We Are the Romans
| We Are the Romans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Botch | ||||
| Released | November 1999[1] | |||
| Recorded | June 29 – July 8, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Mathcore, metalcore | |||
| Length | 52:35 | |||
| Label | Hydra Head (HH666-41) | |||
| Producer | Matt Bayles, Botch | |||
| Botch chronology | ||||
| ||||
We Are the Romans is the second and final studio album by American metalcore band Botch. It was originally released in November 1999 through Hydra Head Records,[1] and a remastered two disc edition was later released on September 11, 2007.[2] A Hydra Head repressing of the vinyl was released on October 25, 2011.[3] The repress sold out on pre-order in under 20 minutes.[4]
"C. Thomas Howell as the 'Soul Man'" has been described by the band as satirizing Racetraitor and "other bands with these very lofty political ideals that seemed like more a marketing tool for the genre of political hardcore rather than a sincere agenda" (Brian Cook).[5] Bassist Brian Cook, who determined many of the song titles, credits J. G. Ballard's book The Atrocity Exhibition as inspiring themes of "the human body as a landscape, and the way that culture and environment sort of dictates the human body and vice versa."[5]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Drowned in Sound | 10/10[7] |
| Exclaim! | favorable[8] |
| Punknews.org | [9] |
| Stylus Magazine | B+[10] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.5/5[11] |
The album achieved critical acclaim upon release and would become an influential work of music on the mathcore and metalcore movements.
Track listing
All songs written and arranged by Botch.[12]
- "To Our Friends in the Great White North" – 5:10
- "Mondrian Was a Liar" – 2:41
- "Transitions from Persona to Object" – 6:04
- "Swimming the Channel Vs. Driving the Chunnel" – 4:30
- "C. Thomas Howell as the 'Soul Man'" – 4:44
- "Saint Matthew Returns to the Womb" – 3:04
- "Frequency Ass Bandit" – 4:26
- "I Wanna Be a Sex Symbol on My Own Terms" – 3:35
- "Man the Ramparts" – 10:50
- "Thank God for Worker Bees (Remix)" (hidden track) – 7:27
Remaster bonus disc
| No. | Song title (working titles in italics)[12] | Notes[12] | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Our Friends in the Great White North" (demo) "Canada Song" or "Tasting Like a Hot Lunch in Amsterdam" |
We Are the Romans demos Recorded live on Digital Audio Tape by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho May 31, 1999 |
5:17 |
| 2. | "I Wanna Be a Sex Symbol on My Own Terms" (demo) "Latin Song" |
3:41 | |
| 3. | "Transitions from Persona to Object" (demo) "Circus Song" or "Saturn Aligned with Mars" |
6:34 | |
| 4. | "Mondrian Was a Liar" (demo) "Bam Bam and Other Assorted Onamonapeia" |
3:02 | |
| 5. | "Saint Matthew Returns to the Womb" (demo) "F.I.M.D (Top Secret! Don't Ask!)" |
3:21 | |
| 6. | "C. Thomas Howell as the 'Soul Man'" (demo) "C. Thomas Howell as the 'Soul Man'" |
4:25 | |
| 7. | "Man the Ramparts" (demo) "Man the Ramparts for There Are Fair Maidens Aplenty" |
6:33 | |
| 8. | "Saint Matthew Returns To The Womb" (live) | Live in Seattle April 21, 2001 at Graceland |
4:20 |
| 9. | "Vietmam" (live) | 3:13 | |
| 10. | "Transitions from Persona to Object" (live) | Live in France November 11, 1999 |
6:01 |
| 11. | "Hutton's Great Heat Engine" (live) | 6:19 | |
Credits
Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[12]
Personnel
Botch
- Dave Verellen – vocals
- Dave Knudson – guitar
- Brian Cook – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tim Latona – drums
Additional musicians
- Sylvia Hehl – vocals on "Man the Ramparts"
- Logic Probe – manipulation, arrangemant of "Thank God for Worker Bees"
- DuROC
- Colossus
Production
- Botch – production
- Matt Bayles – production, recording, mixing
- Ed Brooks – remastering
- Jeff Rigourd – live recording of "Vietmam" and "Hutton's Great Heat Engine"
Visual art
- Carrie Whitney – photography
- Jason Hellmann – photography (live)
- Dave Knudson – art direction, design
- John Pettibone – lights
Locations
Studios
- Studio Litho – recording (May 31, 1999 (demos), June 29 – July 8, 1999)
- Avast – mixing (July 11–15, 1999)
- RFI Mastering – remastering (June 5, 2007)
Venues
- Graceland, Seattle, WA, USA – live recording of "Saint Matthew Returns to the Womb" and "Transitions from Persona to Object"
- unknown venue, Rennes, France – live recording of "Vietmam" and "Hutton's Great Heat Engine"
References
- 1 2 Simons, Stephanie (October 29, 1999). "Preview: Lakewood's Botch band will help close Rkcndy all-ages club". The News Tribune. Tacoma: The McClatchy Company. p. SL19. ISSN 1073-5860.
- ↑ "Botch - We Are The Romans [Deluxe]". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ↑ "BOTCH - We Are the Romans 2xLP repress". Hydra Head Records. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ↑ "BOTCH - We Are the Romans 2xLP SOLD OUT". Hydra Head Records. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- 1 2 J. Bennett, "Fallen Empire", Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces, Albert Mudrian, ed., Da Capo Press, p. 322.
- ↑ York, William. We Are the Romans - Botch at AllMusic
- ↑ Diver, Mike (April 1, 2005). "Album Review: Botch - We Are The Romans". drownedinsound.com. Drowned in Sound. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ↑ Sutherland, Sam (September 19, 2007). "Botch We Are The Romans: Deluxe Edition". exclaim.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ↑ Shultz, Brian (September 28, 2007). "Botch - We Are the Romans [reissue]". www.punknews.org. Punknews.org. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ↑ Charity, Al (September 1, 2003). "Botch - We Are The Romans - Review". www.stylusmagazine.com. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ↑ Flatley, Ryan (March 21, 2007). "Botch - We Are the Romans (album review 5)". www.sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 We Are the Romans [Remaster] (CD booklet). Botch. Hydra Head Records. 2007. HH666–141.