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Death Is Nothing to Us

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Death Is Nothing to Us
A painting of five outlines of humans standing and swinging from tree's branches
Studio album by
Fiddlehead
ReleasedAugust 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
StudioWoolly Mammoth Studios
GenrePost-hardcore, alternative rock, emo
Length27:14
LanguageEnglish
LabelRun for Cover
Producer
Fiddlehead chronology
Between the Richness
(2021) 		Death Is Nothing to Us
(2023)
Singles from Death Is Nothing to Us
  1. "Sullenboy"
    Released: June 7, 2023[1]
  2. "Sleepyhead"
    Released: July 11, 2023[2]

"I don't want people to romanticize grief and depression, myself included. But I wanted to write about the way loss can perpetuate this feeling of sadness in your life. I didn't intend to make some kind of thematic trilogy but there is this connection to the first two records, and this album sort of rounds out some of the stages of grief that weren't addressed previously–especially this feeling of stickiness that a depressive attitude can have."

—Vocalist Patrick Flynn on the lead single "Sullenboy"[3]

Death Is Nothing to Us is the third full-length studio album by American post-hardcore band Fiddlehead, released by Run for Cover in 2023. It has received positive reviews from critics. The music explores mourning as part of a thematic trilogy with the band's previous two releases[4] and was inspired by various influences, including DC hardcore, James Joyce, and Kids.[5]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound9/10[6]
Exclaim!8/10[7]
Far Out[8]
God Is in the TV7/10[9]
Kerrang![10]
Metal Hammer
Pitchfork7.6/10[11]

BrooklynVegan gave several positive reviews to this album: Andrew Sacher named it one of the picks of the week when it was released, for having the band's "most melodic, hook-filled songs yet, and also some of their hardest-hitting".[12] In a mid-year wrap-up of the best emo and post-hardcore albums of the year, he included this among the top ten[13] and also included it among the 50 best punk albums of the year.[14] In Exclaim!, Adam Feibel rated this album an 8 out of 10 for combining melody and intensity, with music that "is just as intellectually and emotionally engaging".[7] This was one of the picks of the week from The Fader, where critic David Renshaw called it "nuanced" for dealing with the emotional complexities of mourning that "ends with a moment of pitch-black positivity".[15] Mischa Pearlman, writing for Kerrang! scored this album a 4 out of 5, summing up that "it turns death into both everything and nothing, by reminding us that, even when we're no longer here, we'll still exist within the minds and memories of those who love us and who – for a while, anyway – are still here".[16]

A feature piece from Paste by Matt Mitchell characterized this work as "dense, thoughtful, and ambitious".[17] Nina Corcoran of Pitchfork gave Death Is Nothing to Us a 7.6 out of 10, praising the band for showing restraint by "prioritizing nimble bass and guitar work".[18] Corcoran later chose this album to spotlight how American hardcore punk music embraced experimentation and cross-genre elements in 2023.[19] Cogwheel of PunkNews rated this album 4 out of 5 stars for showing emotional growth through grief and having "top notch" musicianship.[20] Updates from Revolver praised "Sleepyhead"[21] and "Sullenboy".[22][23] Two critics from Uproxx voted this among the best albums of 2023.[24] Staff from WBUR-FM chose the best local albums of the year and Karen Muller wrote that voalist Pat Flynn's "roar embodies that pain and rallies against it, often within the same track".[25]

Track listing

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All songs written by Shawn Costa, Alex Dow, Pat Flynn, Alex Henery. and Nick Hinsch. The liner notes state that lyrics include lines "respectfully borrowed" from Jim Carrol, Alex G, Infest, Sebadoh, Trapped Under Ice, W. B. Yeats, The Cranberries, Everclear, 108, and All Chrome, as well as lyrical help from Meryn Flynn and melody help from Andrew Fisher on "Fifteen to Infinity".

  1. "The Deathlife" – 1:08
  2. "Sleepyhead" – 2:16
  3. "Loserman" – 2:19
  4. "True Hardcore (II)" – 2:34
  5. "Welcome to the Situation" – 1:28
  6. "Sullenboy" – 3:20
  7. "Give It Time (II)" – 1:21
  8. "Queen of Limerick" – 2:33
  9. "The Woes" – 2:43
  10. "Fiddleheads" – 2:19
  11. "Fifteen to Infinity" – 3:00
  12. "Going to Die" – 2:17

Personnel

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Fiddlehead

  • Shawn Costa – drums, production
  • Alex Dow – guitar, production
  • Pat Flynn – lead vocals, production
  • Alex Henery – guitar, backing vocals, cover art, design, layout, production
  • Nick Hinsch – bass guitar, production

Additional personnel

  • Matthew Alexander – engineering
  • Z. Belair – tambourine on "The Woes"
  • Deanie Chen – photography
  • Kris Crummett – mastering at Interlace Audio
  • Ian Fledge – cello on "The Deathlife"
  • Justin Khan – mixing assistance
  • Kate "O8" Reddy – additional vocals on "The Woes"
  • Chris Teti – engineering, mixing at Silver Bullet Studios, production
  • Greg Thomas – mixing assistance
  • Justice Tripp – additional vocals on "True Hardcore (II)"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Renshaw, David (June 7, 2023). "Fiddlehead's new hardcore song "Sullenboy" is fearless". The Fadar. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hear Fiddlehead confront deep depression on new song, "Sleepyhead"". Revolver. July 11, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (July 7, 2023). "Fiddlehead – "Sullenboy"". New Music. Stereogum. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. ^ Renshaw, David (July 11, 2023). "Fiddlehead find escape on their pillow with "Sleepyhead"". Music / Electronic. The Fader. ISSN 1533-5194. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Sacher, Andrew (August 22, 2023). "Fiddlehead on how their new LP was inspired by the movie 'Kids,' James Joyce, DC hardcore & more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Ridsdale, Jack (August 19, 2023). "ALBUM REVIEW: Death Is Nothing To Us – Fiddlehead". Distorted Sound. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Feibel, Adam (August 16, 2023). "Melody and Intensity Collide on Fiddlehead's 'Death Is Nothing to Us'". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Starkey, Arun (August 17, 2023). "Fiddlehead – 'Death Is Nothing To Us' album review: A triumph in humanity". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Allen, Josh (August 17, 2023). "Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us (Run For Cover Records)". God Is In the TV. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Pearlman, Mischa (August 15, 2023). "Album review: Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us". Kerrang!. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Corcoran, Nina (August 25, 2023). "Fiddlehead: Death Is Nothing to Us Album Review". Pitchfork. Conde Nast. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Sacher, Andrew (August 18, 2023). "Album Reviews: Fiddlehead, Genesis Owusu, Mick Jenkins, more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Sacher, Andrew (September 16, 2023). "10 post-hardcore & emo albums you need from spring & summer 2023". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 19, 2023). "50 Best Punk Albums of 2023". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Renshaw, David (August 18, 2023). "New Music Friday: This week's essential new albums". Music / Hip-Hop. The Fader. ISSN 1533-5194. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Pearlman, Mischa (August 15, 2023). "Album review: Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing to Us". Reviews. Kerrang!. ISSN 0262-6624. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Matt (September 1, 2023). "Fiddlehead Go in Deep on Every Track From Death is Nothing to Us". Music > Features > Fiddlehead. Paste. ISSN 1540-3106. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Corcoran, Nina (August 25, 2023). "Fiddlhead: Death Is Nothing to Us Album Review". Albums. Pitchfork. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  19. ^ Corcoran, Nina (December 20, 2023). "Hardcore Expanded Its Boundaries in 2023—and the Scene Embraced It". The Pitch. Pitchfork. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ^ cogwheel (August 20, 2023). "Fiddlhead – Death Is Nothing To Us". Reviews. PunkNews. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Hear FIDDLEHEAD confront deep depression on new song "Sleepyhead"". Music. Revolver. July 11, 2023. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Enis, Eli (July 7, 2023). "Hear FIDDLEHEAD's catchy new song "Sullenboy"". Music. Revolver. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  23. ^ Enis, Eli (July 9, 2023). "6 best new songs right now: 6/9/23". Music. Revolver. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "Death Is Nothing to Us". Uproxx. n.d. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  25. ^ Muller, Karen (December 19, 2023). "The best local albums of 2023, according to our critics". Local Coverage // Arts & Culture. WBUR-FM. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
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