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Midheaven (album)
Encyclopedia
Midheaven is The Human Abstract
's second full-length release on Hopeless Records
. It was released on August 19, 2008. The album was originally recorded with producer Toby Wright
, however the band has "wiped off all credits" of his effort. The record was later re-worked and finished by Leonard Simone and Jesse E. String.
A studio journal has been posted on Youtube
documenting the progress of Midheaven. The studio journal was shot and edited by Nick Guillen.
Four video teasers have been made by the band's director Michael Grodner (The Human Abstract, Planes Mistaken For Stars
, The Briggs
, Chiodos
) for the band's first music video
from Midheaven, "Procession of the Fates". The video was shot months before the song was written and recorded to generate the overall concept of the entire record.
The album debuted at #163 on The Billboard Top 200 with first week sales of 4,100.
. Minette was replaced by Andrew Tapley, and at this time the band had also adopted a new member, Sean Leonard, playing various keyboard instruments. These changes allowed a change in musical style for the band. The production of the album also saw a change while recording. Producer Toby Wright
(Korn
, Slayer
, Alice in Chains
) had initially been brought in to work on the record, however Wright "was wiped off of all the credits" due to musical differences, and the band finished the album with Leonard Simone, Jesse E. String co-producing the album.
After the new band line up was set, Nathan Ells reassured fans that, "The Human Abstract has always been, and will continue to be, a heavy band." However, Midheaven departs from the hardcore sound found on The Human Abstract's debut release Nocturne
. Although the album does feature heavy parts, it focuses more on the alternative and progressive side. It also contains more singing than screaming when compared to Nocturne. One reviewer said, "You definitely need to have an open mind going into Midheaven. Don't expect Nocturne Pt. 2; you will be sorely disappointed if you do."
Midheaven is a concept album
that tells the story of one unnamed man. The Human Abstract tried to create a story that is "something with a storyline that tells real stories about real people, something that tells a story that lies so deeply within the human cycle of being, that it has always been, and may always be within the recesses of our conscious thought." To effectively create the concept the band created a theme, unique to each song, that tied into the overall concept. From there the band would, "try to capture the mood musically for what each theme represents." Ells stated that the story "follows a full cycle of man while he makes his ascent and discoveries and is eventually brought down by his lust of conquest and greed."
The cover art theme and style is heavily influenced by Robert Parke-Harrison. The album artwork was done by original bassist Kenny Arehart.
All songs written by: Ells, Leonard, Herrera, Powell;
except for additional writing on tracks 3 and 9 by Tapley,
and additional writing on track 5 by Arehart & Tapley.
A limited promotional EP was released exclusively through Hot Topic
stores across the US before the release of Midheaven. The EP also contains a remix of the music video for "Vela, Together We Await the Storm" from The Human Abstract's previous release, Nocturne.
The video for "Processions of the Fates" starts with slogans saying "Doomed to repeat our history" and "What will bravery do for us now?". It then goes on to scenes of bombs being dropped for a minute, before turning on a man who is creating things in a dark room. About halfway through the video we see him plant a small cutting in a field, and near the end of the video we see a shot of the field filled with lightbulbs, a shot very similar to the one on the cover of Midheaven.
The video for "Counting Down the Days" features shots of the band, together with scenes shot in stop motion
of strange creatures, attempting to build a doomsday device.
Production
Art
The Human Abstract
The Human Abstract is an American progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2004, the group was originally signed to the independent label Hopeless Records, the band then released the two albums Nocturne and Midheaven before signing to E1 Music and releasing Digital Veil...
's second full-length release on Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some...
. It was released on August 19, 2008. The album was originally recorded with producer Toby Wright
Toby Wright
Toby Wright is a record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with artists such as Alice in Chains, Metallica, Sevendust and Korn. He is currently in Nashville, Tennessee working on Kara Clark's latest Ep.-Producer:...
, however the band has "wiped off all credits" of his effort. The record was later re-worked and finished by Leonard Simone and Jesse E. String.
A studio journal has been posted on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
documenting the progress of Midheaven. The studio journal was shot and edited by Nick Guillen.
Four video teasers have been made by the band's director Michael Grodner (The Human Abstract, Planes Mistaken For Stars
Planes Mistaken for Stars
Planes Mistaken for Stars was a emocore band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. They released music on Deep Elm Records, Dim Mak Records, No Idea Records and Abacus Recordings.-History:...
, The Briggs
The Briggs
The Briggs are a punk rock band based out of Los Angeles, California. The Band Formed in 1999 under the name "I Decline" by brothers Joey and Jason LaRocca and bassist Matthew Stolarz . In 2001, with the addition of drummer Chris Arredondo the band adopted the name The Briggs...
, Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
) for the band's first music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
from Midheaven, "Procession of the Fates". The video was shot months before the song was written and recorded to generate the overall concept of the entire record.
The album debuted at #163 on The Billboard Top 200 with first week sales of 4,100.
Sound and theme
Before recording the album, The Human Abstract departed from its founding member A.J. Minette, who wished to pursue other musical goals outside of metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Minette was replaced by Andrew Tapley, and at this time the band had also adopted a new member, Sean Leonard, playing various keyboard instruments. These changes allowed a change in musical style for the band. The production of the album also saw a change while recording. Producer Toby Wright
Toby Wright
Toby Wright is a record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with artists such as Alice in Chains, Metallica, Sevendust and Korn. He is currently in Nashville, Tennessee working on Kara Clark's latest Ep.-Producer:...
(Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
) had initially been brought in to work on the record, however Wright "was wiped off of all the credits" due to musical differences, and the band finished the album with Leonard Simone, Jesse E. String co-producing the album.
After the new band line up was set, Nathan Ells reassured fans that, "The Human Abstract has always been, and will continue to be, a heavy band." However, Midheaven departs from the hardcore sound found on The Human Abstract's debut release Nocturne
Nocturne (The Human Abstract album)
Nocturne is the debut album by American metal band The Human Abstract. It was recorded at The Basement in Rural Hall, North Carolina and Trax East in South River, New Jersey...
. Although the album does feature heavy parts, it focuses more on the alternative and progressive side. It also contains more singing than screaming when compared to Nocturne. One reviewer said, "You definitely need to have an open mind going into Midheaven. Don't expect Nocturne Pt. 2; you will be sorely disappointed if you do."
Midheaven is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
that tells the story of one unnamed man. The Human Abstract tried to create a story that is "something with a storyline that tells real stories about real people, something that tells a story that lies so deeply within the human cycle of being, that it has always been, and may always be within the recesses of our conscious thought." To effectively create the concept the band created a theme, unique to each song, that tied into the overall concept. From there the band would, "try to capture the mood musically for what each theme represents." Ells stated that the story "follows a full cycle of man while he makes his ascent and discoveries and is eventually brought down by his lust of conquest and greed."
The cover art theme and style is heavily influenced by Robert Parke-Harrison. The album artwork was done by original bassist Kenny Arehart.
Track listing
- "A Violent Strike" – 6:41
- "Procession of the Fates" – 4:12
- "Breathing Life Into Devices" – 5:11
- "This World is a Tomb" – 3:57
- "Metanoia" – 3:18
- "The Path" – 3:03
- "Echoes of the Spirit" – 4:31
- "Calm in the Chaos" – 2:46
- "Counting Down the Days" – 5:48
- "A Dead World At Sunrise" – 4:18
All songs written by: Ells, Leonard, Herrera, Powell;
except for additional writing on tracks 3 and 9 by Tapley,
and additional writing on track 5 by Arehart & Tapley.
Promotional EP listing
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
stores across the US before the release of Midheaven. The EP also contains a remix of the music video for "Vela, Together We Await the Storm" from The Human Abstract's previous release, Nocturne.
- "Counting Down The Days"
- "Echoes Of The Spirit"
- "Vela, Together We Await the Storm" (Remix by Tim LambesisTim LambesisTim Lambesis is an American musician, best known as the founding member, lead vocalist of American metalcore band As I Lay Dying. He also has a solo/side project in tribute to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian Death Machine, in which he performs all the required instruments...
)
Music videos
Two music videos have been released for the songs "Procession of the Fates" and "Counting Down the Days".The video for "Processions of the Fates" starts with slogans saying "Doomed to repeat our history" and "What will bravery do for us now?". It then goes on to scenes of bombs being dropped for a minute, before turning on a man who is creating things in a dark room. About halfway through the video we see him plant a small cutting in a field, and near the end of the video we see a shot of the field filled with lightbulbs, a shot very similar to the one on the cover of Midheaven.
The video for "Counting Down the Days" features shots of the band, together with scenes shot in stop motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
of strange creatures, attempting to build a doomsday device.
Personnel
The Human Abstract- Nathan Ells – vocals
- Dean Herrera – guitars, bass (on tracks 3 and 5)
- Brett Powell – drums & percussion
- Sean Leonard – keys
- Andrew Tapley – guitars
- Sean Hurley – bass
- L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
– guest vocals (on track 10) - Kenny Arehart - song writer: Metanoia
Production
- Jesse E. String – recording, producing, mixing
- Nicholas Essig – recording
- Leonard Simone – producing
- Michael Verdick – mastering
Art
- Kenny Arehart – layout & design
- Taylor Foiles – photography
- Rob Zabrecky – actor