Iridescent (album)

Iridescent is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Silent Planet. The album was released on November 12, 2021, through UNFD and Solid State Records. It was co-produced by Drew Fulk, Daniel Braunstein and guitarist Mitchell Stark.[3][4] It is the last album to feature the band's bassist and clean vocalist Thomas Freckleton before he left the band in June 2023 due to wanting to spend more time with his family, and also having a fusion in his spine from a cycling accident in 2014 that became more excruciating as time went on.[5]

Iridescent
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)
RecordedSeptember 2019–March 2021
Genre
Length39:52
Label
Producer
Silent Planet chronology
When the End Began
(2018)
Iridescent
(2021)
Superbloom
(2023)
Singles from Iridescent
  1. "Trilogy"
    Released: February 14, 2020
  2. "Panopticon"
    Released: August 20, 2021
  3. "Terminal"
    Released: September 17, 2021
  4. "Anhedonia"
    Released: October 22, 2021

Background and promotion

On February 14, 2020, the band released "Trilogy", a single that focuses and revolves around vocalist Garrett Russell's stay in a mental hospital in which he wrote the lyrics in one sitting.[6][7][8]

On March 23, 2021, band members officially announced the album was completed.[9] On April 9, after unveiling some artworks the prior couple days, they announced during the global COVID-19 pandemic a surprise collaboration with Fit for a King. The collaboration included both bands' vocalists being featured on reworked version of their recent tracks and both bands will also release a limited merch line to promote the collaboration.[10][11] On August 20, the group surprise released the single "Panopticon".[12][13]

On September 17, the band officially unveiled the third single "Terminal" along with its music video. At the same time, the band revealed the album itself, the album cover, the track list, and release date.[14][15] To promote the album, they also announced that they will support Motionless in White's rescheduled U.S. tour along with Light the Torch and Dying Wish which has started in May 2021.[16][17] On October 22, one month before the album release, the group debuted the fourth single "Anhedonia".[18][19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound9/10[20]
New Noise[2]
New Transcendence9/10[21]
Wall of Sound7.5/10[1]

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Distorted Sound scored the album 9 out of 10 and said: "SILENT PLANET continue to throw caution to the wind and construct fearless, creative offerings that can lift you up and break you down in equal measure. Iridescent takes you through a whirlwind of emotions and moods as it progresses, and the quality stands just as strong from beginning to end. The lyrical content deals with issues that are very prevalent in many lives and this will certainly resonate with the listener. Another top draw release from a top drawer band."[20] New Noise gave the album perfect score 5 out of 5 and stated: "It's as if, echoing the thematic aspects, the band collectively dove deeper inside themselves to discover a version of Silent Planet that isn't hidden behind history or expectations. Silent Planet have always been placed in the shadows of the great forward-thinking Solid State artists that came before them (Underoath; Oh, Sleeper, As Cities Burn, etc.), but Iridescent feels like a personal statement of intent. This is who Silent Planet are, or at least, this is who this goofy writer is very pleased to hear the band presenting currently. Confident, energized, and personal, Iridescent is a stunning record, sure to be on many year-end lists."[2]

New Transcendence gave the album 9 out of 10 and stated: "Iridescent is a vivid, colorful, haunting and powerful experience that effortlessly lives in the listener's mind and is impossible not to put on repeat."[21] Wall of Sound gave the album a score 7.5/10 and saying: "Iridescent commences with mysterious sonics until Russell comes in with a faded verse on his half-clean-half-unclean vocals, packed with energy and emotion. The rest of Silent Planet kick in with the ultimate fusion of their ambient metalcore model and then sheer utter mathcore chaos; and what a way to end the record."[1]

Iridescent was elected by Loudwire as the 15th best rock/metal album of 2021.[22] The publication also ranked "Panopticon" as the 24th best metal song of the year.[23]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Silent Planet; all music is composed by Silent Planet

Iridescent track listing
No.TitleLength
1."112"1:12
2."Translate the Night"3:00
3."Trilogy"3:23
4."Second Sun"4:13
5."Panopticon"3:34
6."The Sound of Sleep"3:34
7."Alive, as a Housefire"3:08
8."Terminal"4:47
9."(liminal);"2:01
10."Anhedonia"4:00
11."Till We Have Faces"3:46
12."Iridescent"3:14
Total length:39:52

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[24]

Silent Planet

  • Garrett Russell – lead vocals, guitars
  • Mitchell Stark – guitars, clean vocals, production, guitar and bass engineering, sound design
  • Thomas Freckleton – bass, keyboards, clean vocals
  • Alex Camarena – drums

Additional personnel

  • Drew Fulk – production
  • Daniel Braunstein – production, vocal engineering
  • Chris Ghazel – drum engineering
  • Jeff Dunne – mixing, mastering

References

  1. Aarons, Ricky (November 8, 2021). "Silent Planet – Iridescent (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. Senior, Nicholas (November 12, 2021). "Album Review – Silent Planet – Iridescent". New Noise. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. Jack Rogers (September 16, 2021). "Silent Planet Have Announced Their New Album 'Iridescent'". Rock Sound. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. "Silent Planet To Release New Album "Iridescent" In November, Debut "Terminal"/"(liminal);" Video". ThePRP. September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. "Silent Planet Bassist Thomas Freckleton Leaves the Band After More Than a Decade". Loudwire. June 9, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. "Silent Planet Unleash New Single 'Trilogy'". Wall of Sound. February 17, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  7. "Silent Planet release new music video for 'Trilogy'". Distorted Sound. February 17, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  8. "Garrett Russell on Instagram: "Well, it's here. Trilogy is out now. I'm not sure if any song has ever meant this much to me - or if anything ever could again. I wrote…"". Archived from the original on 2021-12-26 via Instagram.
  9. "Silent Planet have finished recording their 4th full-length album". The New Fury. March 23, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  10. "Fit For A King's Ryan Kirby & Silent Planet's Garrett Russell Guest On Each Other's Tracks". Rock Sound. April 9, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  11. "NEWS: Fit For A King & Silent Planet cover each other!". Dead Press!. April 13, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  12. "Silent Planet's Apocalyptic Metal Hits a New Level on 'Panopticon'". Loudwire. August 20, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  13. "Silent Planet Have Dropped A Dizzyingly Brutal New Track 'Panopticon'". Rock Sound. August 20, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  14. "Silent Planet Announce New Album 'Iridescent' + Release Ambient Single 'Terminal / (liminal)'". Wall of Sound. September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  15. "Silent Planet announces new album, 'Iridescent,' releases visceral music video for new single, 'Terminal'". HM. September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  16. "Motionless in White Announce 2021 Tour With Light the Torch, Silent Planet + Dying Wish". Loudwire. July 13, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  17. "Motionless In White announce fall tour with Light The Torch, Silent Planet, and Dying Wish". Metal Insider. July 14, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  18. "Silent Planet Flick Into Overdrive with 'Anhedonia' Ahead of Iridescent's Big Release". Wall of Sound. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  19. "Silent Planet Debut 'Anhedonia'". ThePRP. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  20. McHugh, Dan (November 10, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Iridescent – Silent Planet". Distorted Sound Mag. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  21. Welsh, Connor (November 9, 2021). "REVIEW: Silent Planet – Iridescent [2021]". New Transcendence. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  22. "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. December 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  23. Al-Sharif, Rabab; DiVita, Joe; Hartmann, Graham; Richardson, Jake; Trapp, Philip; Summan, Yasmine (December 6, 2021). "The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  24. Iridescent (booklet). UNFD. 2021.
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