Magnetic North is the fourth full-length album released by the hardcore

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band Hopesfall

Hopesfall

Hopesfall was a post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina formed in 1998. They were signed to Trustkill Records. The band broke up in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, decided to leave the band.-Biography:...

. Josh Brigham, one of the guitarists and the only founding member remaining during the recording of the album, has said: "Our music has always been spacey and heavy, and we use those roots, combined with our love of grunge-era Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., HUM

Hum (band)

Hum is a post-hardcore band from Champaign, Illinois. They are best known for their 1995 radio hit "Stars." Hum has not been consistently active as a recording or touring group since 2000.-Founding and early recordings:...

, and Pixies, we add some bigger, heavier riffs.

"We all admire bands that can morph and change with each album, and that is what we try to do. Expect change and progression, in both songwriting and overall style, on the new album."

During the period before this album's release, the band released a new song from the album on their MySpace page each week for the ten weeks prior to the release date.

"Bird Flu" was previously released on the compilation album "Trustkill Takeover Vol. 2" in an over version

Track listing

1. "Rx Contender the Pretender" - 4:40
2. "Swamp Kittens" - 5:14
3. "Cubic Zirconias Are Forever" - 4:00
4. "I Can Do This on an Island" - 1:17
5. "Secondhand Surgery" - 4:30
6. "Vacation/Add/Vacation!" - 3:41
7. "Magnetic North" - 1:54
8. "East of 1989; Battle of the Bay" - 4:35
9. "Bird Flu" - 4:21
10. "The Canon" - 1:02
11. "Devil's Concubine" - 4:53
12. "Head General Hospital" - 5:58
13. "Paisley" - 6:24

All music written by Hopesfall — all lyrics written by Jay Forrest

The track "The Canon" is an homage to HUM's song "Little Dipper"

Bonus tracks

In Europe and Japan the bonus track "Saskatchewan", was originally slated to be on all copies of Magnetic North but was cut from releases outside of Europe and Japan without the band consenting. When the band found out the CDs had already been manufactured.
Other Bonus tracks may have been planned but were not included.

"We're working on some interesting things still, with bonus tracks and such for the releases in Europe and Japan. We're talking about some re-mixes too. We scrapped a couple of songs on the record, so maybe we'll work on those, too. Be on the lookout."

Personnel

• Jay Forrest – vocals
• Josh Brigham – guitar
• Dustin Nadler – guitar
• Mike Tyson – bass
• Jason Trabue – drums
• Mike Watts – production, mixing, engineering
• Rich Liegey – additional engineering
• Troy Glessner – mastering
• Chandler Owen – art direction