Weapons (album)

Weapons
Studio album by Lostprophets
Released	2 April 2012[1] (See release history)
Recorded	May–November 2011 NRG Recording Studios, Hollywood[2][3]
Genre	Alternative rock, alternative metal, post-hardcore
Length	51:07
Label	Epic (UK) Fearless (US)
Producer	Ken Andrews[3][4] (List of additional production)
Lostprophets chronology
The Betrayed (2010) Weapons (2012)
Singles from Weapons
"Bring 'Em Down" Released: 23 March 2012[5] "We Bring an Arsenal" Released: 4 June 2012[6] "Jesus Walks" Released: 3 September 2012[7]

Weapons is the fifth and final studio album by the Welsh alternative rock band Lostprophets, released through Epic on 2 April 2012.^[1] It's the first and only record featuring Luke Johnson on drums, after being with two other drummers previously,^[8] Mike Chiplin and Ilan Rubin (the latter of whom features in archive recordings included on the "deluxe edition"^[9] of Weapons, as well as the hidden track "Weapon" on all versions of the album).

Just like their third studio album it features Latin on the front, which reads deus velox nex. When translated it reads Gods swift violent^[10] death. This has been confirmed by guitarist, Mike Lewis.^[11]

Writing and recording history

The band started writing new material after finishing The Betrayed Tour. The album is produced by Ken Andrews at Hollywood.^[3][4] Several songs were debuted before it official release date. "Bring Em' Down" was played live in the warm up shows for the 2011 V Festival, and was aired as the first single from Weapons on Zane Lowe's Hottest Record on 6 February 2012.^[12] "We Bring an Arsenal" made its debut on 25 February 2012.^[13] The song "Better Off Dead" received its first radio play by BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe as his "Hottest Record in the World".^[14] As of 6 January 2012 it was made available for download from the band's official website.^[15]

Release and promotion

This is Lostprophets' first studio release through Epic (UK) and Fearless (US) after leaving their long-time served record, Visible Noise.^[16][17] Lostprophets also announced an extensive tour of the UK and Ireland, consisting of 14 shows which commence on the 15 April 2012 in Dublin and finishes on the 4 May 2012 in London.^[18] It was released in the UK on 2 April 2012 and it was released in the US on 19 June 2012.^[19] Because the fourth studio album The Betrayed was not released in North America, it's the band's fourth released album in some regions. The "deluxe edition"^[9] of the albums contains three "Garage sessions" tracks, recorded in 2007 as demos for the ultimately-abandoned album sessions with John Feldmann^[20] prior to The Betrayed, with the track "Weapon" from the same sessions included as a hidden track on all versions of the album. Further more bonus tracks are found on the Japanese "deluxe edition".^[21][22] The US "deluxe edition" is different from the UK edition.^[23] Lostprophets headlined the Warped Tour UK in November 2012.^[24]

Singles

The first single, "Bring 'Em Down", was released on 23 March 2012.^[5] "We Bring an Arsenal" was to be the second single, released on 4 June 2012 but the song has still to be officially released as a single.^[6] "Jesus Walks" was to be released as the next single on 10 September 2012, but again no official single was released.^[7] On 3 December 2012, Watkins tweeted, "En route to the big smoke to shoot our new musical video." When the band had previously debuted "Bring 'Em Down" on Zane Lowe's show in February, Watkins stated that the fourth single was to be a "power ballad". However, sixteen days after the video shoot, it was announced that Watkins had been arrested for a string of sex offences, including possession of indecent images of children and unlawful intercourse with children,.^[25] The video shot was for "Somedays" and was filmed at the I-Heart Studio's in London. Lee and Ian were the only members of the band at the video shoot as the rest of the band were going to be included using archive footage.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	56/100[26]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[27]
Alternative Press	[28]
BBC Music	favourable[29]
DIY	5/10[30]
The Guardian	[31]
Kerrang!	[32]
MusicOMH	[33]
NME	5/10[34]
Q	[32]
Rock Sound	8/10[32]
Sputnikmusic	[35]
Uncut	5/10 [32]

Critical reaction to the album has been generally mixed. It currently holds a normalised score of 56 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating 'mixed or average reviews', making it the lowest rated album released by the band to date.^[26] As a result, critics have generally seen the album as a decline in the band's career.^[26]

Allmusic stated that the fifth studio album strikes a nice balance between the metallic fury and desperation of their debut, Thefakesoundofprogress, and the slicker, more commercial sound of The Betrayed.^[27] It also has been compared with "chrome-drunk" classic of The Godfathers, with electro-metal of Muse, enthusiasm with Green Day.

Alternative Press states almost all songs have a big chorus, with the "cheesy" posturing of songs such as "We Bring an Arsenal" and the flat strains of "Somedays". The opener "Bring 'Em Down" hits the spot, and they may well have "arm-wrestled" The All-American Rejects to claim the effervescent chorus of "A Song for Where I'm From".^[28]

BBC Music and The Guardian similarly reviewed the album positively, with the same "us-against-the-world" feeling of the band's second studio album, Start Something.^[29][31]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ian Watkins, all music composed by Lostprophets^[2].

Original CD[1]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bring 'Em Down"	4:09
2.	"We Bring an Arsenal"	3:26
3.	"Another Shot"	4:08
4.	"Jesus Walks"	4:35
5.	"A Song for Where I'm From"	3:52
6.	"A Little Reminder That I'll Never Forget"	4:16
7.	"Better Off Dead"	3:37
8.	"Heart on Loan"	4:08
9.	"Somedays"	3:42
10.	"Can't Get Enough" (includes hidden track, "Weapon") (4:59 on deluxe edition and US edition, without hidden track)	15:14
Total length:		51:07

Deluxe edition bonus tracks[9]
No.	Title	Length
11.	"The Dead" (Garage sessions)	3:34
12.	"Save Yourself" (Garage sessions)	3:59
13.	"If You Don't Stand for Something, You'll Fall for Anything" (Garage sessions)	4:39
14.	"Another Shot" (Demo)	2:59
15.	"Bring 'Em Down" (Russell Bloc Party remix) (includes hidden track, "Weapon") (3:43 on Japanese deluxe edition, without hidden track)	10:15
Total length:		66:18

Japanese deluxe edition bonus tracks[21][22]
No.	Title	Length
16.	"Young Pretenders"	3:25
17.	"Undefeated" (includes hidden track, "Weapon")	10:15
Total length:		73:26

Japanese deluxe edition bonus DVD[21][22]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"4:AM Forever" (music video)	4:20
2.	"For He's a Jolly Good Felon" (music video) (edit)	3:16
3.	"For He's a Jolly Good Felon" (music video) (full-length version)	7:49
Total length:		15:25

US bonus track[23][36]
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Weapon" (although "Weapon" is available on all edition Weapons as a hidden track, on the US edition it is featured as a separate track and it is not hidden.)	2:47
Total length:		43:39

US deluxe edition bonus tracks[23]
No.	Title	Length
12.	"If You Don't Stand for Something, You'll Fall for Anything" (Garage sessions)	4:39
13.	"Undefeated"	4:55
14.	"Young Pretenders"	3:25
15.	"Bring 'Em Down" (acoustic version)	3:12
16.	"We Bring an Arsenal" (acoustic version)	3:32
Total length:		62:02

Personnel

Credits for Weapons adapted from liner notes.^[2]

Lostprophets Lee Gaze – lead guitar Luke Johnson – drums, percussion Mike Lewis – rhythm guitar Jamie Oliver – piano, keyboard, samples, vocals Stuart Richardson – bass guitar, co-production, additional engineered Ian Watkins – lead vocals, art direction Additional musicians Ilan Rubin – drums, percussion (tracks: 11–13 and "Weapon") Production Ken Andrews – production, engineered, mixing, additional guitar, synth, backing vocals Justin Hopfer – co-production, additional engineered Romesh Dodabgoda – co-production, additional engineered Sean Curiel – assistant engineered Marco Ruiz – assistant engineered

Production (cont.) Rouble Kapoor – assistant engineered Liam Ross – assistant engineered Tom Manning – assistant engineered Brendan Davies – assistant engineered MH Wollman – management Aaron Rubin – A&R, marketing, production, mixing (tracks: 11–15 and "Weapon") Tom Baker – mastered Russell Lissack – production (track: 15) James Ellis – production (track: 15) Dick Beetham – mastered (tracks 11–17 and "Weapon")[37] Daniel Ross (for Ross Bennet Smith Chartered Accountants) – business management Mike Greek (for CAA) – booking Richard Hoare (for Clinton's Solicitors) – legal Dan Mandell – art direction Andrew Whitton – photography

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[38]	55
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria Top 100)[39]	76
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[40]	86
Irish Albums (IRMA)[41]	52
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[42]	22
UK Albums (Official Charts Company)[43]	9
UK Rock Chart[44]	1
U.S. Billboard 200[45]	145

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format
Europe	30 March 2012	Sony Music	CD, digital download
Australia	6 April 2012
Japan	11 April 2012
United Kingdom	2 April 2012	Epic	CD, digital download, LP
United States	19 June 2012	Fearless

References

1. "Lostprophets Weapons release date". HMV.
2. Weapons (album) (liner notes). Lostprophets. UK: Epic. 2012.
3. "Lostprophets records Weapons at Hollywood with Ken Andrews". NME. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
4. "Lostprophets announce UK and Ireland tour". Kerrang!. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
5. ""Bring 'Em Down" digital download". iTunes. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
6. "Lostprophets release new single We Bring An Arsenal and announce UK tour". Purple Revolver. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
7. "Lostprophets to release Jesus Walks as new single". HailtheHero. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
8. "Lostprophets Family Tree". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
9. "Lostprophets Weapons (Deluxe Edition)". HMV.
10. http://www.thebookmarkshop.com/latin/latindictionary2.htm
11. "Mike Lewis talks about Weapons". Dead Press.
12. ""Bring Em' Down" confirmed to be first official singe". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
13. "Lostpeophets plays "We Bring an Arsenal" for the first time at Brisbane Soundwave 25 February 2012". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
14. Lowe, Zane (6 January 2012). "Hottest Record - Lostprophets - Better Off Dead". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
15. "Lostprophets Announce Details Of New Album". Rock Sound. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
16. "Lostprophets have announced they will release their fifth studio album, 'Weapons' on April 02 through Epic". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
17. "Lostprophets announce April release of fifth album". Nme.com. 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
18. Zane Lowe. "Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record - Lostprophets - Bring 'Em Down". BBC. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
19. "Lostprophets signed with Fearless Records". Fearless Records. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
20. "United They Stand", Kerrang!, 7 October 2009, pp. 22–27
21. "Lostprophets Weapons (Japanese Deluxe Edition)". HMV Japan. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
22. "Lostprophets Weapons (Japanese Deluxe Edition)". Amazon Japan. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
23. "Lostprophets Weapons (US Deluxe Edition)". iTunes. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
24. "Lostprophets announces to headline Warped Tour UK". Warp Tour. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
25. http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/19/lostprophets-singer-ian-watkins-charged
26. "Metacritic Lostprophets". Metacritic. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
27. Monger, James. "Weapon - Lostprophets". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
28. Slessor, Dan. "Weapon - Lostprophets". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
29. Winwood, Ian (2012-03-28). "Review of Lostprophets - Weapons". BBC Online. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
30. Sullivan, Caroline (2012-03-29). "Lostprophets: Weapons – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
31. Inglis, Greg (2012-04-02). "Lostprophets: Weapons – review from DIY". DIY. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
32. "Lostprophets's Weapons: what the papers say". BBC Wales. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
33. Green, Laurence (2012-04-02). "Lostprophets - Weapons". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
34. Murry, Kelly (2012-03-30). "Lostprophets: Weapons – review". NME. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
35. Knott, Adam (2012-04-08). "Lostprophets - Weapons". Retrieved 2012-05-16.
36. "Lostprophets Weapons (US CD)". Best Buy. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
37. Weapons (JPalbum) (liner notes). Lostprophets. Japan: Epic. 2012.
38. "Australiancharts.com – Lostprophets – Weapons". Hung Medien.
39. austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40 - Hitparade Österreich
40. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
41. "Chart Irish Lostprophets". Irish cahrts. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
42. "{{{title}}}". Oricon. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
43. "Chart stats Lostprophets". Chart stats. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
44. "BBC - Radio 1 Official Rock Charts". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
45. Billboard. August 7, 2013 http://www.billboard.com/artist/308235/lostprophets/chart?f=305. Retrieved August 7, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Weapons at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)