Arbiter (album)

Arbiter is the fifth studio album by American post-hardcore band Hopesfall. The album, the band's first since 2007's Magnetic North, was released on July 13, 2018 through Graphic Nature / Equal Vision Records.[4]

Arbiter
Studio album by Hopesfall
Released	July 13, 2018 (2018-07-13)
Genre	Post-hardcore alternative metal space rock alternative rock
Length	45:26
Label	Graphic Nature Equal Vision
Producer	Mike Watts
Hopesfall chronology
Magnetic North (2007) Arbiter (2018)
Singles from Arbiter
"H.A. Wallace Space Academy" Released: April 11, 2018[1] "Tunguska" Released: June 12, 2018[2] "Faint Object Camera" Released: June 28, 2018[3]

Background and release

Shortly after the release of Magnetic North in May 2007, every member of Hopesfall left the band, with only vocalist Jay Forrest remaining.[5] Around the same time, Jay Forrest, in an interview with Thrash Magazine, said the record label, Trustkill Records, altered the album's track listing without the band's knowledge.[6] Cory Seals (guitar), Robert DeLauro (bass), Paul Cadena (guitar), and Joey Manizone (drums) toured in support of the album with Forrest. After the tour's completion, in September 2007 Forrest announced that the band would be changing their name, but these plans never came to fruition. Hopesfall announced their breakup in January 2008 after all of the replacement members left the band.[7]

After the band's breakup, former drummer Jason Trabue accused former label Trustkill Records of withholding royalties and providing the band with insufficient financial support and promotion.[8]

Hopesfall briefly reunited in 2011 with Doug Venable on vocals, Joshua Brigham and Ryan Parrish on guitar, Pat Aldrich on bass, and Adam Morgan on drums. The band played two shows, one in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and one in Charlotte, North Carolina, performing songs from The Frailty of Words, No Wings to Speak Of and The Satellite Years.[9]

The band reunited in 2016, signing to Equal Vision Records and re-issued The Satellite Years, A Types and Magnetic North on vinyl.[10] "H.A. Wallace Space Academy", the group's first new song in 11 years, was released on April 11, 2018 and announced a new album, named Arbiter, would be released on July 13. The album's name, Arbiter, was originally planned to be the new name for the band until Equal Vision suggested they stick with the "Hopesfall" name.[1] The album's second single, "Tunguska", was released on June 12. Third single, "Faint Object Camera", was released on June 28; the song was named after the camera of the same name that was installed on the Hubble Space Telescope from 1990 to 2002.[11] "Faint Object Camera" was included in Alternative Press's list of "10 New Songs You Need to Hear This Week" on June 29, 2018.[12]

A music video for "Bradley Fighting Vehicle" was released on August 9 and features clips from the band's performances at the St. Vitus Bar in Brooklyn.[13]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Cryptic Rock	4/5[11]
Kill Your Stereo	90/100[14]
Music Existence	[15]

Upon its release, Arbiter has received highly positive reviews from critics.

Jeannie Blue of Cryptic Rock praised the album, favorably comparing the song "I Catapult" to the Hum song "Stars". Blue said the album "proudly carries the flag for the band's signature sound; oft muddy tones, gritty vocals, and always thoughtful lyrics and anchor a collection that is reminiscent of a better time" that is "steeped in melodic hardcore", but is "something much more."[11] Luke Spencer of Music Existence also gave the album a positive review, commending the album's riffs and melody and the band's ability to mix nostalgic sounds with new ones.[15]

Terrance Pryor of MP3s and NPCs placed the album at number three on their Top 20 Albums of the 2010s list, stating, "Arbiter can be seen as a love letter for those who've stuck by the band for years." [16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Hopesfall.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Faint Object Camera"	5:25
2.	"H.A. Wallace Space Academy"	4:03
3.	"Bradley Fighting Vehicle"	3:40
4.	"C.S. Lucky-One"	4:22
5.	"I Catapult"	5:01
6.	"Tunguska"	4:37
7.	"Aphelion"	1:44
8.	"Drowning Potential"	4:37
9.	"To Bloom"	5:23
10.	"Indignation and the Rise of the Arbiter"	6:19

Bonus Track

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Revolt Revolve"	3:31

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
US Album Sales (Billboard)[17]	49
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18]	1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19]	13
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[20]	6

Personnel

• Jay Forrest – lead vocals
• Joshua Brigham – guitar
• Dustin Nadler – guitar
• Chad Waldrup – bass, backing vocals
• Adam Morgan – drums

References

1. Sharp, Tyler (April 11, 2018). "Hopesfall Announce Reunion, Reveal 'H.A. Wallace Space Academy'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
2. Kraus, Brian (June 12, 2018). "Hopesfall break the reunion curse, come back swinging with "Tunguska"". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
3. Kennelty, Greg (June 28, 2018). "HOPESFALL Gets Aggressive On New Song "Faint Object Camera"". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
4. "Decode The Transmission: North Carolina's Hopesfall set to return with 'Arbiter' album". Cross Rhythms. June 29, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
5. "Hopesfall undergo lineup changes". Punknews. July 24, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
6. ".hopesfall w/ Jay Interview". September 23, 2007. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008.
7. "Hopesfall (1998-2007)". Punknews. January 3, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
8. Minic, Ryan (January 12, 2008). "Hopesfall - Jason Trabue - Why they hate Trustkill and Josh Grabelle". Ryan's Rock Show, LLC. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
9. Tsai, Matthew (June 4, 2011). "Codeseven/Hopesfall Reunion Show". Retrieved July 17, 2018.
10. Jones, Brandon (November 14, 2016). "Hopesfall Sign to Equal Vision, Reissue Last 3 Albums to Vinyl". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
11. Blue, Jeannie (July 10, 2018). "Hopesfall - Arbiter (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
12. Hannan, Devon (June 29, 2018). "10 new songs you need to hear this week". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
13. Gotrich, Lars (August 9, 2018). "Hopesfall's Riffs Hug Your Heart In The Pit: All Songs Considered". NPR. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
14. Morawitz, Owen (July 14, 2018). "Album Review: Hopesfall - 'Arbiter'". Kill Your Stereo. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
15. Spencer, Luke (July 14, 2018). "Album Review: Hopesfall Arbiter". Music Existence. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
16. Pryor, Terrance. "The top 20 albums of the 2010s". MP3s and NPCs. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
17. "Hopesfall Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
18. "Hopesfall Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
19. "Hopesfall Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
20. "Hopesfall Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved July 28, 2018.