Back to Oblivion

Back to Oblivion
Studio album by Finch
Released September 30, 2014
Genre Alternative rock, post-hardcore
Length 46:42
Label Razor & Tie
Producer Brian Virtue
Finch chronology

What It Is to Burn X Live
(2014)		 Back to Oblivion
(2014)
Singles from Back to Oblivion
  1. "Two Guns to the Temple"
    Released: August 18, 2014[1]
  2. "Anywhere But Here"
    Released: September 2, 2014[2]

Back to Oblivion is the third studio album by American post-hardcore band Finch, released on September 30, 2014. It is the band's first full-length effort since Say Hello to Sunshine in 2005. After breaking up in 2006, reuniting in 2008, and breaking up again in 2010, Finch regrouped in 2012 and signed with Razor & Tie in 2014.[3] "Two Guns to the Temple" was the first song released for the album on August 11, 2014. Brian Virtue (Deftones, 30 Seconds to Mars) was brought in to produce the record.[4] This is their first full-length album to feature bassist Daniel Wonacott, who first joined Finch when they reunited in 2007. Additionally, it is the band's first studio album with original drummer Alex Pappas since their 2002 debut, What It Is to Burn.

Background

After ending its hiatus that lasted from 2006 to 2007, Finch released a self-titled EP in 2008 and announced it would begin work on a full-length follow up to its second studio album, Say Hello to Sunshine, shortly after. However, after two years of infrequent updates, Finch announced in December 2010 that the band had officially broken up and work on its third studio album had dissolved. From its break-up announcement, Finch explained their reasons for ending the band: "Over the past few years we have collectively gone insane trying to achieve the common goal of writing our new record. It's become obvious to all of us that the thing that made Finch such a special band to be in, was also the key ingredient that was tearing us apart. As we get older and broaden our musical pallets, we are all on separate planets drifting further and further out of orbit."[5] The only two songs from these recording sessions that were officially released — "Hail to the Fire" and "World of Violence" — were available on what was then said to be the band's final release, Epilogue in 2010.[5]

In 2012, Finch's former band manager Andy Harris asked the band if they would be interested in reuniting and only doing two shows in celebration of the 10th-anniversary of the band's 2002 debut album, What It Is to Burn.[6][7] Harris got the idea from his wife, who was the manager for New Found Glory and arranged some 10th-anniversary shows for their 2002 album, Sticks and Stones.[8] The lineup for these shows featured long-time members Nate Barcalow, Randy Strohmeyer and Alex Linares, in addition to founding member Alex Pappas, who left before the recording of Say Hello to Sunshine, and Daniel Wonacott, who participated in Finch's previous reunion and performed on its self-titled EP.[8] Interest in these anniversary shows grew rapidly, and what started out as only two shows evolved into a multi-leg international tour in support of What It Is to Burn throughout 2013. While on the anniversary tour, Finch started to write new songs, though at the time, it wasn't clear if the band would ever release these songs.[6][7]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 67/100[9]
Review scores
Source Rating
Drowned in Sound [10]
Revolver [11]
Sputnikmusic [12]
Bring the Noise [13]
Soundsphere [14]
Ultimate Guitar [15]

Release and promotion

Back to Oblivion was released on September 30, 2014 through Razor & Tie in North America[16] and on September 29 through Spinefarm Records in Europe.[6] The album is Finch's first through these labels, and the band commented on its partnership with Razor & Tie prior to the album's release, stating: "We're excited about our partnership with Razor & Tie and can't wait to get our new record out this year. Razor & Tie pursued us from the beginning of our anniversary shows last year and has shown a lot of faith in the band, we're making what we feel is a powerful and meaningful record and we couldn't be happier about all the support Razor & Tie have given to us."[17]

Finch released a teaser video for Back to Oblivion featuring a song clip and visually showed a digitally distorted picture of the album's cover art, a promotional photo of the band and a close-up of a human eye.[17] The first official song released from the album, "Two Guns to the Temple", was made available for online streaming on August 11 and released as a digital single in some markets shortly after.[1][16] This was followed by the single "Anywhere but Here", which was made available for online streaming on September 1, and vocalist Nate Barcalow described as: "simply a song about escaping in a world that is on the verge of collapse."[18]

On April 7, 2015, Finch released a video for "Play Dead", which was directed by bassist Daniel Wonacott.[19]

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Back to Oblivion"   3:23
2. "Anywhere But Here"   3:09
3. "Further from the Few"   3:31
4. "Murder Me"   3:11
5. "Picasso Trigger"   3:38
6. "Play Dead"   5:21
7. "Two Guns to the Temple"   2:53
8. "The Great Divide"   3:07
9. "Us vs. Them"   3:57
10. "Tarot"   4:56
11. "Inferium"   5:28
12. "New Wave"   4:08

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Two Guns To the Temple – Finch – Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Anywhere But Here – Finch". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/finch_sign_to_razor_tie_to_release_new_single_next_month
  4. ↑ http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/finch_two_guns_to_the_temple_song_premiere
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kraus, Brian (December 17, 2010). "Finch break up". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sayce, Rob (August 14, 2014). "Finch's Nate Barcalow: 'We Were Out Of Touch With Ourselves, With Our Genre, With The Scene'". Rock Sound. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Richman, Jesse (January 31, 2014). "'There's less ego, less drama' – 'What It Is To Burn X' and the future of Finch". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Vallejo, Carolyn (March 2013). "Ten Years On: Finch". Alter the Press. Spin Media. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Back To Oblivion - Finch". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Aidan (29 September 2014). "Finch: Back to Oblivion". Drowned In Sound. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Finch — Back to Oblivion". Revolver. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Mark (30 September 2014). "Finch (US): Back to Oblivion". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Ashbridge, Sarah (25 September 2014). "Finch – Back To Oblivion". Bring The Noise. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Fortunato, Francesca (29 August 2014). "Album Review: Finch – ‘Back To Oblivion’". Soundsphere. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Mendez, Sam (3 October 2014). "Back To Oblivion Review". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Crane, Matt (August 11, 2014). "Finch, 'Two Guns To The Temple' song premiere". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Kraus, Brian (August 4, 2014). "Finch release teaser for comeback album". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  18. ↑ O'Neil, Luke (September 1, 2014). "Premiere: Finch Return to Melodic, Screamy Form On 'Anywhere But Here'". Bullett Media. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  19. ↑ WATCH: Finch Share "Play Dead" Video
  20. ↑ http://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Finch_000000000305232/item_Back-To-Oblivion-忘却の彼方へ、再び。_5915566