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The Powerless Rise

The Powerless Rise
Studio album by
As I Lay Dying
ReleasedMay 7, 2010 (2010-05-07)
RecordedOctober 2009 – February 2010
StudioLambesis Studio, San Diego, CA
Genre
Length44:08
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerAdam Dutkiewicz, As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying chronology
This Is Who We Are
(2009) 		The Powerless Rise
(2010) 		Decas
(2011)

The Powerless Rise is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band As I Lay Dying. The album was released on May 7, 2010 in Europe, and on May 11, 2010 in the United States.[3] The Powerless Rise debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 38,000.[4] The album features three singles: "Beyond Our Suffering", "Parallels", and "Anodyne Sea". Music videos have been released for all three, with the latest one ("Beyond Our Suffering") consisting of live footage. The album title is taken from their lyric of the song ("Upside Down Kingdom").

Background

[edit]

As I Lay Dying began writing songs for The Powerless Rise in mid-2009 following two years of touring for the band's 2007 album An Ocean Between Us.[5] In early September the band shared that they had "been home hard at work writing new songs for an album that will be out in early-2010."[6] By the end of September, the group had finished "about 6-7" songs and was scheduled to enter the studio on October 17, 2009 where they would continue to write new songs.[7][8] This is in contrast to previous albums by As I Lay Dying that had been written over the course of only a few months.[7][9] The three years between the release of An Ocean Between Us and The Powerless Rise previously was the largest gap between releases from the band at that time. Frontman Tim Lambesis stated that while some bands "need to rush out a crappy record so they can start touring again to pay their bills," As I Lay Dying had been working hard to "make a record worth listening to (hopefully), and start touring again when we're done."[10][11]

The band officially announced the title of the album in February of 2010.[12] In March of 2010, the album artwork for the record, again provided by Jacob Bannon, was shared by MetalBlade Records.[13][14]

The band presented the album in a number of different pre-order bundles, including a CD plus an autographed booklet and a t-shirt, and also a deluxe fan box which allowed fans to receive the album prior to its official release.[15][16]

On April 8 the band played the song "Beyond Our Suffering" live for the first time, at the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards.[17]

On May 7 the band made the entirety of the album temporarily available for streaming on their MySpace profile.[18]

Several music videos were produced for songs on the album. The band debuted a video for the track "Parallels" July 11, 2010.[19] The video was directed by Dave Brodsky.[19] A music video for the song "Anodyne Sea," directed by Ian McFarland and Mike Pecci, was released in January of 2011.[20][21][22] A live music video for the track "Beyond Our Suffering" was released in May 2011.[23] The video was filmed by the band's friend Joe Hamming on July 14, 2010 in Orlando, Florida while the band was on the "Cool Tour."[23]

The Powerless Rise was produced by Killswitch Engage lead guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and Daniel Castelman, and was mixed by Colin Richardson and Martyn Ford.[11][24] Adam Dutkiewicz also produced As I Lay Dying's An Ocean Between Us. According to guitarist Phil Sgrosso, Dutkiewicz was chosen over ten other producers the band had talked with after "realizing that Adam understands our sound better than most."[25] Castelman and Richardson were also audio engineers on An Ocean Between Us.

The album's first single "Beyond Our Suffering" was made available for fans to play and download for free in the game "Tap Tap Revenge 3."[26]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[27]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[28]
AbsolutePunk88%[29]
Allmusic[30]
Blabbermouth.net[31]
Cross Rhythms[32]
Exclaim!"most accomplished record yet"[33]
Jesus Freak Hideout[34]
PopMatters[35]
Rock Sound[36]
Sputnikmusic[37]

The Powerless Rise was released in May 2010 to generally positive acclaim. It currently holds "universal acclaim" status for generally good reviews on Metacritic with an 81 out of 100.

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Tim Lambesis; all music is composed by As I Lay Dying

No.TitleLength
1."Beyond Our Suffering"2:50
2."Anodyne Sea"4:35
3."Without Conclusion"3:15
4."Parallels"4:57
5."The Plague"3:42
6."Anger and Apathy"4:26
7."Condemned"2:50
8."Upside Down Kingdom"4:00
9."Vacancy"4:27
10."The Only Constant Is Change"4:08
11."The Blinding of False Light"5:05
Total length:44:08
iTunes bonus track[38]
No.TitleLength
12."Condemned" (Gunfight Mix [Pre-Order Only])3:56

Personnel

[edit]

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.

As I Lay Dying[39]

Production

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[40] 53
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[41] 21
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[42] 11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[43] 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[44] 69
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 39
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 172
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[47] 19
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[48] 14
US Billboard 200[49] 10
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[50] 5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[51] 2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[52] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[53] 5
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[54] 5

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise - CD". Nuclear Blast Records.
  2. ^ "CD Review: As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "As I Lay Dying "The Powerless Rise"". Metal Blade Records. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ^ "As I Lay Dying's new album, "The Powerless Rise," has debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of roughly 38,000". Lambgoat. May 19, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  5. ^ "As I Lay Dying: In Writing Mode". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  6. ^ "As I Lay Dying writing new album". Lambgoat. September 2, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "As I Lay Dying To Enter Studio Next Month". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. September 28, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  8. ^ "As I Lay Dying set to enter studio". Lambgoat. September 29, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. ^ Harris, Chris (September 29, 2009). "White Noise: News on As I Lay Dying, AC/DC, Immortal, Limp Bizkit, Throwdown and More". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  10. ^ "As I Lay Dying Frontman Issues Studio Update". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. November 11, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Guyre, Jen (November 16, 2009). "As I Lay Dying Offer Studio Update". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  12. ^ "As I Lay Dying albums details". Lambgoat. February 1, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  13. ^ "Jacob Bannon's artwork for the new As I Lay Dying album can be viewed here". Lambgoat. March 16, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jacob Bannon Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  15. ^ "The Powerless Rise". April 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  16. ^ "AS I LAY DYING: More Studio Footage Posted Online". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. April 27, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  17. ^ "AS I LAY DYING: Performance Footage Of New Song Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. April 10, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "The new As I Lay Dying full-length can temporarily be streamed here". Lambgoat. May 7, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "As I Lay Dying has made their new video for the song "Parallels" available online here". Lambgoat. June 14, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "Your exclusive first look at AILD's new video, 'Anodyne Sea'". January 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "As I Lay Dying has debuted their new video for "Anodyne Sea."". Lambgoat. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "As I Lay Dying shooting new video". Lambgoat. December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "AS I LAY DYING: 'Beyond Our Suffering' Live Video Released". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. May 4, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "As I Lay Dying Nearly Done Tracking New Album". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  25. ^ "Interview: As I Lay Dying". Killyourstereo.com. March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  26. ^ "AS I LAY DYING Frontman Interviewed At HELLFEST". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 25, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  27. ^ "As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise". Metacritic.com. March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  28. ^ Bowar, Chad. "As I Lay Dying - 'The Powerless Rise'". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  29. ^ "Absolutepunk review". August 16, 2023.
  30. ^ "allmusic review". AllMusic.
  31. ^ Ogle, Ryan. "AS I LAY DYING The Powerless Rise (Metal Blade)". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  32. ^ Young, Tom (September 5, 2010). "As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  33. ^ Persaud, Travis (June 2010). "As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  34. ^ "Jesus Freak Hideout review".
  35. ^ Begrand, Adrien (May 12, 2010). "As I Lay Dying: The Powerless Rise". PopMatters. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  36. ^ Cartey, Richard (May 13, 2010). "As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  37. ^ "Sputnik Music review".
  38. ^ "As I Lay Dying to debut new track tonight". The Gauntlet. April 20, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  39. ^ (2012), Bosso, Joe: https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-as-i-lay-dyings-nick-hipa-talks-new-album-awakened-561421, Retrieved September 19, 2021
  40. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 19.
  41. ^ "Austriancharts.at – As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise" (in German). Hung Medien.
  42. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  43. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  44. ^ "アズ・アイ・レイ・ダイイングのCDアルバムランキング、アズ・アイ・レイ・ダイイングのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp.
  45. ^ "Swisscharts.com – As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise". Hung Medien.
  46. ^ Chart Log UK: "A - Azzido Da Bass". UK Albums Chart. Zobbel.de.
  47. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  48. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  49. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  50. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link‍] Billboard.
  51. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "As I Lay Dying Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.