Coward (Haste the Day album)

Coward is the sixth studio album from Haste the Day. Solid State Records released the album on May 18, 2015. The album was released following the band's successful funding campaign via the crowdfunding website IndieGoGo, to which fans contributed more than twice the band's original goal. Coward is unique in that it features contributions from every member throughout the band's career, and is the first studio album to feature original vocalist Jimmy Ryan since the band's 2005 release When Everything Falls.

Coward
Studio album by Haste the Day
Released	May 18, 2015
Studio	Dirty Denim Studio, Nashville, Tennessee Threshold Studios, Indianapolis, Indiana
Genre	Metalcore, Christian metal, hard rock
Length	41:31
Label	Solid State
Producer	Stephen Keech
Haste the Day chronology
Attack of the Wolf King (2010) Coward (2015)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Alternative Press	[1]
HM Magazine	[2]
Indie Vision Music	[3]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[4]
Jesus Wired	[5]
New Noise Magazine	[6]

Awarding the album three and a half stars from Alternative Press, Tyler Sharp writes, "Coward tends to lack an overall sense of cohesion, creating a slight disconnect for the listener, yet doesn’t hold the band back from creating arguably some of their most profound material to date, in bouts of progressive, titan metalcore."[1] Timothy Estabrooks, giving the album three and a half stars for Jesus Freak Hideout, writes, "Unfortunately, the results are as mixed as the band itself ... Foundationally, Coward is as solid as you would expect from a veteran band."[4] Indicating in a four star review by HM Magazine, Taylor Boyce says, "It's as aggressive as any of their previous releases, and their keen ability to craft well-written songs with an ear for the listener solidifies this release...and the band...as true marks of talent."[2]

Rating the album four stars at Indie Vision Music, Brody Barbour describes, "With multiple listens, however, I soon discovered this album plays out best as a greatest hits album, with all the best parts of Haste the Day placed within."[3] Jesse Striewski, awarding the album three stars by New Noise Magazine, says, "Like any Haste The Day album, this won’t appeal to everyone; but those who have been waiting for these guys to release new music should be able to appreciate it."[6] Assigning the album nine and a half stars at Jesus Wired, Topher P. states, "Coward is still a phenomenal effort with minimal flaws, if any at all."[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Begin"	3:20
2.	"Take"	2:27
3.	"World"	3:43
4.	"Coward"	3:05
5.	"Lost"	3:27
6.	"Reconcile"	3:55
7.	"Shadow" (featuring Janell Belcher of The Ember Days)	3:32
8.	"Fail"	4:00
9.	"Accept"	4:24
10.	"Secret"	3:56
11.	"Gnaw"	5:42
Total length:		41:31

Personnel

Haste the Day Stephen Keech – lead vocals Jimmy Ryan – lead vocals Brennan Chaulk – rhythm guitar, clean vocals Scotty Whelan – lead guitar, backing vocals Dave Krysl – lead guitar Jason Barnes – lead guitar on "Accept" Mike Murphy – bass, backing vocals Giuseppe Capolupo – drums, percussion Devin Chaulk – drums on "Accept" Additional musicians Vocals by Janell Belcher of The Ember Days Background vocals by Colin Baney, Marcus Baney, David Dove, Ryan Green, Corey Joseph, Stephen Keech, Jeff Keys, Jedidiah Lachmann, Sam Lowell, Logan Mackenzie and Alex Ramirez

Production Producer – Stephen Keech Recording – Dirty Denim Studio, Nashville, TN / Threshold Studios, Indianapolis, IN Engineer – Jason Belcher, Seiji Itaru Inouye, Lane Johnson, Stephen Keech and Brian Thorburn Mixing – Matt Goldman at Glow in the Dark, Atlanta, GA Mastering – Sam Moses Management – Mark LaFay Artwork and design Artwork – Ryan Scott Cover photo – Marcus Baney

Chart performance

Chart (2015)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[7]	105
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[8]	2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[9]	7
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[10]	13
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11]	16

References

1. Sharp, Tyler (May 20, 2015). "Haste The Day - Coward". HM Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
2. Boyce, Taylor. "Haste the Day - Coward". HM Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
3. Barbour, Brody (June 9, 2015). "Review : Haste the Day – Cowards". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
4. Estabrooks, Timothy (May 17, 2015). "Haste The Day, "Coward" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
5. Topher P. (May 11, 2015). "Haste The Day Makes One Final Hurrah With Coward". Jesus Wired. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
6. Striewski, Jesse (May 20, 2015). "Album Review: Haste The Day - "Coward"". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
7. "Haste the Day Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
8. "Haste the Day Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
9. "Haste the Day Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
10. "Haste the Day Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
11. "Haste the Day Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2015.