Divisions (album)

Divisions is the third studio album by American rock band Starset. It was released on September 13, 2019. It spawned two singles "Manifest" and "Trials", which peaked at number 14 and 8 respectively on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Divisions
Studio album by Starset
Released	September 13, 2019
Recorded	2019
Genre	Rock[1] post-hardcore[2] electronic rock
Length	58:33
Label	Fearless
Starset chronology
Vessels (2017) Divisions (2019)
Singles from Divisions
"Manifest" Released: August 15, 2019 "Trials" Released: April 7, 2020

Background and concept

Plans for a third studio album were revealed as early as January 2018, though frontman Dustin Bates stated its release would be far in the future, as he was taking a break from Starset to release a side-project electronic album under the moniker of "MNQN".[3] Talks of a third album arose again in August 2018, upon the band's announcement of the re-release of their second album, Vessels, as Vessels 2.0.[4] Shortly after the April 2019 release of MNQN material, in May 2019, the band announced that the third album was scheduled for release on September 13, 2019.[5] The album's title, Divisions, was announced on August 15, 2019.[6] The album's first single, "Manifest", was released the same day, alongside its music video.[7][8] The album is the first to feature session drummer Luke Holland.[9]

Much like the band's prior two albums, the album conceptually refers to frontman Dustin Bates' fictional story about a dystopian future struggling with the misuse of technology.[10] The music video for "Manifest" established the setting of New West, where denizens of a work camp are mind controlled into compliance through technology embedded into their heads, while others start to stage a rebellion.[11] Three other songs, "Where the Skies End", "Diving Bell", and "Stratosphere" were released in the leadup to the album, with accompanying music videos featuring citizens from various socioeconomic backgrounds affected by the mind control technology.[12][13][14]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"A Brief History of the Future"	Dustin Bates Paul Trust	1:38
2.	"Manifest"	Bates Daniel Ticotin Michael Russo	4:27
3.	"Echo"	Bates Ticotin Russo	3:37
4.	"Where the Skies End"	Bates Trust	6:34
5.	"Perfect Machine"	Bates Trust	5:24
6.	"Telekinetic"	Bates Joe Rickard	5:13
7.	"Stratosphere"	Bates Rickard	4:17
8.	"Faultline"	Bates Stevie Aiello	3:36
9.	"Solstice"	Bates Trust	5:42
10.	"Trials"	Bates Johnny Lee Andrews	4:19
11.	"Waking Up"	Bates Aiello	3:50
12.	"Other Worlds Than These"	Bates Rickard Lucio Rubino	4:18
13.	"Diving Bell"	Bates Rickard	5:38
Total length:			58:33

Personnel

Musicians

• Dustin Bates – vocals, backing vocals
• Joe Rickard – programming; drums (track 12)
• Alex Niceford – programming
• Igor Khoroshev – additional programming
• Niels Nielsen – additional programming
• Paul Trust – additional programming, interlude music
• Randy Torres – interlude sound design
• Ron DeChant – backing vocals
• Brock Richards – backing vocals
• JR Bareis – guitars
• Lucio Rubino – bass; guitars (track 12)
• Luke Holland – drums
• David Davidson – strings arrangement and violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Conni Ellisor – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Karen Winkelmann – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Janet Darnall – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Betsy Lamb – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Simona Russo – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Carole Rabinowitz – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Sari Reist – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)

Technical

• Dustin Bates – production
• Joe Rickard – co-production (track 2), engineering, digital editing, guitars engineering
• Nick Chiari – co-production (track 11)
• Dan Lancaster – mixing
• Rhys May – mixing assistance
• Paul Decarli – digital editing
• Taylor Pollert – string recording
• Dave Schiffman – drums engineering
• Mike Plotnikoff – guitars engineering
• Michael Closson III – assistant engineering
• Niels Nielsen – mastering
• Tnsn Dvsn – creative direction, album art and package

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[15]	22
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16]	78
US Billboard 200[17]	37
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[18]	4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[19]	6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[20]	7

References

1. Staff, Loudwire. "Best Rock Albums of 2019 ... So Far". Loudwire.
2. allmusic
3. "Starset Frontman Dustin Bates Details Electronic-Leaning Project MNQN".
4. Childers, Chad. "Starset Reimagine 'Vessels' Music for Deluxe Edition". Loudwire.
5. DiVita, Joe. "Starset Announce 2019 U.S. Tour + New Album Release Date". Loudwire.
6. "Starset announces new album, "Divisions"; listen to single "Manifest" now - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com.
7. "Starset Release 'Manifest' Music Video From Forthcoming Album "Divisions"". Wall Of Sound. August 16, 2019.
8. "Starset Announce New LP 'Divisions,' Share Lead Single "Manifest" / the NOISE". the NOISE.
9. Darus, Alex (August 16, 2019). "Starset release new dystopian video for "MANIFEST"".
10. "STARSET To Release 'Divisions' Album In September; 'Manifest' Video Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 15, 2019.
11. Childers, Chad. "Starset Announce 'DIVISIONS' Album, Reveal 'MANIFEST' Video". Loudwire.
12. "STARSET Releases Music Video For New Song 'Diving Bell'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 29, 2019.
13. Childers, Chad. "Starset Continue to Break Down 'DIVISIONS' With 'Diving Bell'". Loudwire.
14. STARSET - STRATOSPHERE, retrieved 2019-09-17
15. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. September 23, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
16. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
17. "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)". Retrieved September 24, 2019.
18. "Starset Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
19. "Starset Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
20. "Starset Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.