Speed of Darkness

Speed of Darkness
Studio album by Flogging Molly
Released	31 May 2011
Recorded	Echo Mountain, Asheville, NC
Genre	Celtic punk, punk rock
Label	Borstal Beat Records
Producer	Ryan Hewitt
Flogging Molly chronology
Live at the Greek Theatre (2010) Speed of Darkness (2011)

Speed of Darkness is the name of the fifth studio album by the Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly that was released on 31 May 2011. The album was recorded at Echo Mountain, an old church building turned recording studio in Asheville, NC.^[1][2] The album was produced by Ryan Hewitt, who has worked with bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Avett Brothers.^[3] Speed of Darkness debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart and number four on the Billboard Independent Chart.^[4]

The expression speed of darkness had appeared in a 1999 book mixing physics and fiction, named The Science of Discworld, written by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. In a 2011 interview on BBC Radio 1, frontman Dave King explained that the title track and album title was taken from a quote of Dino Misetić, the artist who designed the album cover, which appeared in the book Sarajevo Marlboro. Dino, who grew up in the Balkans during the Balkan Wars, is quoted in the book, saying: "They taught us what the speed of light is, but nobody can teach you what the speed of darkness is."^[5]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Dave King, all music composed by Flogging Molly.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Speed of Darkness"	4:08
2.	"Revolution"	3:13
3.	"The Heart of the Sea"	3:43
4.	"Don't Shut 'Em Down"	3:40
5.	"The Power's Out"	4:39
6.	"So Sail On"	2:47
7.	"Saints & Sinners"	3:31
8.	"This Present State of Grace"	2:48
9.	"The Cradle of Humankind"	5:11
10.	"Oliver Boy (All of Our Boys)"	4:07
11.	"A Prayer for Me in Silence"	1:54
12.	"Rise Up"	3:34
Total length:		43:15

Bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Saints & Sinners (acoustic)"

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Alt Press	[6]
Rock Sound	link
Spin	link

Personnel

Flogging Molly:

• Dave King – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, bodhran
• Bridget Regan – Violin, tin whistle, vocals (lead vocals on "A Prayer For Me in Silence")
• Dennis Casey – Electric guitar, six string acoustic guitar, twelve string acoustic guitar, vocals
• Matt Hensley – Piano accordion, button accordion, concertina, vocals
• Nathen Maxwell – Bass, vocals
• Bob Schmidt – Tenor banjo, five string banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, vocals
• George Schwindt – Drums, percussion

Additional musicians:

• Joe Kwon (The Avett Brothers) – Cello on tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11
• Rich Wiley – Trumpet on track 2
• Ed Roth – Piano on track 9
• Evan Hill – Gang vocals on track 10

References

1. "Flogging Molly". Flogging Molly. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
2. "Clients – Echo Mountain Recording Studio – Asheville, NC". Echomountain.net. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
3. "Discography". Ryanhewitt.com. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
4. Jurgensen, John (27 May 2011). "Flogging Molly: Songs from Detroit via Dublin - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
5. "Flogging Molly BBC Radio 1 Interview". Youtube.com. May 6, 2011.
6. Jun 2011 issue, pp.111