Suckapunch (album)

Suckapunch (stylised in all uppercase) is the seventh studio album by English rock band You Me at Six. It was released on 15 January 2021, through Underdog Records and AWAL.

Suckapunch
Studio album by
You Me at Six
Released15 January 2021
RecordedNovember 2018, October–November 2019
StudioVADA, Karma Sound
GenreRock
Length43:01
LabelUnderdog, AWAL
ProducerDan Austin
You Me at Six chronology
VI
(2018)		 Suckapunch
(2021)
Singles from Suckapunch
  1. "What's It Like"
    Released: 16 August 2019
  2. "Make Me Feel Alive"
    Released: 21 August 2020
  3. "Beautiful Way"
    Released: 22 September 2020
  4. "Suckapunch"
    Released: 26 November 2020
  5. "Adrenaline"
    Released: 4 January 2021

Background and production

You Me at Six released their sixth studio album VI in October 2018.[1] Initial promotion consisted of a two-month UK tour in November and December 2018. While the tour was intended to promote VI, the band used the stint to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut studio album Take Off Your Colours (2008).[2] You Me at Six rehearsed for the tour at VADA Studios in November 2018, where they had recorded VI; as the band had new song ideas, they ended up recording them, one of which was "What's It Like".[3][4] By July 2019, the band were in the planning stages for their next album.[5] On 16 August 2019, "What It's Like" was released as a single; around this time, the band appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[6][7] The following month, the band concluded the touring cycle for VI with a headlining slot at Gunnersville festival.[8]

In the months leading up to it, three of the band members went through break-ups. Following the show, the band were in discussion about moving out of London, and going travelling.[3] In October and November 2019, the band went to Bang Saray, Thailand to recorded at Karma Sound Studio with producer Dan Austin.[9][10][11] Before arriving, the band had written five complete songs, and ideas for 20 more; they eventually recorded there for five weeks total.[12][13] Drummer Dan Flint said the country was "a way for us to block out the noise, escape the outside world ... I'm not saying we went to Thailand to find ourselves, but being locked in this blissful bubble gave us clarity."[10] "Our House (The Mess We Made)" was released as a non-album single in February 2020, with funds going to a Australian bushfire relief.[9][14]

Composition

Musically, Suckapunch has been described as rock,[15] incorporating electronic flourishes.[16] Vocalist Josh Franceschi said VI "felt like we were sparring with the idea of the next step for the band", while Suckapunch "feels like we're there". He explained that the band was more comfortable utilizing elements of hip hop and R&B into their sound, without it coming across as contrived.[17] The opening track "Nice to Me" is an industrial rock and garage rock song that sets the tone for the rest of the album, complete with glitchy percussion and synthesizer work.[15][18] "Make Me Feel Alive" talks about having control, losing it, and then eventually reclaiming it.[19] The track is the band's heaviest song since "Bite My Tongue" on their third studio album Sinners Never Sleep (2011), and is drive by Flint's breakbeats.[15][18] "Beautiful Way" is about the relationship one has with themselves, getting older, and accepting flaws.[17]

"WYDRN", short for What You Doing Right Now, was written in Toronto, Canada, and sees the band make R&B-indebted rock.[12][15][18] "Suckapunch" sees the band move into dance-rock and electro territory, and is about finding one's self.[20][21][22] "Kill the Mood" was written in Los Angeles, California, and is followed by the ballad "Glasgow", which discusses the loss of a loved one.[12][17][23] "Adrenaline" talks about having split personalities, and relying on co-dependency.[24] Franceschi wrote the penultimate song "Finish What I Started" about an instance where he nearly took his own life.[25] The closing track "What's It Like" is an electronic rock song with influence from hip hop, recalling Amo (2019)-era Bring Me the Horizon.[7][19] Discussing the song, Franceschi said he "sort of poke[s] fun at those who are libertines or self-serving ... Life's not a competition, but people have a tendency to play it out that way."[7]

Release

"Makemefeelalive" was released as a single on 21 August 2020; the song's music video is done in a split screen point-of-view style, and features a cameo from Leigh Gill.[19][26] A lyric video was released for it on 8 September, with footage of Flint skydiving.[27] On 21 September, Suckapunch was announced for release early next year. Alongside this, the album's track listing and artwork were revealed, and "Beautiful Way" was released as a single.[28] "Suckapunch" was released as a single on 26 November 2020; the song's music video was directed by Cass Virdee.[20][29] "Adrenaline" was released as a single on 4 January 2021.[24] Five days later, the band released a making-of documentary on the recording of the album.[30] Suckapunch was released on 15 January 2021, through the band's own label Underdog Records and AWAL.[10][31] In May and July 2021, the band are scheduled to embarked on a UK tour, bookending an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in June.[30][32]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[33]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash7/10[18]
DIY[16]
Dork[34]
Gigwise[23]
Kerrang!4/5[22]
NME[15]

Suckapunch was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 80, based on 4 reviews.[33]

Gigwise writer Harrison Smith said the band were "manoeuvering amongst the timely lyrical themes of damaging relationships, heartbreak and prominent middle fingers to all those who have doubted the band previously."[23] Ali Shuter of NME noted that few of the lyrics could be "read like they were written by an angsty teen wearing a 'normal people scare me' badge, but the raw passion of Franceschi's soaring delivery ... feel empowering." He added that is was "rare for a rock record to feel this exciting," with every song on the album coming across as "inspired in some way."[15] Kerrang!'s Jake Richardson praised the band's experimentation with different genres, though it was not "flawless", citing the closing track as a misstep. He added the at album was a "win for You Me At Six. It jabs with style, and demonstrates that, far from running out of ideas, this band remain intent on staying at the cutting edge of modern British rock."[22]

Dork writer Stephen Ackroyd said the band were "sharpening up their edges ... You Me At Six are back at full volume."[34] Lucy Toole at Hot Press found it to be the band's "most expansive, genre-defying sound to date", with the "raw passion at the centre of their approach, as they face up to the reality of adulthood in their songwriting."[35] Suh Fell of Clash wrote that the band "have managed to craft a hard hitting and forward thinking record that fuses more traditionalist elements of rock with sounds from genres currently dominating cultural conversation."[18] DIY reviewer Sarah Jamieson said the album "arrives with a more aggressive edge" than their past albums, "throw[ing] caution to the wind". She referred to it as a "melting pot of the band's real-life influences ... this is a version of You Me At Six we've never seen before, and it's certainly bold."[16]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Nice to Me"4:27
2."Make Me Feel Alive"2:08
3."Beautiful Way"3:45
4."WYDRN"3:29
5."Suckapunch"4:59
6."Kill the Mood"3:08
7."Glasgow"5:39
8."Adrenaline"3:30
9."Voicenotes"4:01
10."Finish What I Started"4:28
11."What's It Like"3:27
Total length:43:04
Japanese edition bonus track [36][37]
No.TitleLength
12."What's It Like" (Gunnersville Festival 2019)4:47
Total length:47:58


Notes

  • "Make Me Feel Alive", "WYDRN" and "Suckapunch" are all stylised in all uppercase.
  • "Make Me Feel Alive" is stylised as "Makemefeelalive".

Charts
Chart performance for Suckapunch
Chart (2021) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 54
Scottish Albums (OCC)[39] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[40] 1
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[41] 1

References

Citations

  1. Jamieson, Brii (6 June 2018). "You Me At Six Are Back With Two New Singles And Details Of Their New Album". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  2. Tuck, Dylan (2 August 2018). "News: You Me At Six add more dates to 'Take Off Your Colours' 10th anniversary UK tour!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. Rogers 2021, p. 37
  4. Hansen, Susan (10 September 2019). "What's It Like: Backstage With You Me At Six". Clash. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. Johnstone, Andrew (15 July 2019). "News: You Me At Six say their seventh album will be 'emo as fuck'!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. "What's It Like - Single by You Me At Six". iTunes. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. Darus, Alex (16 August 2019). "You Me At Six drop genre-blending track 'What's It Like'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  8. Blackburn, Stevie (16 May 2019). "News: You Me At Six to headline Gunnersville Festival 2019!". Dead Press!. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. Greenwood, Koltan (12 February 2020). "You Me At Six drop new single to support Australian bushfire relief". Alternative Press. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  10. Redrup, Zach (22 September 2020). "News: You Me At Six announce seventh album, 'Suckapunch'!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  11. Peacock, Tim (13 February 2020). "News: You Me At Six release 'Our House (The Mess We Made)' to raise funds for Australia wildfire relief!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  12. Rogers 2021, p. 38
  13. Murray, Robin (22 September 2020). "You Me At Six Announce New Album 'Suckapunch'". Clash. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  14. "Our House (The Mess We Made) - Single by You Me At Six". iTunes. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  15. Shutler, Ali (13 January 2021). "You Me At Six – 'Suckapunch' review: the thrilling sound of a band with nothing to lose". NME. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  16. Jamieson, Sarah (14 January 2021). "You Me At Six – Suckapunch". DIY. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  17. Shutler, Ali (22 September 2020). "You Me At Six share 'Beautiful Way' and tell us about new album 'Suckapunch'". NME. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  18. Fell, Sul (13 January 2021). "You Me At Six – Suckapunch". Clash. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  19. "You Me At Six go punk on comeback single Makemefeelalive". The List. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  20. Redrup, Zach (27 November 2020). "News: You Me At Six debut video for new single, 'Suckapunch'!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  21. Piers, Ryan (16 December 2020). "Upcoming rock albums 2021 | Most anticipated metal releases". Alternative Press. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  22. Richardson, Jake (14 January 2021). "Album review: You Me At Six – Suckapunch". Kerrang!. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  23. Smith, Harrison (14 January 2021). "Album Review: You Me At Six - Suckapunch". Gigwise. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  24. Redrup, Zach (4 January 2021). "News: You Me At Six drop new single, 'Adrenaline'!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  25. Rogers 2021, pp. 39–40
  26. "Makemefeelalive - Single by You Me At Six". iTunes. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  27. Lawrie, Sam (8 September 2020). "News: You Me At Six release lyric video for 'Makemefeelalive'!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  28. Rogers, Jack (21 September 2020). "Watch: You Me At Six's Simply Beautiful Video For Their New Single 'Beautiful Way' – News". Rock Sound. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  29. "Suckapunch - Single by You Me At Six". iTunes. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  30. "You Me At Six share 'The Making of Suckapunch' documentary". DIY. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  31. Tuck, Dylan (23 December 2020). "New Albums Out in 2021!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  32. Lawrie, Sam (15 June 2020). "News: You Me At Six confirmed for Isle Of Wight Festival 2021!". Dead Press!. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  33. "Critic Reviews for Suckapunch". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  34. Ackroyd, Stephen (14 January 2021). "You Me At Six – Suckapunch". Dork. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  35. O'Toole, Lucy (15 January 2021). "Album Review: You Me At Six, Suckapunch". Hot Press. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  36. "現在UKで大ヒット中のロックバンド"ユー・ミー・アット・シックス" 最新作『サッカパンチ』日本リリース！". Sony Music Japan. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  37. "Suckapunch [Japan bonus track] CD Album". Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  38. "Offiziellecharts.de – You Me At Six – Cavalier Youth" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  39. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  40. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  41. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2021.

Sources

  • Rogers, Jack (February 2021). "Came Out Swinging". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (274). ISSN 1465-0185.
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