Watchers of Rule is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Unearth, released on October 28, 2014 by eOne Music in North America. This marks the first album since their debut The Stings of Conscience that does not feature long time bassist John "Slo" Maggard, also the first album to feature former The Faceless drummer Nick Pierce on drums.[5]

Watchers of Rule
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 28, 2014 (2014-10-28)
StudioAudio Hammer Studios
GenreMetalcore
Length35:00
LabeleOne Music
Producer
Unearth chronology
Darkness in the Light
(2011)
Watchers of Rule
(2014)
Extinction(s)
(2018)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[1]
Alternative Press[2]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[3]
Exclaim!8/10[4]

The album entered the US Billboard 200 at No. 105,[6] selling 3,950 copies in its first week.[7]

It is the band's only release for eOne Music, for whom they signed in 2013.[8] It is also the band's first studio album since 2001's The Stings of Conscience to not be released via Metal Blade Records.[9]

Unearth announced in early 2012 that Nick Pierce had signed on as their full-time drummer. He officially replaced Derek Kerswill, who left the band in 2010, though Justin Foley provided drums for 2011's Darkness in the Light.[10]

Album artwork was provided by Richey Beckett, who has also provided artwork for Converge, Baroness, Mastodon, and Metallica.[11][12]

The band announced in April 2013 that they'd be working with Mark Lewis to record the then-titleless Watchers of Rule. Lewis had previously produced albums for bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, DevilDriver, and Deicide.[13]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Unearth

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"0:43
2."The Swarm"3:24
3."Lifetime in Ruins"4:12
4."Guards of Contagion"3:16
5."From the Tombs of Five Below"3:35
6."Never Cease"3:25
7."Trail to Fire"3:30
8."To the Ground"3:15
9."Burial Lines"3:04
10."Birth of a Legion"3:11
11."Watchers of Rule"3:25
Total length:35:00
Limited edition deluxe version bonus tracks[14]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."Throes of Remission"  3:34
13."Spirit in Black" (Slayer cover)Kerry KingJeff Hanneman4:10
Total length:42:46
Japanese release[15]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Intro"  0:43
2."The Swarm"  3:24
3."Lifetime in Ruins"  4:12
4."Guards of Contagion"  3:16
5."From the Tombs of Five Below"  3:35
6."Never Cease"  3:25
7."Burial Lines"  3:04
8."Birth of a Legion"  3:11
9."Watchers of Rule"  3:25
10."Throes of Remission"  3:34
11."Spirit in Black" (Slayer cover)Kerry KingJeff Hanneman4:10
Total length:36:01

Credits

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Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[16]

Unearth
  • Trevor Phipps – vocals
  • Buz McGrath – lead guitar
  • Ken Susi – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Pierce – drums
Guest musicians
Production
  • Mark Lewis – producer, engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Shane Frisby – additional vocal recording
  • Ken Susi – additional vocal recording, additional guitar tracking
  • Jeremy Krull – additional editing
Artwork and design
Studios
  • Audio Hammer Studios – vocals
  • The Brick Hit House – additional vocals
  • System Studios – additional vocals, guitars, drums

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 117
US Billboard 200[6] 105
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 25
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[20] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[21] 22

Release history

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Region Date Label
North America October 28, 2014 eOne Music[22]
Japan October 29, 2014 Howling Bull[15]
Australia October 31, 2014 3Wise[23]
Germany, Austria, Switzerland Century Media[24][25]
Rest of Europe November 3, 2014

References

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  1. ^ kapper, Andrew. "Unearth - Watchers Of Rule Review". heavymetal.about.com. About.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  2. ^ Slessor, Dan (October 27, 2014). "Unearth - Watchers Of The Rule - Alternative Press". www.altpress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  3. ^ Van Horn, Jr., Ray (29 October 2014). "CD Reviews - Watchers Of Rule Unearth - Blabbermouth.net". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Zorgdrager, Bradley (October 24, 2014). "Unearth Watchers of Rule". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "Faceless, The - Akeldama (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  6. ^ a b "Unearth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. ^ Brown, Matt (November 6, 2014). "Metal By Numbers 11/6: Here Come The Brides - Metal Insider". www.metalinsider.net. Metal Insider. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Unearth Officially Sign with eOne | Metal Insider". 17 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Unearth swarm your eyeballs with new video | Metal Insider". 21 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Ex-Faceless Drummer Nick Pierce Joins Unearth". 20 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Meet Richey Beckett, Reclusive Artist Behind Black Sabbath, Metallica, Mastodon Visuals". 31 August 2017.
  12. ^ "About".
  13. ^ "UNEARTH Begin Work on New Album". 24 April 2013.
  14. ^ wookubus (September 9, 2014). "Unearth Stream New Track "The Swarm", Cover Slayer For "Watchers Of Rule"". www.theprp.com. THEPRP.COM. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Watchers Of Rules - 世界のメタル、パンク、ハードコア、エモを扱うレーベル HOWLING BULL (ハウリングブル)". howling-bull.co.jp (in Japanese). Howling bull. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  16. ^ Watchers of Rule (liner notes). Unearth. Century Media Records. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Adams, Gregory (June 18, 2013). "Unearth Sign to eOne Music, Prepping New Lamb of God-assisted LP". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  18. ^ "アンアースのアルバム売上ランキング - ORICON STYLE".
  19. ^ "Unearth Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Unearth Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Unearth Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  22. ^ Zorgdrager, Bradley (August 11, 2014). "Unearth Announce 'Watchers of Rule' LP". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  23. ^ "WATCHERS OF RULE - 3Wise". www.3wiserecords.com. 3Wise Records. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  24. ^ "UNEARTH kündigen neues Album "Watchers Of Rule" an!". www.centurymedia.com (in German). Century Media. August 28, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  25. ^ "UNEARTH announce new album "Watchers Of Rule"!". www.centurymedia.com. Century Media. August 28, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
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