''To Those Left Behind'' is the fifth studio album by American
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
band
Blessthefall
Blessthefall (stylized as blessthefall or BLESSTHEFALL prior to 2013) is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, signed to Rise Records.
The band was founded in 2004 by guitarist Mike Frisby, drummer Matt Traynor, and bassist and vo ...
. The album was released on September 18, 2015, through
Fearless Records
Fearless Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1994. Fearless is based in Culver City, California, and is best known for its early pop punk moments captured in the ''Fearless Flush Sampler'' and ''Punk Bites'' releas ...
and was produced by
Joey Sturgis
Joey Sturgis (born January 3, 1985) is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Sturgis started recording in 2004 including producing the Asking Alexandria single "The Final Episode" whic ...
. It is their last album to be released on this label before the band signed to
Rise Records
Rise Records is an American record label currently based in Beaverton, Oregon, mainly focusing on alternative rock, heavy metal, and punk rock music artists.
History
Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Nevada City, California. He relea ...
in 2018. The first single, "Up in Flames" was released on July 9, 2015, while the band was on
Vans Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring rock music festival that toured the United States and Canada each summer from 1995 until 2019, and returned in 2025 for its 30th anniversary. By 2015, Warped was the largest traveling music festival in the United S ...
2015.
Background
The band announced in April that they had entered the studio to work with
Joey Sturgis
Joey Sturgis (born January 3, 1985) is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Sturgis started recording in 2004 including producing the Asking Alexandria single "The Final Episode" whic ...
for their fifth album. In June, while on Warped Tour 2015, they gave a September 18 release date through
Fearless Records
Fearless Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1994. Fearless is based in Culver City, California, and is best known for its early pop punk moments captured in the ''Fearless Flush Sampler'' and ''Punk Bites'' releas ...
. Of the album, frontman
Beau Bokan
Beau Mark Bokan (born November 30, 1981) is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the metalcore band Blessthefall and the former vocalist of Take the Crown.
Background
In September 2008, Bokan joined Blessthefall as the vocalist to ...
said, "As a band we are constantly trying to outdo ourselves and take a step forward with each record. With this new album we've taken a giant fucking leap forward and are at our absolute best as musicians and song writers. We're looking forward to seeing where this album will take us." It was announced that if you buy the album from the Merchnow site you will receive a bonus track of the acoustic version of "Condition // Comatose" along with the album.
Critical reception
The album has been met with positive reviews. Critics gave praise for the album's technical aspects, but noted how the album was predictable and nothing new. In a review for
Alternative Press Alternative press may refer to:
Individual publications
* ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine
Alternative journalism
* Alternative media
** Alternative media (U.S. political left)
** Alternative media (U.S. political r ...
Tyler Davidson writes, "...blessthefall know exactly how to double down on each of those elements, crystallizing the dichotomy in a way that simultaneously serves the genre while still feeling new enough to make a lasting impression." In a more mixed review, Taylor Weston for HM Magazine wrote, "Kudos to them for making sure this latest release didn't enter into the rut of metalcore. It's not a life-changing release, but it's a steady progression of bettering their work that has them around more than a decade after they started." A more favorable review from ''
Outburn
''Outburn'' is a print magazine and online publication focusing on alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, indie rock, and other genres. It presents news on bands, music releases, and events, in-depth interviews, high-quality studio and live p ...
'', Nathaniel Lay stated, "This is a prime example of metalcore".
The album was included at number 39 on ''Rock Sound''s top 50 releases of 2015 list.
Track listing
Personnel
Blessthefall
*
Beau Bokan
Beau Mark Bokan (born November 30, 1981) is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the metalcore band Blessthefall and the former vocalist of Take the Crown.
Background
In September 2008, Bokan joined Blessthefall as the vocalist to ...
– clean vocals, keyboards
* Jared Warth –
unclean vocals
Vocalists are capable of producing a variety of extended technique sounds. These alternative singing techniques have been used extensively in the 20th century, especially in art song and opera. Particularly famous examples of extended vocal techniq ...
, bass, keyboards
* Eric Lambert – lead guitar,
backing vocals
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
* Elliott Gruenberg – rhythm guitar, additional unclean vocals on track 2
*
Matt Traynor
Matthew James Traynor is an American musician that primarily performs metalcore, and best known for being the former drummer of the metalcore band Blessthefall from its formation in 2004 until his departure in 2018. He is originally from Massape ...
– drums, percussion
Production
*
Joey Sturgis
Joey Sturgis (born January 3, 1985) is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Sturgis started recording in 2004 including producing the Asking Alexandria single "The Final Episode" whic ...
– producer, engineer, mastering, vocal editing, vocal engineer
* Nick Matzkows – editing, engineer, vocal editing, vocal engineer, background vocals
*
Erik Ron
Erik Ron (born July 4, 1985) is an American producer, mixer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles. He has worked with artists such as Panic! at the Disco, Set It Off, Issues, New Years Day, Too Close to Touch, I the Mighty, Motionless In W ...
– vocal editing, vocal engineer, vocal producer
*
Joel Wanasek – mixing assistant
* Josh Parpowicz – assistant
* Anthony Reeder – engineer
* Florian Mihr – art direction, layout
* Karl Pfeiffer – photography
Additional musicians
Background vocals –
* Josh Buckner
* Matt Chambers
* Chris Koo
* Alex Kuzmanovic
* Kristin Leanne
* Michael Martenson
* Jacob Matzkows
* Randy McClaughry
* Mark Peromm
Charts
References
Citations
Sources
*
{{Authority control
2015 albums
Blessthefall albums
Fearless Records albums
Albums produced by Joey Sturgis