Violent Allies
Studio album by
10 Years
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2020
Recorded2019–2020
Length36:51
LabelMascot
ProducerHoward Benson
10 Years chronology
(How to Live) as Ghosts
(2017)		 Violent Allies
(2020)
Singles from Violent Allies
  1. "The Shift"
    Released: May 15, 2020
  2. "The Unknown"
    Released: February 16, 2021

Violent Allies is the ninth studio album by American alternative metal band 10 Years. It was released on September 18, 2020. Its first single, "The Shift", was released ahead of the album in May 2020.

Writing and recording

The band began on work on the album in 2019, deciding to work with music producer Howard Benson.[1] The band had previously worked with Benson on 2010's Feeding the Wolves, but wished to try it again, feeling that issues between band members and their record label at the time kept them from reaching their potential with working with Benson the first time around.[1] The recording sessions began in late 2019, with the band entering the studio with Benson 20 songs already written.[1] Much to their surprise, the sessions were much more challenging than expected, with Benson cutting 75% of the material the band had previously written.[1] This forced the band to write new material on the spot in the studio.[1] Guitarist Brian Vodinh elaborated on the difficult sessions:

Time spent in the studio or simply collaborating on our vision was a catalyst in reaching creative clarity like we've never had before...No matter how frustrated we get, once we looked out at it, the energy was unexplainable. Our mission was to really connect with the songs, break them down, and build them back up...The younger versions of ourselves would've been going to Hollywood every night and partying. [These sessions were] different...All we cared about was writing and recording the best song we possibly could. We felt like we had something to prove.[2]

Themes and composition

The album's title, Violent Allies, has a dual meaning, representing both the band's strong determination to work together to create a meaningful album, and an allusion to the divisiveness present in modern social and political issues.[3] The latter is a recurring theme across much of the album, and the album's lead single "The Shift".[1][3] While "The Shift" also contains multiple allusions to the "spreading of a virus," the song was written in late 2019, prior to the Coronavirus outbreak.[4]

Release and promotion

The album's first single, "The Shift", was first released on May 15, 2020, well in advance of the album, which, at the time, was untitled and had no release date, due to the uncertainty in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The album's title, Violent Allies, and its release date, September 18, 2020 were announced in mid-July, alongside a new promotional song titled "The Unknown".[5][6]

Track listing

Violent Allies track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The Shift"3:01
2."The Unknown"3:01
3."Waiting"3:39
4."Déjà Vu"2:40
5."Without You"3:30
6."Cut the Cord"2:49
7."Planets III"2:26
8."Sleep in the Fire"3:09
9."I Wish"3:31
10."Start Again"2:58
11."Planets IV"1:57
12."Say Goodbye"4:10
Total length:36:51

Personnel

10 Years

  • Jesse Hasek – lead vocals
  • Brian Vodinh – guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals, keys, programming
  • Matt Wantland – guitar

Production

Charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[8] 29
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[9] 18

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "10 YEARS To Release New Single, 'The Shift', On Friday". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. May 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ "10 Years Unveil 'The Unknown,' Announce 'Violent Allies' Album". Loudwire. 10 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 "10 YEARS To Release 'Violent Allies' Album In September". Blabbermouth.net. July 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ "10 Years Seeking Unity With New Song 'The Shift'". Loudwire. 15 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "10 Years details new album, 'Violent Allies'; listen to fresh track "The Unknown" now - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com.
  6. ↑ "10 Years Streaming New Single 'The Unknown'". antimusic.com.
  7. ↑ "Joe Rickard | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  8. ↑ "10 Years Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  9. ↑ "10 Years Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
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