Monument (Miss May I album)
Encyclopedia
Monument is the second studio album from the Metalcore
band Miss May I
, and their first with bassist and clean vocalist Ryan Neff. The album debuted at #76 on the Bilboard 200 chart, making it the band's highest charting album to date.
Metal Hammer reviewed the album in the February 2011 issue. It received a low score of 5/10 and was criticised for sounding unoriginal and much too like the band As I Lay Dying. Writer Adam Rees wrote "Miss May I struggle to deliver anything new...their best moments sound suspiciously like recent As I Lay Dying output on an off day...."
In contrast they the album was well received by Rock Sound who awarded it 8/10 "Since metalcore started merchandising a band’s image and paint-splattered jock-straps, before a fairly blueprinted sound structure, it’s been a difficult path to tread to find which bands are worth sticking around to listen to, but with their second outing ‘Monument’, Miss May I have firmly marked their place for Killswitch Engage’s support slots. The thunderous attacks of ‘Relentless Chaos’ and ‘Creations’ show the band’s steps towards thrash tendencies to a well worked effect. With exhilarating time signatures and ruthless musicianship, Miss May I have shown what it was that made metalcore exciting in the first place, and why we can love it once again."
On May 21st 2011, it was (Officially) announced that Miss May I will be re-releasing Monument in a Deluxe Edition on June 21st, 2011, featuring three new songs, the "Rust" b-side, and a DVD featuring music videos, interviews, live songs and more.
Guest musicians
Production
Deluxe Edition Production
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band Miss May I
Miss May I
Miss May I is an American metalcore band from Troy, Ohio. On December 6, 2008, Miss May I announced that they had been signed to Rise Records. The band's debut album, Apologies Are for the Weak, reached #29 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers, and #66 on Top Independent Albums. Their song, "Forgive and...
, and their first with bassist and clean vocalist Ryan Neff. The album debuted at #76 on the Bilboard 200 chart, making it the band's highest charting album to date.
Release
On June 24th, Miss May I announced via Facebook that the new album "Monument" will be released August 17th and that they are recording a video at Mansfield Prison for the song "Relentless Chaos." On July 14th, guitarist Justin Aufdenkampe posted a picture on his Twitter account of the album's tracklist and song lengths. On August 5th, it was announced that the song "Rust" would only be available through preorder on iTunes via the bands Facebook. On September 3rd, the video for "Relentless Chaos" was released via YouTube.Metal Hammer reviewed the album in the February 2011 issue. It received a low score of 5/10 and was criticised for sounding unoriginal and much too like the band As I Lay Dying. Writer Adam Rees wrote "Miss May I struggle to deliver anything new...their best moments sound suspiciously like recent As I Lay Dying output on an off day...."
In contrast they the album was well received by Rock Sound who awarded it 8/10 "Since metalcore started merchandising a band’s image and paint-splattered jock-straps, before a fairly blueprinted sound structure, it’s been a difficult path to tread to find which bands are worth sticking around to listen to, but with their second outing ‘Monument’, Miss May I have firmly marked their place for Killswitch Engage’s support slots. The thunderous attacks of ‘Relentless Chaos’ and ‘Creations’ show the band’s steps towards thrash tendencies to a well worked effect. With exhilarating time signatures and ruthless musicianship, Miss May I have shown what it was that made metalcore exciting in the first place, and why we can love it once again."
On May 21st 2011, it was (Officially) announced that Miss May I will be re-releasing Monument in a Deluxe Edition on June 21st, 2011, featuring three new songs, the "Rust" b-side, and a DVD featuring music videos, interviews, live songs and more.
Track listing
Personnel
Miss May I- Levi Benton - lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock... - Justin Aufdemkampe - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- B.J. Stead - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Ryan Neff - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, clean vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jerod Boyd - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Guest musicians
- Caleb ShomoAttack Attack!Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2005. Attack Attack!'s first release, an independent EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?, was released in 2008, which lead to the signing of the band to Rise Records the same year...
- vocals on "Masses of a Dying Breed" - Brandan SchieppatiBrandan SchieppatiBrandan Schieppati is the singer of metalcore band Bleeding Through. He is Straight Edge and lives in Orange County with his wife Nicole. While best known through his musical career, he was also a late-round draft pick for Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos out of high school, around 1998...
- vocals on "Rust"
Production
- ProductionSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
by Joey SturgisJoey SturgisJoey Sturgis is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Joey Sturgis started recording in 2004. Foundation Recording Studio managed by Rise Records founder Craig Ericson... - ArtworkAlbum coverAn album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
by Xang Xueguo - Layout by Sons of NeroSons of NeroSons of Nero is a graphic design group that was formed in 2000 by Matthew "Portland" Hay of the metalcore group Nora. It consists of four artists who primarily design artwork and packaging for bands and musical ensembles, but also design t-shirts and websites...
Deluxe Edition Production
- ProductionSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
on tracks "My Hardship", "Descending Discovery" and "Forbidden" by Landon Tewers - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
on tracks "My Hardship", "Descending Discovery" and "Forbidden" by Joey SturgisJoey SturgisJoey Sturgis is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Joey Sturgis started recording in 2004. Foundation Recording Studio managed by Rise Records founder Craig Ericson... - ArtworkAlbum coverAn album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
by The God Machine