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Divisions (album)

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Divisions
The Starset logo against a white background
Studio album by
Starset
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2019
Recorded2019
Genre
Length58:25
LabelFearless
Producer
Starset chronology
Vessels
(2017) 		Divisions
(2019) 		Horizons
(2021)
Singles from Divisions
  1. "Manifest"
    Released: August 15, 2019
  2. "Trials"
    Released: April 7, 2020

Divisions is the third studio album by American rock band Starset. It was released on September 13, 2019. It spawned two singles "Manifest" and "Trials", which peaked at number 14 and 8 respectively on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Loudwire named it one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019.[3]

Background and concept

[edit]

Plans for a third studio album were revealed as early as January 2018, though frontman Dustin Bates stated its release would be far in the future, as he was taking a break from Starset to release a side-project electronic album under the moniker of "MNQN".[4] Talks of a third album arose again in August 2018, upon the band's announcement of the re-release of their second album, Vessels, as Vessels 2.0.[5] Shortly after the April 2019 release of MNQN material, in May 2019, the band announced that the third album was scheduled for release on September 13, 2019.[6] The album's title, Divisions, was announced on August 15, 2019.[7] The album's first single, "Manifest", was released the same day, alongside its music video.[8][9] The album is the first to feature session drummer Luke Holland.[10]

Much like the band's prior two albums, the album conceptually refers to frontman Dustin Bates' fictional story about a dystopian future struggling with the misuse of technology.[11] The music video for "Manifest" established the setting of New West, where denizens of a work camp are mind controlled into compliance through technology embedded into their heads, while others start to stage a rebellion.[12] Three other songs, "Where the Skies End", "Diving Bell", and "Stratosphere" were released in the leadup to the album, with accompanying music videos featuring citizens from various socioeconomic backgrounds affected by the mind control technology.[13][14][15]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Brief History of the Future"
  • Dustin Bates
  • Paul Trust
1:37
2."Manifest"
  • Bates
  • Daniel Ticotin
  • Garrison Turner
4:27
3."Echo"
  • Bates
  • Ticotin
  • Turner
  • Stacy Hogan
3:36
4."Where the Skies End"
  • Bates
  • Trust
6:33
5."Perfect Machine"
  • Bates
  • Trust
5:23
6."Telekinetic"
  • Bates
  • Joe Rickard
5:12
7."Stratosphere"
  • Bates
  • Rickard
4:17
8."Faultline"
3:36
9."Solstice"
  • Bates
  • Trust
5:41
10."Trials"
  • Bates
  • Johnny Lee Andrews
4:18
11."Waking Up"
  • Bates
  • Aiello
3:49
12."Other Worlds Than These"
  • Bates
  • Rickard
  • Lucio Rubino
4:18
13."Diving Bell"
  • Bates
  • Rickard
5:38
Total length:58:25

Notes

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Dustin Bates – vocals, backing vocals, production
  • Joe Rickard – programming; drums (track 12)
  • Alex Niceford – programming
  • Igor Khoroshev – additional programming
  • Niels Nielsen – additional programming
  • Paul Trust – additional programming, interlude music
  • Randy Torres – interlude sound design
  • Ron DeChant – backing vocals
  • Brock Richards – backing vocals
  • JR Bareis – guitars
  • Lucio Rubino – bass; guitars (track 12)
  • Luke Holland – drums
  • David Davidson – strings arrangement and violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Conni Ellisor – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Karen Winkelmann – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Janet Darnall – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Betsy Lamb – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Simona Russo – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Carole Rabinowitz – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)
  • Sari Reist – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)

Technical

  • Dustin Bates – production
  • Joe Rickard – co-production (track 2), engineering, digital editing, guitars engineering
  • Nick Chiari – co-production (track 11)
  • Dan Lancaster – mixing
  • Rhys May – mixing assistance
  • Paul Decarli – digital editing
  • Taylor Pollert – string recording
  • Dave Schiffman – drums engineering
  • Mike Plotnikoff – guitars engineering
  • Michael Closson III – assistant engineering
  • Niels Nielsen – mastering
  • Tnsn Dvsn – creative direction, album art and package

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Divisions
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[16] 22
Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] 78
UK Album Sales (OCC)[18] 70
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[19] 29
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[20] 8
US Billboard 200[21] 37
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] 4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[23] 6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (September 25, 2019). "Starset's Dustin Bates Explains What Makes 'Divisions' So Divisive". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Divisions - Starset - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2019". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. December 5, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Starset Frontman Dustin Bates Details Electronic-Leaning Project MNQN". Billboard.
  5. ^ Childers, Chad (17 August 2018). "Starset Reimagine 'Vessels' Music for Deluxe Edition". Loudwire.
  6. ^ DiVita, Joe (13 May 2019). "Starset Announce 2019 U.S. Tour + New Album Release Date". Loudwire.
  7. ^ "Starset announces new album, "Divisions"; listen to single "Manifest" now - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com. Archived from the original on 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  8. ^ "Starset Release 'Manifest' Music Video From Forthcoming Album "Divisions"". Wall Of Sound. August 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "Starset Announce New LP 'Divisions,' Share Lead Single "Manifest" / the NOISE". the NOISE.
  10. ^ Darus, Alex (August 16, 2019). "Starset release new dystopian video for "MANIFEST"". Alternative Press.
  11. ^ "STARSET To Release 'Divisions' Album In September; 'Manifest' Video Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 15, 2019.
  12. ^ Childers, Chad (15 August 2019). "Starset Announce 'DIVISIONS' Album, Reveal 'MANIFEST' Video". Loudwire.
  13. ^ "STARSET Releases Music Video For New Song 'Diving Bell'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 29, 2019.
  14. ^ Childers, Chad (29 August 2019). "Starset Continue to Break Down 'DIVISIONS' With 'Diving Bell'". Loudwire.
  15. ^ STARSET - STRATOSPHERE, retrieved 2019-09-17
  16. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. September 23, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. September 20, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. September 20, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. September 20, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)". Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Starset Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Starset Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  24. ^ "Starset Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
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