A Wonderful Life is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Mushroomhead. It was released on June 19, 2020, and is their first album to feature Steve Rauckhorst and Jackie LaPonza on vocals. It is also the first Mushroomhead album without vocalist Jeffrey Hatrix and keyboardist Tom Schmitz, the last album with sampler Rick Thomas and vocalist Jason Popson before his second departure, and the only full album with Tom Shaffner on guitars.
| A Wonderful Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 19, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2018–2020, Filthy Hands Studio | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 58:03 | |||
| Label | Napalm | |||
| Producer | Steve Felton, Matt Wallace | |||
| Mushroomhead chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Wonderful Life | ||||
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To promote A Wonderful Life, Mushroomhead released "Seen It All" as a single on April 21, 2020.
Background and history
editIn September 2016, Mushroomhead announced that the band would return to the studio in the fall of 2016 to record their eighth studio album.[3] In March 2018, it was announced long-time vocalist Jeffrey Nothing had departed the band,[4][5][6] with guitarist Tommy Church announcing his departure a few days later.[7][8] Later that month, it was announced that Steve Rauckhorst would be the new vocalist, and Tom Shaffner as the new guitarist respectively.[9][10]
On April 4, 2019, Mushroomhead announced that they had signed with Napalm Records.[11] Steve Felton and Jackie LaPonza revealed that during the tour they had recorded vocals at Abbey Road Studios while on a UK tour in July 2019, and that the new album was 80% finished.[12]
On April 21, 2020, The album's first single "Seen It All" was also released. Later that day, A Wonderful Life was announced as the title of the band's new album, and would be released on June 19, 2020. It was also announced touring vocalist Jackie LaPonza had officially joined the band.[13][14][15]
On May 26, 2020, the band released the second single, "The Heresy".
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Mushroomhead
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Requiem for Tomorrow" | 4:42 |
| 2. | "Madness Within" | 3:38 |
| 3. | "Seen It All" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "The Heresy" | 4:00 |
| 5. | "What a Shame" | 4:19 |
| 6. | "Pulse" | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Carry On" | 3:16 |
| 8. | "The Time Has Come" | 4:41 |
| 9. | "11th Hour" | 5:09 |
| 10. | "I Am the One" | 3:52 |
| 11. | "The Flood" | 4:25 |
| 12. | "Where the End Begins" | 7:18 |
| 13. | "Confutatis" | 4:15 |
| Total length: | 58:03 | |
Bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "To the Front" | 2:41 |
| 15. | "Sound of Destruction" | 4:27 |
| 16. | "Another Ghost" | 3:42 |
| 17. | "Lacrimosa" | 2:04 |
| Total length: | 71:00 | |
Personnel
editMushroomhead
edit- Jason Popson – harsh vocals (tracks 1–5, 7–11, 15, 16); rapped vocals (tracks 2, 7, 8, 15)
- Steve Rauckhorst – clean and harsh vocals (tracks 1–3, 5-12, 15, 16)
- Jackie LaPonza – clean vocals (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 12)
- Tom Shaffner – guitars
- Ryan Farrell – bass guitar, keyboards, piano, orchestration
- Rick Thomas – keyboards, synthesizers, samples, electronics
- Steve Felton – drums, keyboards, samples
- Robbie Godsey – drums, additional percussion
Other personnel
edit- Cleveland Chamber Choir – additional choir vocals (tracks 1, 6, 13 and 17)
Production staff
edit- Steve Felton – production, engineering
- Matt Wallace – mixing, additional production
- Ryan Farrell – additional engineering
- Don DeBiase – additional engineering
- Bill Korecky – additional production on Carry On
- Craig Martini – additional production on Carry On
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Gus Fink – cover art
References
edit- ^ "A Wonderful Life by Mushroomhead". Heavy Metal Headquarters. June 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "Album Review: MUSHROOMHEAD a Wonderful Life". July 11, 2020.
- ^ "Mushroomhead Book Studio Time + Halloween Tour; Ex-Member Waylon Reavis Unveils New Band". CHAD CHILDERS. September 20, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Mushroomhead's Jeffrey Nothing Exits Band Ahead of Spring 2018 Touring". CHAD CHILDERS. March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "JEFF HATRIX Exits MUSHROOMHEAD". March 7, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Jeff Hatrix leaves Mushroomhead". Scott Munro. March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "MUSHROOMHEAD Guitarist TOMMY CHURCH Quits". March 9, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Guitarist Tommy Church quits Mushroomhead". Scott Munro. March 9, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Watch MUSHROOMHEAD's New Lineup Perform Live For First Time". March 27, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Meet the New Mushroomheads". Axl Rosenberg. March 28, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "MUSHROOMHEAD Signs With NAPALM RECORDS". April 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Mushroomhead Planning to Unleash Eighth Album in 2020". JEFF CORNELL. August 2, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Mushroomhead Return With New Head of Mushrooms". metalsucks.net. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "Mushroomhead Debut New Song 'Seen It All' + Announce 'A Wonderful Life' Album Read More: Mushroomhead Debut New Song, Announce Eighth Album". Loudwire. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "MUSHROOMHEAD Announces 'A Wonderful Life' Album, Unveils 'Seen It All' Music Video". Blabbermouth.net. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.