Fragile Figures

Fragile Figures is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band Secrets released through Velocity and Rise Records on July 23, 2013. It is the band's second album produced by Tom Denney, and the first and only release with vocalist Aaron Melzer.[1] The album sold over 10,000 copies on its first month, and reached number 59 on Billboard 200 chart in 2013.[2][3] The deluxe edition of the album was released on May 27, 2014, with 3 new songs and a remix of the track "Ready for Repair".[4] It is the only release to include former vocalist Aaron Melzer before his departure in 2015 and death in 2020.

Fragile Figures
Studio album by
Secrets
ReleasedJuly 23, 2013 (2013-07-23)
Recorded2012-2013
GenrePost-hardcore, metalcore
Length37:03
Label
ProducerTom Denney
Secrets chronology
The Ascent
(2012)		 Fragile Figures
(2013)		 Renditions
(2015)
Singles from Fragile Figures
  1. "Ready for Repair"
    Released: June 10, 2013
  2. "Live Together, Die Alone"
    Released: June 25, 2013
  3. "Maybe Next May"
    Released: July 5, 2013
  4. "The Architect (Part Two)"
    Released: July 12, 2013
Alternative cover
Deluxe Edition cover

Background

The band teamed up again with producer Tom Denney (ex-A Day to Remember) who produced their debut album The Ascent. Vocally, the sound was going to be different from the previous album, as the former vocalist Xander Bourgeois who sang on the debut album, left in April and was replaced with a new lead vocalist Aaron Melzer, formerly with the band Author & Finisher.[1] Also Richard Rogers worked on his vocals for this album with Eric Ron who is specialized in vocal production.[5] In the Vents magazine interview, the band explained the album title: "We realize everyone is broken, everyone goes through hard times, and everyone is trying not to break in this world we live in. We thought that 'Fragile Figures' was an appropriate title that encompassed the meaning behind all of our songs on this record."[5]

Promotion

The debut single from the album, "Ready for Repair", along with a music video, was released on June 10, 2013.[6][7] The single was available only as instant download with the album pre-order bundle. The second song from the album "Live Together, Die Alone" premiered on June 25.[8] A lyric video was released for this promotional track. The third single, "Maybe Next May" was released as digital download on July 5.[9] The fourth and final song presented before the album release was "The Architect (Part Two)" which premiered exclusively at Revolver Magazine website on July 12.[10] The new album Fragile Figures was released in its entirety for streaming on a YouTube playlist on July 17.[11] A music video for "How We Survive" premiered exclusively at Alternative Press website on December 12, 2013.[12] The band then released a music video featuring fan-submitted videos for "Maybe Next May" on April 7, 2014.[13]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk80%[14]
Allmusic[15]
Highlight Magazine8/10[16]
HM[17]
New Noise[18]
Rockfreaks.net7.5/10[19]
StarPulseB+[20]

The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The vocals delivered by guitarist/singer Richard Rogers and the new vocalist Aaron Melzer are considered the highlight of the album by many critics. David Jeffries comments the vocalist change in his AllMusic review that "there's little doubt that San Diego post-hardcore group Secrets are quite different on their sophomore release, but there's still that same angst and anger driving the lyrics, and the band are as tight as ever."[15] Brian Campbell for Starpulse writes that "Secrets' vocal dynamic has never sounded this crisp, this exciting", and thanks the vocal interplay between the singers for it.[20] Sarah Brehm of HM Magazine opines that the band shines with "Melzer's exceptional screams mixed with both gang and clean vocals".[17] Lærke Fenger in her Rockfreaks review compares the clean punk rock vocals and metalcore breakdowns to the debut album "The Ascent", and states that while the vocal parts didn't seem to integrate on the previous album, the flow is much better on "Fragile Figures". She also maintains that Melzer's vocal quality of growling more often than screaming fits the general song structures well.[19]

However, Nathaniel Lay of New Noise is more critical about the change to the new screamer's mostly grumbling vocal style, and claims it "takes quite a while to 'get used to'". He also states that Rogers' "work is still strong, and really helps fuel the songs", but "his parts aren't as catchy or memorable as they were during The Ascent".[18] Also Lærke Fenger complains that "most of the songs on this album blend together in my mind" as they are "so similar in sound and structure". She singles out the album closer "Sleep Well, Darling" as the only stand-out from the album, and claims that the memorable parts of the album are "just Rogers' catchy melodies especially on "Live Together, Die Alone" and "Infinite Escape"".[19]

Brian Campbell notes that the band are sonically expanding their horizons on album standouts "The Architect, Part Two" where Melzer handles majority of vocals, and "Sleep Well, Darling" which "showcases a new side to Secrets" and is "the strongest track Secrets has set to wax yet".[20] Also Sarah Brehm comments the final track "Sleep Well, Darling" noting that "while not bad on its own - it doesn't seem to fit the rest of the album".[17]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."How We Survive"3:14
2."Ready for Repair"3:16
3."Forever and Never"3:29
4."Artist Vs. Who?"3:29
5."Wasted Youth, Pt. 1"3:14
6."The Architect, Pt. 2"3:05
7."Maybe Next May"3:04
8."Fragile Figures"3:20
9."Live Together, Die Alone"3:25
10."Infinite Escape"3:38
11."Sleep Well, Darling"3:49
Total length:37:03
Deluxe Edition
No.TitleLength
1."Dance of the Dead"4:05
2."Heartbreak Kids"3:45
3."The Wild"4:07
4."How We Survive"3:14
5."Ready for Repair"3:16
6."Forever and Never"3:29
7."Artist Vs. Who?"3:29
8."Wasted Youth, Pt. 1"3:14
9."The Architect, Pt. 2"3:05
10."Maybe Next May"3:04
11."Fragile Figures"3:20
12."Live Together, Die Alone"3:25
13."Infinite Escape"3:38
14."Sleep Well, Darling"3:49
15."Ready for Repair (Captain Midnite Remix)" (featuring Kyle Lucas & Jonny Craig)4:07
Total length:53:07

Personnel
Secrets
Additional personnel
  • Adrian Alvarado – engineer
  • Jonny Craig - vocals on "Ready for Repair (Captain Midnite Remix)"
  • Kyle Lucas - vocals on "Ready for Repair (Captain Midnite Remix)"
  • Matt Burke – photography
  • Tom Denney – engineer, mixing, producer
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Kayleigh Kirkpatrick – model
  • Stephen Marro – additional production, engineer
  • Aaron Marsh – artwork
  • Erik Ron – engineer, vocal producer

Charts
Chart (2013) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard 200[3] 59
U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums[21] 6
U.S. Independent Albums[22] 13
U.S. Top Rock Albums[23] 18

References
  1. McConnell, Kriston (2013-04-30). "Secrets Announce New Vocalist Aaron Melzer Of Author & Finisher". UnderTheGunReview.net. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  2. "Secrets Official Twitter status". SECRETSOfficial. Twitter. 2013-09-05. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  3. "Secrets - Chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  4. http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/secrets_stream_fragile_figures_deluxe_edition_tracks
  5. "Secrets on VENTS Warped Special Edition". Vents Magazine. p. 132. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  6. "Secrets announce new album, 'Fragile Figures,' release teaser video". Alternative Press. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  7. "SECRETS - Ready For Repair (Music Video) - "Fragile Figures" out 7/23/13". Rise Records. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  8. Bird, Michele (2013-06-25). "Secrets premiere new single, "Live Together, Die Alone"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  9. "Secrets Premiere New Song "Maybe Next May"". NewNoiseMagazine.com. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  10. Kraus, Brian (2013-07-12). "Secrets stream new song, "The Architect (Part Two)"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  11. Kraus, Brian (2013-07-18). "Secrets stream new album, 'Fragile Figures'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  12. Whitt, Cassie (2013-12-12). "Video Premiere: SECRETS, "How We Survive"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  13. Bird, Michele (2014-04-07). "Secrets release "Maybe Next May" video". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  14. "Secrets - Fragile Figures Album review". AbsolutePunk. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  15. Jeffries, David. Fragile Figures album review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  16. Paul, Steven (2013-07-23). "Secrets - Fragile Figures Review". Highlight Magazine. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  17. Brehm, Sarah (July 2, 2013). "Secrets - Fragile Figures". HM. HM Publications LLC. ISSN 1066-6923. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  18. Lay, Nathaniel (2013-07-05). "Album Review: Secrets – "Fragile Figures"". NewNoiseMagazine.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  19. Fenger, Lærke (2013-08-12). "Secrets - Fragile Figures review". Rockfreaks.net. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  20. Campbell, Brian (2013-08-02). "CD Review: Secrets - 'Fragile Figures'". StarPulse. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  21. "Secrets - Chart history (Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  22. "Secrets - Chart history (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  23. "Secrets - Chart history (Rock Albums)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
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