Unconditional (Memphis May Fire album)

Unconditional is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Memphis May Fire. It was released on the March 25, 2014 by Rise Records and distributed by Fontana Distribution. The deluxe edition was released on July 17, 2015.

Unconditional
Studio album by
Memphis May Fire
ReleasedMarch 25, 2014
RecordedChango Studios
Genre
Length43:20[2]
55:08 (deluxe edition)
LabelRise
ProducerCameron Mizell, Kellen McGregor
Memphis May Fire chronology
Challenger
(2012)		 Unconditional
(2014)		 This Light I Hold
(2016)
Singles from Unconditional
  1. "No Ordinary Love"
    Released: February 6, 2014
  2. "Sleepless Nights"
    Released: February 24, 2014
  3. "Beneath the Skin"
    Released: March 11, 2014
Alternative cover
Deluxe Edition cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic(positive)[3]
HM Magazine[4]

Background and recording

Memphis May Fire had planned to release their new album in early 2014.[5] The band recorded at Chango Studios with Kellen and Cameron Mizell as the producers.[6][7]

On December 14, 2013 the band tweeted that they had finished recording their forthcoming album with vocalist Matty Mullins expressing on how proud he was of the album. The album was expected to be an early 2014 release.[8] On December 18, the band announced "The Unconditional Tour" beginning late February through March with fellow acts The Word Alive, A Skylit Drive, Hands Like Houses and Beartooth in the US.[9]

In a studio update for the album, it was announced that it would be titled Unconditional and would be released on March 25, 2014 through Rise Records.[10]

Style and composition

In an Alternative Press interview released on September 7, 2013 the band stated that their new album will "have more of a theatrical feel, as well as orchestral presence" also describing their new album as a "soundtrack to an action film".[11]

In another interview, the band described the sound of their new album, "[It] Just shows maturity. The newest record is very theatrical. It almost feels like a movie soundtrack from start to finish. It’s really awesome. A lot of orchestra stuff playing a big role in the record. It’s just – it’s more mature. I think that our younger audience is going to love it – certain aspects of it – and our older audience is going to really appreciate how far we’ve come as artists. They’re really going to love the record too. It’s great."[12]

Release and promotion

On February 6, 2014 the first single, "No Ordinary Love" was streamed through the Rise Records YouTube channel, and the official track listing was also released on this date.[13] The band later released "Sleepless Nights" on February 24[14] and then "Beneath The Skin" on March 11, 2014.[15][16] On March 13, 2014, Rise Records released a playlist of the full album on YouTube,[17] announced by Mullins who tweeted, "Sometimes you gotta leak your own record!" [18]

Commercial performance

Unconditional debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200,[19] No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums and the Billboard Alternative Albums chart,[20][21] selling around 27,000 copies in the first week. The album has sold 83,000 copies in the United States as of September 2016.[22]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Matty Mullins, all music composed by Kellen McGregor and Memphis May Fire

No.TitleLength
1."No Ordinary Love"3:56
2."Beneath the Skin"4:12
3."Sleepless Nights"3:41
4."The Answer"4:09
5."Possibilities"4:21
6."Speechless"3:23
7."The Rose"3:43
8."Not Enough"4:03
9."Need to Be"3:37
10."Pharisees"3:53
11."Divinity"4:22
Total length:43:20
Deluxe Edition Tracks
No.TitleLength
12."My Generation"4:05
13."Stay the Course"4:01
14."Beneath the Skin (Acoustic)"4:54
15."Need to Be (Acoustic)"3:37
Total length:55:08

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart (The Official Charts Company)[23] 190
US Billboard 200[19]4
US Billboard Alternative Albums[21]1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[25] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 1
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References
  1. https://crypticrock.com/memphis-may-fire-unconditional-album-review/
  2. "Unconditional - Memphis May Fire". iTunes. Rise Records. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  3. Gregory Heaney (2014-03-24). "Unconditional - Memphis May Fire | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  4. Mabee, Justin (April 7, 2014). "Memphis May Fire - Unconditional". HM Magazine. HM Publications LLC. ISSN 1066-6923. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  5. Beringer, Drew. "Memphis May Fire Planning New LP in Early 2014". AbsolutePunk.com. Absolute Punk. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  6. Major, Nick. "In The Studio with Memphis May Fire". AltPress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  7. "Memphis May Fire set to release new album". Lambgoat.com. Lamb Goat. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  8. Mullins, Matty. "Album recording finished". Twitter.com. Memphis May Fire. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. wookubus (19 December 2013). "Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive, A Skylit Drive, Etc. Tour Officially Announced" (News post). theprp.com. The PRP. Retrieved 20 December 2013. Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive, A Skylit Drive, Hands Like Houses and Beartooth have officially announced their ‘The Unconditional Tour‘...
  10. Kraus, Brian. "Memphis May Fire post third studio update for 'Unconditional'". Altpress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  11. Nick, Major. "In The Studio with Memphis May Fire". Altpress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  12. "Memphis May Fire planning new LP in early 2014". KillYourStereo.com. Kill Your Stereo. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  13. Crane, Matt. "Memphis May Fire release new song, "No Ordinary Love"". Altpress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  14. Kraus, Brian. "Memphis May Fire stream new single, "Sleepless Nights"". AltPress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  15. Bird, Michele. "Memphis May Fire stream new song, "Beneath The Skin"". AltPress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  16. "Beneath The Skin: Memphis May Fire: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  17. "Memphis May Fire - Unconditional (Album Stream)". YouTube.com. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  18. "Matty Mullins on Twitter: "Sometimes you gotta leak your own record :) CHECK IT OUT!!! http://t.co/W9NTVVRR5X"". Twitter.com. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2015-05-28. External link in |title= (help)
  19. "Billboard 200". Billboard. April 12, 2014.
  20. "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. April 12, 2014.
  21. "Alternative Albums". Billboard. April 12, 2014.
  22. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016.
  23. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  24. "Memphis May Fire Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  25. "Memphis May Fire Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  26. "Memphis May Fire Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
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