way through moments that are downright commercial ('Sick Of Me', 'However You Want It Said'), teeming with throat-shearing bluster ('Always Dead') or the kind of thing that gets you fitted for a straitjacket ('Censored')."[21] Griffin J. Elliot of Exclaim! compared the album's heavy sound to Sam Carter and noted, "Shomo again collaborated with producer John Feldmann, and the result is a sonically coherent, and impressive, album that dances on the borders of multiple subgenres without ever really taking a full dive into any one."[3] Kerrang! remarked, "Aggressive is very aggressive, but it's also the sound of a band showing their strength."[22]

Thea de Gallier of Metal Hammer stated, "The heaps of accessible melodic moments on Aggressive could be down to the fact that being angry is tiring Caleb out. If the frenzied and honest angst of Aggressive is anything to go by, though, he isn't going to be writing his acoustic happy album just yet, because he's in his element."[23] Gav Lloyd of Rock Sound remarked, "What makes it better than the majority of the 'heavier yet more melodic' bands out there is the fact that Caleb Shomo's raw lyrics are delivered with an intense honesty that hits harder than most."[25]

Commercial performance

Aggressive debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200, as well as topping the Alternative Albums chart, selling 16,000 copies in its first week in the US.[27] Internationally, the album peaked at number two on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, number 18 on the Australian Albums Chart and number 28 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[28]

Track listing

All tracks written by Caleb Shomo unless specified otherwise.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Aggressive" 4:08
2."Hated" 3:31
3."Loser" 3:59
4."Fair Weather Friend"David Bendeth, C. Shomo3:24
5."Burnout"John Feldmann, C. Shomo3:04
6."Sick of Me"J. Feldmann, C. Shomo3:15
7."Censored" 3:36
8."Always Dead" 2:18
9."However You Want It Said" 3:17
10."Find a Way" 3:28
11."Rock Is Dead" 3:44
12."King of Anything"J. Feldmann, C. Shomo2:11
Total length:39:55
Japanese edition bonus tracks [29]
No.TitleLength
13."Body Bag" (Live from Red Bull Studios Tokyo)3:58
14."In Between" (Live from Red Bull Studios Tokyo)3:40
15."Aggressive" (8-Bit remix)3:27
Total length:51:00
Deluxe edition re-issue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Hated" (acoustic version) 2:51
14."Sick of Me" (acoustic version)J. Feldmann3:07
15."Aggressive" (live from BBC Maida Vale) 4:03
16."Rock Is Dead" (live from BBC Maida Vale) 4:06
17."Fair Weather Friend" (live in Columbus)D. Bendeth3:39
18."King of Anything" (live in Columbus)J. Feldmann4:11
Total length:61:52
Deluxe edition re-issue bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Live in Columbus" 

Personnel

Beartooth[30][31]
Production
  • Caleb Shomo – production, engineering, mixing (re-release only)
  • David Bendeth – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Koby Nelson – mix recording engineering, digital editing
  • Brian Robbins – mix engineering
  • Zakk Cervini – engineering (tracks 5, 6, 12)

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 18
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[33] 41
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[34] 108
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[35] 28
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[36] 166
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37] 80
Scottish Albums (OCC)[38] 26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 57
UK Albums (OCC)[40] 35
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[41] 2
US Billboard 200[42] 25
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[43] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[44] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[45] 4

References

  1. ^ Jackson, Nate (October 11, 2016). "Beartooth Harness Both Aggression and Maturity on Their Latest Album". Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "Beartooth – Aggressive – Album Review". May 31, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Elliot, Griffin J. (June 2, 2016). "Beartooth: Aggressive". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  4. ^ Gav Lloyd (August 19, 2015). "Beartooth Are Working On Something That Will Make You Do a Mosh". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Beartooth's Caleb Shomo explains how he plans to follow-up 'Disgusting'". Alternative Press. September 8, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Beartooth are back in the studio". Alternative Press. January 2, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Beartooth finish recording new album". Alternative Press. February 18, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "Beartooth 'Aggressive' album details". Kingdom Leaks. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hear Beartooth's new song, "Aggressive" (exclusive)". Alternative Press. April 22, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Stream Beartooth's new song "Always Dead"". Alternative Press. April 24, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "Beartooth premiere new song "Loser" — listen". Alternative Press. May 5, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Beartooth premiere fourth song from new album — listen". Alternative Press. May 19, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Christa Titus (June 1, 2016). "Beartooth's 'Fair Weather Friend' From New Album 'Aggressive': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017.
  15. ^ "Beartooth announce big headlining tour". Alternative Press. March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Beartooth part ways with drummer". Alternative Press. April 4, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "Beartooth announce fall headlining tour, release new music video". Alternative Press. July 11, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Aggressive remixes on streaming". AltPress. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Aggressive by Beartooth". Metacritic.
  20. ^ a b Neil Z. Yeung. "Aggressive - Beartooth | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  21. ^ a b Pettigrew, Jason (June 3, 2016). "Beartooth Aggressive". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Kerrang Magazine - Blink 182 Cover (4 June 2016 - Issue 1622)". Kerrang! (1622): 50. June 4, 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Beartooth – Aggressive Album Review - Louder" – via www.loudersound.com.
  24. ^ Natasha van Duser (June 6, 2016). "Album Review: Beartooth - Aggressive". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Lloyd, Gav (June 2, 2016). "Beartooth – 'Aggressive'". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  26. ^ "Beartooth - Aggressive - Upset" – via www.upsetmagazine.com.[dead link]
  27. ^ Kevin Rutherford (June 15, 2016). "Beartooth Claws Way to Top of Alternative Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "Beartooth's 'Aggressive' tops charts around the world". Alternative Press. June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  29. ^ "Beartooth – Aggressive (2016, CD)" – via www.discogs.com.
  30. ^ Sammy Lee. "Interview Beartooth got Aggressive on their new album". Redbull.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  31. ^ Jackson, Nate (October 11, 2016). "Beartooth Harness Both Aggression and Maturity on Their Latest Album". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  32. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Beartooth – Aggressive". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  33. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Beartooth – Aggressive" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Beartooth – Aggressive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  35. ^ "Beartooth Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Beartooth – Aggressive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  37. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Beartooth – Aggressive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  38. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. June 10, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Beartooth – Aggressive". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  40. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. June 10, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  41. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. June 10, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  42. ^ "Beartooth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  43. ^ "Beartooth Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  44. ^ "Beartooth Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  45. ^ "Beartooth Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
Categories
Table of Contents