...So Unknown

...So Unknown
A computer graphic that appears to be liquid metal in the shape of angels
Studio album by
Jesus Piece
ReleasedApril 14, 2023 (2023-04-14)
GenreMetalcore[1]
Length27:46
LanguageEnglish
LabelCentury Media
ProducerRandy Leboeuf
Jesus Piece chronology
Only Self
(2018) 		...So Unknown
(2023)

Between being in the world of fashion and electronic music and seeing how DJs run things, getting to work with some of the biggest artists in any capacity helped me look at the limitations of what we can and can't do. Now that I was able to be in those areas, we can go any way and I'll have a really good context on how we can handle ourselves. It's not "what we can't do," but more... should we be taking these things? Should we be handling ourselves this way? You gotta understand, I always prefer quality over quantity, so do we have to take every tour? No. Do we have to say yes to every single thing? It gave me a way of planning things in a different way.

—Drummer Luis Aponte on genre experimentation on ...So Unknown[2]

...So Unknown is the second studio album by American metalcore band Jesus Piece. Released on April 14, 2023, it comes five years after debut Only Self[3] and has received positive reviews from critics.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
Kerrang!4/5[4]
Metal.de5/10[5]
MetalSucks[6]
Pitchfork7.3/10[7]
Rock Hard7.5/10[8]
Rolling Stone[1]
Slant Magazine[9]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, ...So Unknown received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from five critic scores.[10] Olly Thomas of Kerrang! rated this album 4 out of 5, pointing out the attention to detail and stating that it results in "an involving listen, but emphatically doesn't detract from the band's primary intention of rearranging your skeletal structure through elastic, chugging riffs and neck-snapping beats".[4] Metal Injection's Max Heilman gave ...So Unknown an 8.5 out of 10, calling it "exciting, emotive, and ball-busting hardcore taken to the next level by smart writing".[11] Mandy Scythe of MetalSucks scored this 4.5 out of 5, exhorting readers, "If you're a fan of hardcore, or if you're just looking for something a little outside of your usual metal menu that still delivers the riffs, check out ...So Unknown. It's an album that will change the way you think about hardcore music."[6]

Pitchfork editors chose ...So Unknown as one of the 10 albums of the week for readers to hear[12] and critic Matthew Ismael Ruiz scored it a 7.3 out of 10 as a band that "boast a unique mix of aggressive East Coast grooves and call-and-response vocals, offsetting metal's melodic and theatrical tendencies with hardcore's propulsive energy" and particularly noting the virtuosity of drummer Luis Aponte.[7] Rolling Stone critic Ian Blau awarded the album four stars out of five, stating that the band "avoid the repetitive and rough aspects of their debut by growing exponentially as musicians, focusing their songwriting, and becoming more capable of translating the energy of their live show into nuanced studio performances".[1] In Slant Magazine, Steve Erickson gave this release 3.5 out of 5 stars, characterizing it as "the album feels more defined by genre than the band's past work, but the anger running through it is contagious" and summing up that the music "creates a stark contrast to the majority of recent pop-rock, which carries a mood of depressed resignation".[9] This was an Editor's Pick at Spill Magazine, where Ryan Ruple scored it a 9 out of 10, predicting, "as far as metal records go this year, encompassing all sub genres, ...So Unknown is going to be in several End Of The Year lists for fans".[13] Writing for Sputnikmusic, YoYoMancuso scored this work a 3.0 out of 5, summing up that it is "a flawed record, but still a worthwhile one to check out".[14]

Accolades

[edit]

On June 23, Alternative Press published an unranked list of the top 25 albums of the year to date and included this release, calling it "a chaotic listen from start to end, brimming with metallic aggression, savage breakdowns, and smart songcraft".[15]

...So Unknown on year-end lists
Publication List Rank
Alternative Press 50 best albums of 2023[16] —
Consequence 30 Best Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 2023[17]
7
Decibel Top 40 Albums of 2023[18]
4
Invisible Oranges 20 Best Metalcore Albums of 2023[19]
2
Kerrang! The 50 best albums of 2023[20]
8
Loudwire The 25 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2023[21] —
MetalSucks Top Albums of 2023[22] —
PopMatters The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2023[23]
14
Rolling Stone The 11 Best Metal Albums of 2023[24]
4
Revolver 30 Best Albums of 2023[25]
17
10 Best Hardcore Albums of 2023[26]
3

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "In Constraints" – 2:19
  2. "Fear of Failure" – 3:06
  3. "Tunnel Vision" – 3:23
  4. "FTBS" – 2:12
  5. "Silver Lining" – 3:55
  6. "Gates of Horn" – 2:18
  7. "Profane" – 2:11
  8. "An Offering to the Night" – 2:13
  9. "Stolen Life" – 3:20
  10. "The Bond" – 2:48

Personnel

[edit]

Jesus Piece

  • John Distefano – guitar
  • Luis Aponte – drums
  • Aaron Heard – vocals
  • Anthony Marinaro – bass guitar
  • David Updike – guitar

Additional personnel

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Blau, Ian (April 13, 2023). "Review: Jesus Piece's '....So Unknown'". Music > Album Reviews. Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Cohen, Ian (April 11, 2023). "Jesus Piece Rise Again". Q&A. Stereogum. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Hughes, Mia (April 7, 2023). "Into the 'So Unknown' with JESUS PIECE: "We'd like to be perceived as a band that's not just a band"". Music. Revolver. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Thomas, Olly (April 12, 2023). "Album review: Jesus Piece – ...So Unknown". Reviews. Kerrang!. ISSN 0262-6624. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Grönecke, Jeanette (April 7, 2023). "Jesus Piece - So unknown Review". metal.de (in German). Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Scythe, Mandy (April 14, 2023). "Review: Jesus Piece – ...So Unknown is Pure, Ripping, Riff-Fueled Fury". Reviews. MetalSucks. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (April 25, 2023). "Jesus Piece: ...So Unknown Album Review". Albums. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "...So Unknown". Rock Hard (Vol. 431) (in German). April 22, 2023. ISSN 1437-8140. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Erickson, Steve (April 14, 2023). "Jesus Piece ...So Unknown Review: Embracing Metalcore's Chaotic Fury". Music. Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "...So Unknown by Jesus Piece Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. n.d. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Heilman, Max (April 11, 2023). "Album review: Jesus Piece – ...So Unknown". Reviews. Metal Injection. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Monroe, Jazz; Minsker, Evan; Bloom, Madison (April 14, 2023). "10 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Feist, Kara Jackson, Angel Olsen, and More". News. Pitchfork Media.
  13. ^ Ruple, Ryan (April 18, 2023). "Spill Album Review: Jesus Piece ...So Unknown". Editor Pick. Spill Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  14. ^ YoYoMancuso (April 13, 2023). "Review: Jesus Piece – ...So Unknown". Reviews. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "25 best albums of 2023 so far". Alternative Press. June 23, 2023. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  16. ^ "25 best albums of 2023 so far". Alternative Press. June 23, 2023. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "30 Best Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 2023: Annual Report". Consequence. December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2023". Decibel Magazine. November 16, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 20, 2023). "20 Best Metalcore Albums of 2023". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2023". Kerrang!. December 11, 2023. ISSN 0262-6624. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "The 25 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2023". Loudwire. November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  22. ^ MetalSucks (December 20, 2023). "MetalSucks' Top Albums of 2023". MetalSucks. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2023". PopMatters. November 22, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "The 11 Best Metal Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. December 16, 2023. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  25. ^ "30 best albums of 2023". Music. Revolver. December 11, 2023. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  26. ^ "10 best hardcore albums of 2023". Music. Revolver. December 11, 2023. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
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