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The Jaws of Life
Studio album by
Pierce the Veil
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2023 (2023-02-10)
Studio
  • Royal (New Orleans)
  • Marigny (New Orleans)
Length41:27
Label Fearless
Producer Paul Meany
Pierce the Veil chronology
Misadventures
(2016) 		The Jaws of Life
(2023)
Singles from The Jaws of Life
  1. " Pass the Nirvana"
    Released: September 1, 2022
  2. " Emergency Contact"
    Released: November 11, 2022
  3. "Even When I'm Not with You"
    Released: January 12, 2023
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Kerrang! [2]

The Jaws of Life is the fifth studio album by American rock band Pierce the Veil, released on February 10, 2023. [3] This is the band's first album not to feature drummer Mike Fuentes, with Brad Hargreaves of Third Eye Blind filling in. [4] The band parted ways with Fuentes in 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct. [5] It is their first album to have a title track. The first single, " Pass the Nirvana", was released on September 1, 2022, marking the first piece of new material from the band since their 2016 album Misadventures. The album was announced November 11, 2022, along with the release of a second single, " Emergency Contact". The third single, "Even When I'm Not with You", was released January 12, 2023. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics.

Background and recording

In 2016, Pierce the Veil released their fourth album Misadventures, to critical acclaim. [6] The band toured in support of the album from June 2016 until May 2017. In November 2017, two women came forward on Twitter detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against drummer Mike Fuentes, including statutory rape and solicitation of nude photos of a minor. [7] Following these allegations, the band announced that Fuentes would be stepping back from the band indefinitely. [8] In April 2020, the band shared an at-home performance of their song "Hold On Till May" to their YouTube channel, featuring Mike Fuentes alongside the other members of the band. [9] This led to some controversy on social media, as well as confusion as to whether Fuentes had been reinstated as a band member. [10] Vocalist and guitarist Vic Fuentes later clarified that Mike Fuentes had not been part of the band since 2017, and that he would not be featured on their next album. [11]

The band began working on The Jaws of Life as early as 2018, with Vic Fuentes teasing new material on social media. [12] Fuentes spent a brief period living with MxPx vocalist and bassist Mike Herrera during the production of the album. Parts of the record, including single "Emergency Contact", were written in Herrera's home studio in Seattle. [3] The record was produced by Mutemath frontman Paul Meany and mixed by Adam Hawkins. [3]

Composition

The album features collaborations with Brad Hargreaves of Third Eye Blind and Chloe Moriondo. [13] The album has been said to have a more "melodic and intimate" sound than past records, while also taking influence from grunge bands of the '90s. [3] [14] [15] Isabella Le of Atwood described the Jaws of Life as pulling from "'90s nu-metal, grunge, and contemporary alt-pop." [16]

On the album title, vocalist Vic Fuentes noted, "In short, it's just about how life can try and sink its teeth into you and devour you and trying to find your way out of that. I think this album represents getting out of that grip and seeing the light again and breaking through." [13]

Track listing

The Jaws of Life track listing
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Death of an Executioner"
4:27
2." Pass the Nirvana"
  • Fuentes
  • Meany
  • Peoples
  • David Dahlquist
  • Pat Morrissey
3:17
3."Even When I'm Not with You"Fuentes2:54
4." Emergency Contact"
  • Fuentes
  • Peoples
4:00
5."Flawless Execution"
  • Fuentes
  • Meany
4:00
6."The Jaws of Life"
  • Fuentes
  • Peoples
  • Dahlquist
  • Morrissey
3:42
7."Damn the Man, Save the Empire"
3:57
8."Resilience"
3:40
9."Irrational Fears (Interlude)"Preciado0:21
10."Shared Trauma"
  • Fuentes
  • Preciado
4:12
11."So Far So Fake"
  • Fuentes
  • Preciado
  • Meany
  • Peoples
  • Steve Solomon
3:56
12."12 Fractures" (featuring Chloe Moriondo)
  • Fuentes
  • Peoples
3:01
Total length:41:27
Digital extended version
No.TitleMusicLength
13."Pass the Nirvana" (live from When We Were Young '22)
  • Fuentes
  • Meany
  • Peoples
  • David Dahlquist
  • Pat Morrissey
3:58
Total length:45:30

Note

Personnel

Pierce the Veil

  • Vic Fuentes – vocals, guitar (tracks 1–8, 10–12); percussion (1), music production (2), keyboards (3, 11)
  • Tony Perry – guitar (1–8, 10–12)
  • Jaime Preciado – bass guitar (1–8, 11, 12), vocal engineering (all tracks), engineering (2), programming (9, 10), keyboards (9), music production (10), guitar (11)

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Paul Meany – executive production, recording production, engineering
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Adam Hawkins – mixing
  • David Garcia Marino – editing, engineering assistance
  • Henry Lunetta – mixing assistance
  • Steven Williamson – mixing assistance
  • Adam Keil – engineering assistance
  • Crispin Schroeder – engineering assistance
  • Colin Holbrook – music production (1)
  • David Dahlquist – music production (2)
  • Pat Morrissey – music production (2)
  • Steve Solomon – music production (11)
  • Colin Brittain – engineering (8)

Visuals

  • Tension Division – art direction, design
  • Natasha Wiseman – photography

Charts

Chart performance for The Jaws of Life
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums ( ARIA) [18] 8
Scottish Albums ( OCC) [19] 10
UK Albums ( OCC) [20] 43
UK Rock & Metal Albums ( OCC) [21] 2
US Billboard 200 [22] 14
US Independent Albums ( Billboard) [23] 2
US Top Alternative Albums ( Billboard) [24] 2
US Top Hard Rock Albums ( Billboard) [25] 1
US Top Rock Albums ( Billboard) [26] 3

References

  1. ^ The Jaws of Life by Pierce the Veil, retrieved April 15, 2023
  2. ^ "Album review: Pierce The Veil – The Jaws Of Life". Kerrang!. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Eaton, Harry A. (November 11, 2022). "Pierce The Veil Announce New Album "The Jaws of Life"". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Pierce The Veil take to the Big Easy for 'The Jaws of Life'". riffmagazine.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mike Fuentes to "step away" from PTV following sexual misconduct allegations – News". Alternative Press. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. ^ Misadventures by Pierce the Veil, retrieved January 21, 2023
  7. ^ Loudwire Staff (November 16, 2017). "Pierce the Veil Drummer Accused of Sexual Relations With Minor". Loudwire. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Mike Fuentes to "step away" from PTV following sexual misconduct allegations - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "Watch Pierce The Veil return to perform a 'Collide With The Sky' classic". Alternative Press. April 16, 2020. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Twitter "Hold On Till May" (Home performance)". Twitter. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  11. ^ NewFuryMedia (August 25, 2020). "Pierce The Veil confirms Mike Fuentes is out of the band, currently writing a new album". New Fury Media. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Pierce The Veil have started working on a new album". Alternative Press. July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Wilson-Taylor, James (December 6, 2022). "Pierce The Veil Interview: 'The Jaws Of Life' Album, 'Emergency Contact' & UK Tour". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Rogers, Jack (September 1, 2022). "Pierce The Veil Share Gripping New Track 'Pass The Nirvana'". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  15. ^ DeCaro, Alessandro (September 2022). "Polyphia announce new album Remember That You Will Die, Pierce The Veil drop "Pass The Nirvana" and more". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Le, Isabella (February 8, 2023). ""MORE SIMPLIFIED, BUT MORE POWERFUL": JAIME PRECIADO OF PIERCE THE VEIL UNHINGES 'THE JAWS OF LIFE'". Atwood. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Howell, Maddy (February 9, 2023). "Pierce The Veil's The Jaws Of Life: Endlessly exuberant, wondrously versatile, and never predictable". Louder. Future plc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Pierce the Veil – The Jaws of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  22. ^ "Pierce the Veil Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Pierce the Veil Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  24. ^ "Pierce the Veil Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  25. ^ "Pierce the Veil Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "Pierce the Veil Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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