Hold On Pain Ends

Hold On Pain Ends is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band The Color Morale. It was released on September 2, 2014 through Fearless Records, and was produced by Mike Green and Courtney Ballard. This marks the band's first album on this label following their departure from Rise Records.

Hold On Pain Ends
Studio album by
The Color Morale
ReleasedSeptember 2, 2014 (2014-09-02)
Genre
Length44:12
LabelFearless
Producer
  • Mike Green
  • Courtney Ballard
The Color Morale chronology
Know Hope
(2013)		 Hold On Pain Ends
(2014)		 Desolate Divine
(2016)
Singles from Hold On Pain Ends
  1. "Outer Demons"
    Released: June 23, 2014
  2. "Suicide;Stigma"
    Released: July 15, 2014
  3. "Damnaged"
    Released: August 11, 2014

Background

The album title was revealed along with the band's announcement of switching record labels, from Rise to Fearless Records, in April. The band were also featured on the fifteenth installment of the Punk Goes... series, Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2 which featured their cover of "Everlong" by Foo Fighters that same month.[1] Further details, track list, album artwork, and release date, were announced on July 2, 2014. The track list revealed that there would be two featuring guest artists; Dave Stephens of We Came as Romans and Craig Owens of Chiodos and was produced by Mike Green.[2]

Composition

Influences, style and themes

Lead vocalist Garret Rapp explained to Alternative Press of the album's lyrical theme, stating that it discusses issues such as; self-harm and sabotage, suicide, addictions, eating disorders, abandonment along with other related topics shared with him by fans, going on to say that the record itself was made for the listener as a means of telling a story of inner beauty ignored by false belief.[3]

Release and promotion

In April, Alternative Press announced the nominees for their first Alternative Press Music Awards (APMAs).[4] The band released their first song off the album on June 23, two months after the initial announcements of their label switch, their new album, and their APMA nomination. The song, titled "Outer Demons", was released along with a promotional lyric video.[5] Pre-orders of the album were made available on the day the album was announced on July 2.[3] On July 16, the band released their second single "Suicide;Stigma" which features guest vocals Dave Stephens of We Came as Romans.[6] On August 11, the band released their third single "Damnaged", the opening track to the album.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Dead Press!8/10[10]
Sputnikmusic[11]

The album was met with generally positive reviews, most citing the lyrical content, and Rapp's vocals. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 74 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8] A reviewer for AbsolutePunk wrote: "... Rapp's vocal delivery is compelling on nearly every chorus, particularly "Damnaged" and "Developing Negative". I'd say this is one of the largest reasons why I keep coming back to this record over and over again."[12]

AllMusic gave the album a positive review saying, "The usual glitchy electronic elements weave throughout the album's ten songs and there is a strong pop element in many of the arrangements. While Hold on Pain Ends is generally well played and well produced, little new ground has been broken and by and large it comes across as a fairly standard, mainstream pop-oriented metalcore record."[9] Zach Redrup from Dead Press! rated the album positively calling it: "Unapologetic in its message, this is a record which manages to portray its over-arching sentiment without diluting the strident musicality and fist-pumping dramatics. It all falls together to make a formidable impression, and whether it's the poignancy or the distinctive punch that's taken away, Hold On Pain Ends is an intensely thrilling piece of work."[10] Another reviewer for Under the Gun praised the collaboration between the band and Craig Owens of Chiodos and saying: "...most memorable mic grab comes from Chiodos' Craig Owens on 'Developing Negative' a track that also highlights the integration of guitarists Aaron Saunders and Devin King, who have come into their own on this release."[13]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 28 on Billboard 200,[14] selling around 8,000 copies in the first week. It has sold 19,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016.[15]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Damnaged"3:18
2."Outer Demons"3:34
3."Prey for Me"3:36
4."Lifeline (Left to Write)"3:32
5."Scar Issue"3:10
6."Suicide;Stigma" (featuring Dave Stephens of We Came as Romans)3:40
7."The Ones Forgotten by the One Forgetting"2:08
8."Developing Negative" (featuring Craig Owens of Chiodos)4:36
9."Is Happiness a Mediocre Sin?"3:21
10."Between You and Eye"4:16
11."Throw Your Roses"4:04
12."Hold On Pain Ends"4:57
Total length:44:12

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[9]

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[16] 28
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] 6
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[18] 2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[19] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[20] 5

References
  1. Kraus, Brian. "The Color Morale sign to Fearless Records, announce new album title". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. Santos, Sarah. "The Color Morale announces album, preorders for 'Hold On Pain Ends'". Hmmagazine.com. HM Magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. Kraus, Brian. "Alternative Press "The Color Morale announce 'Hold On Pain Ends' album details, launch pre-orders"". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. "Announcing the first AP Music Awards! Get all the details and vote for your favorite artists!". Altpress. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. Whitt, Cassie. "The Color Morale - "Outer Demons" lyric video premiere". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  6. Kraus, Brian. "The Color Morale stream new single, "Suicide;Stigma" (ft. We Came As Romans' Dave Stephens)". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  7. "The Color Morale Stream New Song "Damnaged"". Theprp.com. The PRP. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  8. "'Hold On Pain Ends' on Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  9. Monger, Timothy. "Review: Hold On Pain Ends by The Color Morale". AllMusic. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  10. Redrup, Zach. "ALBUM: The Color Morale – Hold On Pain Ends". Dead Press!. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. "Album Review: The Color Morale - Hold On Pain Ends". Sputnikmusic. August 30, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  12. "The Color Morale - Hold On Pain Ends - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. September 2, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  13. "REVIEW: The Color Morale – 'Hold On Pain Ends'". Underthegunreview.net. August 29, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  14. "The Billboard 200". Billboard. June 28, 2014.
  15. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
  16. "The Color Morale Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  17. "The Color Morale Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  18. "The Color Morale Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard.
  19. "The Color Morale Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  20. "The Color Morale Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
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