Astral Rejection

Astral Rejection
Studio album by I Set My Friends On Fire
Released	June 21, 2011
Genre	Post-hardcore, electronicore, electronica, experimental, mathcore, metalcore
Length	35:01
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Travis Richter
I Set My Friends On Fire chronology
You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter (2008) Astral Rejection (2011) Caterpillar Sex (2014)
Singles from Astral Rejection
"Excite Dyke" Released: June 15, 2010 "It Comes Naturally" Released: March 21, 2011 "Life Hertz" Released: May 24, 2011 "Astral Rejection" Released: June 13, 2011

Astral Rejection is the second album by American experimental band I Set My Friends On Fire. The album's original release date was June 22, 2010 but due to an altercation with the album artwork and Nabil Moo leaving the band, it was postponed. The first single to be released from the album was a demo called "Excite Dyke", which was released on June 15, 2010.^[1] The second single, "It Comes Naturally" was released on March 21, 2011.^[2] On June 24, 2011 the third single, "Life Hertz" was released on PureVolume. On June 13, 2011 a music video for their fourth single called "Astral Rejection"^[3] was released on YouTube.^[4]

On June 16, 2011 the band began streaming the entire album on their Facebook page.^[5] The album was released in stores on June 21, 2011.^[6] The song "Fast To The End" by Thursday was included as a bonus track on some release versions of Astral Rejection. The song is given the title "TEST" on the album.

Tracklisting

Touring

To support the new album, ISMFOF played the fourth annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation Tour with Of Mice and Men. The band has played several new songs, including "Excite Dyke",^[7] "Erectangles"^[8] and "Narcissismfof".^[9] The band played Warped Tour 2011, and opened for A Skylit Drive on their Identity on Fire tour in Europe in September. A Dance Gavin Dance tour was planned for November with ISMFOF as the opening act, but was cancelled.

Reception

Astral Rejection met with mixed to negative reviews. Critic Phil Freeman of the Alternative Press gave the album 1 star out of 5, stating, "The music is as annoying as ever, mixing the worst qualities of Brokencyde, I See Stars and Agoraphobic Nosebleed into one swirling blend of cheesy rave synths, ultra-affected 'extreme' vocals, talentless guitar mangling, ultra-primitive drum programming and song titles that probably seemed funny at the time (“My Paralyzed Brother Taps His Foot To This Beat,” “Life Hertz,” “Erectangles”). It’s hard to decide which is the album’s worst quality—Mehana’s scratchy-throated “extreme” vocals or his lame, off-key attempts to sing cleanly." ^[10]

Critic Rob Sleigh of Stereoboard.com was more positive, giving the album a 6 out of 10 rating, stating, "I Set My Friends on Fire may remind of fellow Floridian metalcore band A Day To Remember, although the synth-pop technique that they frequently employ occasionally reeks with the scent of Owl City... The combination of pop music and hardcore was always a bit of a hard sell to begin with, but I Set My Friends on Fire seem to have taken this to the next level."^[11]

Despite negative critical reception, Astral Rejection peaked at #9 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart.

Personnel

• Astral Rejection album personnel as listed on Allmusic.^[12]

References