''X'' is the eleventh studio album by American
metal
A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...
band
Nonpoint
Nonpoint is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band currently consists of vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, rhythm guitarist Rasheed Thomas, bassist Adam Woloszyn, and lead guitarist Ja ...
.
It was released on August 24, 2018. It was produced by Fred Archambault, and released through
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records is an international record label. Founded in Finland in 1990, Spinefarm was acquired by Universal Music Group in 2002.
History
Spinefarm Records began as a mailorder distribution company, founded by Riku Pääkkönen. The c ...
. It was the last to feature lead guitarist
BC Kochmit, who left Nonpoint in 2019.
Background
Prior to recording'' X'', the ensemble took a one-year hiatus from music.
In June 2018, the band published "Chaos and Earthquakes" as well as "Dodge Your Destiny". The video for "Chaos and Earthquakes" was shown in early August 2018, followed by a United States tour with
He Is Legend
He Is Legend is an American alternative metal band from Wilmington, North Carolina. It was founded in 2003 by high school friends. The band's current lineup is frontman Schuylar Croom, guitarist Adam Tanbouz, bassist Matty Williams, and drummer ...
and
Letters from the Fire to promote the album.
Critical reception
Regarding lead song "Empty Batteries", Ray Van Horn of
Blabbermouth.net
''Blabbermouth.net'' is a website dedicated to metal and rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. It is run by the website's founder Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was launched in March 2001. In October 2001, the rec ...
states, "Though the track offers little new other than the usual melodic proto core NONPOINT have long served to its fans, there's urgency to the strumming and the song's dense projection. Even the breakdown flexes with a pump instead of merely bridging."
Joe DiVita of
Loudwire
''Loudwire'' is an American online media magazine that covers news of hard rock and heavy metal artists. It is owned by media and entertainment business Townsquare Media. Since its launch in August 2011, ''Loudwire'' has secured exclusive i ...
states that '"Dodge Your Destiny" leans further into the rock direction than the more rap-addled "Chaos and Earthquakes", though both songs are guitar-centric. The former hinges on clobbering chugs and quick-strike drum fills while the former moves freely against a steady beat and circular guitar melodies.'
Jedd Beaudoin of Popmatters describes "Chaos and Earthquakes" as "a state of the personal union, a call to perseverance despite knowing that you stand on the precipice of utter destruction".
Trent Cornell of Overdrive Music Magazine went on to say that '"Fix This" is more ballad-like compared to what we've heard thus far, building from a hushed, clean verse towards one of the band's catchiest choruses yet'.
Track listing
Personnel
Nonpoint
* Elias Soriano – lead vocals
*
BC Kochmit – lead guitar, backing vocals, piano
* Rasheed Thomas – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Adam Woloszyn – bass
* Robb Rivera – drums, percussion
Technical personnel
* Fred Archambault – production, mixing, engineering, programming
* Rob Ruccia – engineering, mixing (13), assistant engineering, programming
* Rasheed Thomas – engineering (1-12), assistant engineering
* BC Kochmit – programming
*
Howie Weinberg
Howie Weinberg is an American audio mastering engineer. Over the course of his career, he has received over 2,257 mastering credits, three TEC Awards, 21 Grammy Awards, two Juno Awards, and one Mercury Prize.
Career
Weinberg mastered Herbie Ha ...
– mastering
Chart positions
*
US Digital albums – No.13
*
US Hard Rock – No.17
*
Top Album Sales
The Top Album Sales is a music chart released weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine listing each week's top-selling albums in the United States. The chart has been published since December 13, 2014, although the magazine also retrospectively recognize ...
– No.28
Singles
References
{{Authority control
Nonpoint albums
2018 albums
Spinefarm Records albums