Apocalyptic Love

Apocalyptic Love
Studio album by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Released May 22, 2012
Recorded October 8, 2011–February 6, 2012 at Barefoot Recording Studio
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 54:20
Label Dik Hayd International
Producer Eric Valentine
Slash chronology

Made in Stoke 24/7/11
(2011)		 Apocalyptic Love
(2012)		 World on Fire
(2014)
Myles Kennedy chronology
Live at Wembley
(2012)		 Apocalyptic Love
(2012)		 Fortress
(2013)
Singles from Apocalyptic Love
  1. "You're a Lie"
    Released: February 28, 2012
  2. "Standing in the Sun"
    Released: June 2012
  3. "Bad Rain"
    Released: September 26, 2012
  4. "Anastasia"
    Released: January 22, 2013

Apocalyptic Love is the second studio album by guitarist Slash. The album features Slash's band, consisting of vocalist Myles Kennedy, bassist Todd Kerns, and drummer Brent Fitz (collectively referred to as Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators). Produced by Eric Valentine, it was released on May 22, 2012.[1]

History and recording

During his first solo world tour, Slash announced his second studio album. Unlike his self-titled debut solo album, which featured a variety of singers including Chris Cornell, Ozzy Osbourne, M. Shadows, and Kid Rock, he said his second album would feature Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy as the sole singer. Kennedy had previously appeared on two songs from Slash's first album, and was later the vocalist of Slash's band on tour.[2] Slash later said that his second album would be more of a collaboration album with Kennedy, and said he was unsure whether it would be released under his own name or a new name entirely.[3]

Slash began working on his second solo album in June 2011,[4] and that December, three songs — "Halo," "Standing in the Sun" and "Bad Rain" — had been recorded. Slash described the new material as "very heavy."[5] The album was finished in February 2012 and was given a May 22, 2012, release date.[6] The first single, "You're a Lie," was released to rock radio on February 27, 2012; a 30-second preview of the song was released online with this announcement.[7] Slash released the track listing for the album on March 5, 2012.[8] Kennedy, who wrote the lyrics, has said that some of the lyrics on the album are about his past experiences with being addicted to drugs.[9]

On March 26, 30 second samples from "Apocalyptic Love" were made available on Amazon.com.[10] It is an "internet rumor" according to Slash[11] that the lead intro riff for "Anastasia" takes inspiration from Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, which Slash interpolates live in his version of "Speak Softly Love".

Reception

Critical reception

The album received a mixed to positive reception from critics. On Metacritic, it has a score of 62 out of 100, based on 13 reviews.[12] The album is noted for its stripped down hard rock sound, making minimal use of artificial studio effects.

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 62/100[12]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [13]
Artistdirect [14]
stereoboard.com positive[15]
Revolver [16]
FT.com
Melodic.net [17]
Metal Hammer
Classic Rock
Kerrang

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 7,500 copies. The number one album for the week was John Mayer's Born and Raised, with 17,800 copies.[18]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Myles Kennedy, all music composed by Slash and Myles Kennedy.

No. Title Length
1. "Apocalyptic Love"   3:28
2. "One Last Thrill"   3:09
3. "Standing in the Sun"   4:03
4. "You're a Lie"   3:50
5. "No More Heroes" (Slash, Kennedy, Eric Valentine) 4:23
6. "Halo"   3:22
7. "We Will Roam"   4:49
8. "Anastasia"   6:07
9. "Not for Me"   5:21
10. "Bad Rain"   3:46
11. "Hard & Fast"   3:02
12. "Far and Away"   5:14
13. "Shots Fired"   3:48
Total length:
 54:20

Primary musicians
Production personnel[20]

Miscellaneous

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[22] 2
Austrian Top 75 Albums[22] 3
Belgian Ultratop (Flanders)[22] 13
Belgian Ultratop (Wallonia)[22] 21
Canadian Albums Chart[23] 2
Danish Albums Chart[22] 9
Dutch Albums Chart[22] 7
Finnish Albums Chart[22] 3
French Albums Chart[22] 9
German Albums Chart[22] 5
Hungarian Albums Chart[24] 3
Italian Albums Chart[22] 3
Iceland Albums Chart[25] 5
Japanese Albums Chart[26] 13
New Zealand Albums Chart[22] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[22] 13
Polish Albums Chart[27] 5
Russian Albums Chart[28] 16
Spanish Albums Chart[22] 17
Swedish Albums Chart[22] 4
Swiss Albums Chart[22] 3
UK Albums Chart[29] 12
U.S. Billboard 200[30] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[31] 92

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Poland (ZPAV)[32] Gold 10,000*
Australia (ARIA)[33] Gold 35,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Steve Baltin (February 15, 2012). "Slash Talks New Album, Explains Why He's a 'Band Guy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  2. ↑ "SLASH's Next Album To Feature MYLES KENNEDY Handling All Vocals". Blabbermouth.net. November 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010.
  3. ↑ Joe Bosso. "Interview: Slash talks Ozzy tour, Velvet Revolver and next solo album". MusicRadar.
  4. ↑ "New Slash Album Slated For March/April". Ultimate Guitar Archive. May 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ "SLASH: More Details Of New Solo-Album Recording Sessions Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. November 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ Bryan Wawzenek (February 7, 2012). "Slash’s New Album Due May 22". Gibson Guitars.
  7. ↑ "Slash Previews New Song ‘You’re a Lie’". Loudwire.com. February 23, 2012.
  8. ↑ "SLASH: 'Apocalyptic Love' Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. March 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ "November 23, 2011". Contactmusic.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Video on YouTube
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Apocalyptic Love - Slash". Metacritic. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  13. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Apocalyptic Love - Slash - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Slash "Apocalyptic Love" Review — 5 out of 5 stars". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Heather McDaid. "Slash - Apocalyptic Love (Album Review)". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Review: Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators – Apocalyptic Love". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Melodic Net - Slash - Apocalyptic Love". Melodic.net. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  18. ↑ Canoe inc. "Mayer clobbers Lambert on charts". canoe.ca. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Apocalyptic Love (Deluxe) [feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators]". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  20. ↑ "Apocalyptic Love - Slash - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Apocalyptic Love on SlashParadise". www.slashparadise.com. November 10, 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.8 22.9 22.10 22.11 22.12 22.13 22.14
  23. ↑ "Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége". mahasz.hu. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  25. ↑ "German Music: Top German Albums Chart - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "スラッシュのCDアルバムランキング、スラッシュのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  27. ↑ "OLiS: sales for the period 21.05.2012 - 27.05.2012". OLiS.
  28. ↑ "Статьи: Lenta.ru: Культура: Бабушкин реванш". Lenta.ru. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  29. ↑
  30. ↑ "Slash - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  31. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012". ARIA. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  32. ↑ "Polish album certifications – Slash – Apocalyptic Love" (in Polish). Polish Producers of Audio and Video (ZPAV).
  33. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.

External links