Cruel Melody

Cruel Melody
Studio album by Black Light Burns
Released	June 5, 2007
Recorded	2005-2006
Genre	Industrial rock, alternative metal, experimental rock
Length	62:33
Label	I AM: WOLFPACK
Producer	Danny Lohner
Black Light Burns chronology
Cruel Melody (2007) Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey (2008)

Cruel Melody is the debut album of American rock band Black Light Burns, released on June 5, 2007, through Ross Robinson's label I AM: WOLFPACK. The album is an outcome of frontman Wes Borland's efforts after his departure from Limp Bizkit in 2001, after which he took part in many projects such as Eat the Day and The Damning Well. After receiving additional inputs from then members Danny Lohner, Josh Freese and Josh Eustis, Cruel Melody was released in the spring of 2007 to critical acclaim.

Background

Wes Borland began writing in early 2004 a solo album of mainly melodic and esoteric material after he disbanded his projects such as Big Dumb Face, Eat the Day and The Damning Well but slightly before he rejoined Limp Bizkit in mid-2004. During this time Borland was offered the touring guitarist spot in Nine Inch Nails, and frontman Trent Reznor offered his opinions on the material as it was at the time. He encouraged Borland to "not sing like someone was asleep in the next room" and make it a heavier affair, while coincidentally Borland was changing the material slowly more into that. While the songs were written by Borland, he did have additional input from producer Danny Lohner, drummer Josh Freese (both ex-members of The Damning Well) and the keyboards and additional engineering were assisted by Josh Eustis.

The song "I Have a Need" was instrumentally written to be included on the Limp Bizkit release The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), but was cut in order for the EP to remain mostly metal oriented. It features Limp Bizkit's bassist Sam Rivers^[1] on the track, and Borland was allowed to use the song for Black Light Burns when the song was turned down for use by Limp Bizkit.

Release and promotion

Cruel Melody was released on June 5, 2007, selling 6,000 copies in its first week in the US according to Indiehq.com.^[2]

The song "Lie" served as the first single from the album, going to radio on March 20. A music video was released soon after this. The tracks "4 Walls" and "Animal" are used in Season 2 of TV series Burn Notice. The track "Stop a Bullet" is used in the launch trailer for the videogame Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. The track "Coward" is used in the film Underworld during the scene where Michael begins to change into a Lycan in the back of a cop car. It was not, however, featured on the film's official soundtrack.

On July 13, 2007 Black Light Burns was featured on the late night talk show Last Call with Carson Daly where they performed "Lie."^[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
Sputnikmusic	3.5/5[5]

Allmusic writer Greg Prato wrote, "For many, Borland was the only Limp Bizkit member who was taken seriously. As evidenced by Cruel Melody, he is now officially allowed to follow whichever musical path he so desires."^[6]

Sputnikmusic gave the album a score of 3.5/5, adding, "Wes Borland and friends deliver an unrestrained, and exposed album of electronica, industrial and hard rock fusion."

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Wes Borland.

1. "Mesopotamia" - 4:27
2. "Animal" - 4:08
3. "Lie" - 4:19
4. "Coward" (featuring Sonny Moore) - 4:36
5. "Cruel Melody" (featuring Carina Round) - 5:00
6. "The Mark" - 3:13
7. "I Have a Need" (featuring Sam Rivers) - 4:24
8. "4 Walls" - 3:51
9. "Stop a Bullet" - 3:37
10. "One of Yours" - 4:51
11. "New Hunger" - 5:24
12. "I Am Where It Takes Me" (featuring Johnette Napolitano) - 6:09
13. "Iodine Sky" - 8:30

Bonus tracks

• "Kill the Queen" (Best Buy bonus track) - 4:56
• "Fall Below" (iTunes bonus track) - 4:16
• "Lie" (Daniel from Idiot Pilot Remix) - 4:14

European bonus tracks

• "Mesopotamia" (Assyrian Mix) - 5:45
• "Lie" (Seth Vogt Mix) - 6:27

Personnel

• Wes Borland - vocals, guitars, bass, programming, percussion, synths, piano, rhodes, violin, cello, drums on "I Am Where It Takes Me", mixing on "Iodine Sky"
• Danny Lohner - additional guitar on "I Have a Need" and "Coward", additional bass on "Coward" and "Lie", producer, programming, sound design
• Josh Eustis - synths, sound design, Engineering
• Josh Freese - drums, live percussion
• Sam Rivers - bass on "I Have a Need"
• Charlie Clouser - additional programming on "Lie"
• Tom Lord-Alge - mixing on all songs except "Mesopotamia" and "Iodine Sky"
• Femio Hernandaz - co-mixing on all songs except "Mesopotamia" and "Iodine Sky"
• Critter - engineering
• Ross Robinson - mixing on "Mesopotamia"
• Ryan Boesch - co-mixing on "Mesopotamia"

String section

String instruments on "New Hunger" and "I Am Where It Takes me"

• Eric Gorfain - violin
• Daphne Chen - violin
• Lea Katz - viola
• Richard Dodd - cello
• John Krovoza - cello
• Matt Cooker - cello

Charts

References