Asking Alexandria (album)

Asking Alexandria is the self-titled fifth studio album by British rock band Asking Alexandria.[2] It was released on 15 December 2017 through Sumerian Records. This is their first album since the return of original vocalist Danny Worsnop, as well as their first album working with producers Matt Good and Jonathan Davis instead of longtime producer Joey Sturgis. It also marks the group's slight departure from their heavier metalcore roots and towards a more straight forward and melodic hard rock sound.[3] On 27 December 2019, the deluxe version of the album titled LP5 DLX was released.[4]

Asking Alexandria
Studio album by Asking Alexandria
Released	15 December 2017
Recorded	2017
Studio	Good Sounds Studio, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.[1]
Genre	Hard rock metalcore post-hardcore
Length	44:07
Label	Sumerian
Producer	Matt Good Jonathan Davis
Asking Alexandria chronology
The Black (2016) Asking Alexandria (2017) Like a House on Fire (2020)
Singles from Asking Alexandria
"Into the Fire" Released: 21 September 2017 "Where Did It Go?" Released: 25 October 2017 "Alone in a Room" Released: 25 May 2018 "Vultures" Released: 15 December 2018

Composition

Style

This album has been described as hard rock,[5][6][7] metalcore,[1][7] and post-hardcore,[1] with elements of pop.[8]

Release and promotion

On 21 September 2017, the band released the lead single "Into the Fire" from the album.[9][10] The band released a second single from the album, entitled "Where Did It Go?", on 25 October 2017.[11] On 25 May 2018, the band released the third single "Alone in a Room" alongside an accompanying lyric video.[12] On 15 December, the band released their fifth single "Vultures" and its corresponding animated music video.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	73/100[14]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Guardian	[8]

Asking Alexandria received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 73 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14] AllMusic gave the album a positive review saying, "Overall, Asking Alexandria is a worthy return from the classic lineup, retaining the best aspects of its past and taking steps into its future. Regardless of a stumble or two, Asking Alexandria is well worth a listen. While The Black was a passable offering at a time when it seemed like it would be a permanent arrangement, this reunion simply feels right."[1]

Michacel Hann at The Guardian stating, "The York quintet are the model of an If-You-Like-This-Sort-of-Thing band – huge, monolithic sheets of sound, precision-tooled to get large crowds putting their hands in the air. The formula is shaken up – a furious Slipknot-esque break is put in the middle of Into the Air; 'Hopelessly Hopeful' and 'When the Lights Come On' dial down the metal and ramp up the pop – but you're never more than a couple of minutes away from some preposterous chorus. It doesn't sound like Def Leppard, but it is reminiscent of that band's willingness to smooth off metal's rough edges and boost the melodies."[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Alone in a Room"	Danny Worsnop, Ben Bruce, Matt Good	4:05
2.	"Into the Fire"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, James Cassells	3:57
3.	"Hopelessly Hopeful"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:13
4.	"Where Did It Go?"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:13
5.	"Rise Up"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:07
6.	"When the Lights Come On"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:23
7.	"Under Denver"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	4:05
8.	"Vultures"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:28
9.	"Eve"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:58
10.	"I Am One"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:32
11.	"Empire" (featuring Bingx)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells, Chanler Hendrickson	4:16
12.	"Room 138"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:44
Total length:			44:07

Hidden track[15]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Into the Fire" (radio edit) / "Xplicit"	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:30
Total length:			47:37

LP5 DLX[4]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Into the Fire" (radio edit)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good, Cassells	3:30
14.	"Vultures" (rock version)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:26
15.	"Where Did It Go?" (Hyro the Hero mash-up)	Worsnop, Bruce, Hyron Fenton	2:17
16.	"Perfect" (Ed Sheeran cover; live from Sirius XM)	Ed Sheeran	4:31
17.	"Rise Up" (original demo)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:19
18.	"Alone in a Room" (acoustic)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	4:25
19.	"Alone in a Room" (Dex Luthor remix)	Worsnop, Bruce, Good	3:17
Total length:			68:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[1]

Asking Alexandria Danny Worsnop – lead vocals, additional guitar Ben Bruce – lead guitar, backing vocals, vocals on track 11 Cameron Liddell – rhythm guitar Sam Bettley – bass James Cassells – drums Additional musicians Bingx – guest vocals on track 11 Hyro the Hero – guest vocals on track 15

Additional personnel Matt Good – production, engineering, keyboards, programming Jonathan Davis – production Will Beasley and Ryan Daminson – engineering Taylor Larson – mixing Ted Jensen – mastering Don Sepulveda – management Ash Avildsen and Nick Walters – A&R Daniel McBride – artwork, layout Sanjay Parikh – band photo Steven Contreras – photography

Charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16]	53
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17]	53
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18]	71
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[19]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20]	200
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21]	63
UK Albums (OCC)[22]	86
US Billboard 200[23]	27

References

1. Yeung, Neil. "AllMusic Review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
2. "Asking Alexandria announce album". Retrieved 27 October 2017.
3. "Asking Alexandria self-titled album review". Metal Hammer. 6 December 2017.
4. "ASKING ALEXANDRIA Releases Deluxe Version Of Self-Titled Album". Blabbermouth.net. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
5. "Album review altpress". Retrieved 15 December 2017.
6. "altwire". Retrieved 15 December 2017.
7. "Soundboard - Asking Alexandria Asking Alexandria album review". Retrieved 16 December 2017.
8. Hann, Michael (4 January 2018). "Asking Alexandria: Asking Alexandria review – member-swapping metallers embrace pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
9. "Asking Alexandria release first song since new return". Retrieved 22 October 2017.
10. "Asking Alexandria unleash Into the Fire". Retrieved 22 October 2017.
11. "AUDIO: Asking Alexandria – Where Did It Go?". Dead Press!. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
12. "Asking Alexandria release new music video for 'Alone In A Room'". Distorted Sound. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
13. "ASKING ALEXANDRIA Releases Animated Music Video For 'Vultures'". Blabbermouth.net. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
14. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
15. "Asking Alexandria new song". Retrieved 27 October 2017.
16. "ARIA Chart Watch #452". auspOp. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
17. "Asking Alexandria Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Asking Alexandria – Asking Alexandria" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
19. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Asking Alexandria – Asking Alexandria" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
21. "Swisscharts.com – Asking Alexandria – Asking Alexandria". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
22. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
23. "Asking Alexandria Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2017.