The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways

The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways is the second studio album by American metalcore band Crown the Empire. The album was released on July 22, 2014, through Rise Records. Akin to their debut album features Joey Sturgis, but also features Dan Korneff as the producer as well. It is the band's first album to not feature keyboardist Austin Duncan, as well as the last album to feature lead guitarist Benn Suede, who departed from the band in 2015.[1] It is also the last concept album the band have written.

The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways
Studio album by
Crown the Empire
ReleasedJuly 22, 2014 (2014-07-22)
Recorded2014
StudioMetro 37 Studios, Rochester, Michigan, U.S.
Genre
Length50:58
LabelRise
ProducerDan Korneff
Crown the Empire chronology
The Fallout
(2012)		 The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways
(2014)		 Retrograde
(2016)
Singles from The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways
  1. "Initiation"
    Released: June 19, 2014
  2. "Rise of the Runaways"
    Released: July 3, 2014
  3. "Bloodline"
    Released: November 1, 2014
  4. "Prisoners of War"
    Released: September 8, 2015

Background and recording

It was announced by the band's label, Rise Records, that they would be going into a studio in Michigan on January 3, 2014, with Joey Sturgis producing the album.[2] Later the next month, the band released a teaser for a new song to be featured on the album.[3] The same month they released a statement revealing that they had completed recording drums and were continuing with the other instruments, and also that producer Dan Korneff will also be aiding in the band's production.[4]

Composition

Themes

The album serves as a sequel to the band's debut album The Fallout and is set hundreds of years after the album. It follows the story of the Runaways, a group of rebels who overthrow oppressive regimes.[5]

Release and promotion

The album was officially announced on June 18 by the band and was given the title The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways, a release date of July 22 and its artwork was also released. The announcement was made on the official YouTube channel of Rise Records with a teaser trailer, which, along with the title, release date and artwork, also contained a teaser for a track from the upcoming album.[6] A day later, the first single and second track "Initiation" was released.

After the album's release, the band supported the British rock band Asking Alexandria in the UK throughout October and November.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Alternative Press[10]
Big Cheese7/10[11]
Bring the Noise8/10[12]
Kerrang![13]
Mind Equals Blown8/10[14]
New Noise[15]
Outburn9/10[16]
Rock Sound7/10[17]
SF Media[18]

The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways was welcomed with positive reception by critics. Review aggregator Metacritic gave the album an 82 out of 100 based on 4 professional reviews, citing "universal acclaim".[8] In a four-and-a-half star review from Alternative Press, Phil Freeman averring, "Crown The Empire have stepped up in a big way, with every aspect of The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways coming across bigger, harder and just more than their full-length debut".[10] Rob Sayce at Rock Sound says "Talk about impeccable timing. In its propensity for Hollywood-style melodrama and barrage of arena-friendly hooks, Crown The Empire's second album is both relentlessly on trend and yet relatively individual, succeeding where previous effort The Fallout so often faltered", bestowing a seven out of ten upon the work.[17] In a three-and-a-half star review from AllMusic, Gregory Heaney claiming, "Crown the Empire widen their dynamic range with the simultaneously soaring and punishing... In fact, this theatricality is easily the album's most engaging feature, making The Resistance: Rise of The Runaway a unique offering in an otherwise dull post-hardcore landscape."[9]

Lais Martins Waring for Big Cheese believing "The Resistance probably won't change any lives, but Crown the Empire should be proud of their second album, because it's pretty damn enjoyable. They're onto a good thing here. Keep an eye on them", bequeathing the project a seven out of ten.[11] In a nine out of ten review for Outburn, Brooke Daly tells "The highlight of The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways is the musicianship... The album sounds progressive while maintaining their core sound. They have honed it, creating a thrilling album in the process."[16] Nathaniel Lay of New Noise remarks "Rise of The Runaways is a bit more deliberate and elaborate in design... an album of fair size, and therefore offers plenty of content... The Resistance is also certainly a worthy release for its scene. Crown the Empire are most definitely talented musicians, and they could be onto something here. Maybe in an album or two, they'll become unstoppable", conferring a four star rating upon the project.[15] Thomas Doyle of Kerrang! gave the album four K's out of a possible five, praising the concept album for not trying to be too clever and resulting in overblown monstrosities, and goes on to say that it feels energised and packed with the energy and spirit of metalcore music with an added narrative.[13]

In an eight out of ten review for Mind Equals Blown, Emma Guido underscoring, "From what it looks like, The Resistance has proved that they are capable of creating a storm, or rather a rebellion, in the music scene. They have a unique style, incredible talent, and a faithful fan base, making this breakthrough band the next big thing."[14] Matthew Sievers articulates how "The Resistance is another staple in this band's already blazing career that will push them so far into the limelight, they'll be rubbing their eyes in disbelief", giving the project four and a half stars. In an eight out of ten review at Bring the Noise, Matt Borucki ascertaining "The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways is more mature and more sophisticated, yet still holds the youthful glow that turned heads in the first place."[12]

Commercial performance

The album sold more than 24,000 copies in its debut week of August 9, 2014 by Billboard, whilst the album charted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.[19] It also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums chart.[20][21] The album has sold 72,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016.[22]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Crown the Empire, Brendan Barone, and Bennett Vogelman[23].

No.TitleLength
1."A Call to Arms (Act I)"3:01
2."Initiation"4:40
3."Millennia"3:44
4."Machines"4:29
5."The Wolves of Paris (Act II)"1:42
6."MNSTR"3:29
7."Second Thoughts"3:42
8."Maniacal Me"3:33
9."Satellites (Act III)"2:07
10."Rise of the Runaways"3:35
11."Bloodline"4:20
12."The Phoenix Reborn"5:45
13."Johnny's Rebellion"6:45
Total length:50:58
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
14."Prisoners of War"3:55
15."Cross Our Bones"3:25
16."Machines" (re-invented)4:02
17."Millennia" (acoustic)4:03
Total length:66:23

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[24]

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[25] 7
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[28] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[29] 184
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[30] 16

Release history
Region Date Format Label Catalog no.
Worldwide July 22, 2014 CD[31] Rise RR 2392
Digital download[32] 819531015397
LP[33] RR 2391

References
  1. "Crown The Empire guitarist Benn Vogelman leaves band (exclusive)". Alternative Press.
  2. Kraus, Brian. "Crown The Empire enter the studio with Joey Sturgis". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. Crane, Matt. "Crown The Empire tease new song". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. "Crown The Empire Give Update On New Album Progress". Theprp.com. The PRP. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  5. "Crown the Empire - The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways (Album review)". Crypticrock.com. Cryptic Rock. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  6. "Crown The Empire announce details of 'The Resistance: Rise Of The Runaways'". Rocksound.com. Rocksound. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. "Asking Alexandria announce UK support acts". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  8. "'The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways' on Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  9. Heaney, Gregory. "The Resistance: The Rise of the Runaways – Crown the Empire". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  10. Freeman, Phil (July 22, 2014). "Crown The Empire - The Resistance: The Rise Of The Runaways". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  11. Waring, Lais Martins (July 21, 2014). "Crown The Empire: The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways". Big Cheese. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  12. Borucki, Matt. "ALBUM REVIEW: Crown the Empire – The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways". Bring the Noise. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  13. Tomas, Doyle (2 August 2014). "Crown The Empire 'The Resistance: Rise Of The Runways'". Kerrang! (1528). Kerrang!. Kerrang!. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  14. Guido, Emma (July 25, 2013). "Crown The Empire The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  15. Lay, Nathaniel (July 21, 2014). "Album Review: Crown The Empire – "The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways"". New Noise. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  16. Daly, Brooke (2014). "Crown the Empire: The Resistance: The Rise of the Runaways". Outburn. Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano (75): 57. ISSN 1542-1309. Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  17. Sayce, Rob (July 29, 2014). "Crown The Empire - The Resistance: Rise Of The Runaways". Rock Sound. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  18. Sievers, Matthew. "Crown the Empire – The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways". SF Media. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  19. Caulfield, Keith (July 30, 2014). "5 Seconds Of Summer Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  20. "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. August 9, 2014.
  21. "Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. August 9, 2014.
  22. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
  23. "Crown the Empire The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  24. "Crown the Empire The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  25. "Crown the Empire Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  26. "Crown the Empire Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  27. "Crown the Empire Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  28. "Crown the Empire Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  30. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  31. "Crown the Empire The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways (CD - Rise #RR 2392)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  32. "Crown the Empire The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways (Digital Download - Rise Records #819531015397)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  33. "Crown the Empire Resistance: Rise of the Runaways [LP/CD] (LP - Rise Records #RR 2391)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
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