World Record (Lower Than Atlantis album)

Background and recording

Partway through the touring cycle for their Bretton (2008) EP, Lower Than Atlantis had several line-up changes While writing songs for their debut album, Far Q (2010), the band's drummer left. They soon thought about drummer Eddy Thrower from We Stare at Mirrors, who the band had previously toured with, and called him, asking he if would like to partake in a practice session. Duce explained the band "never worked with a good drummer before. [With Thrower,] [i]t was... nice." Shortly after the release of Far Q, We Stare at Mirrors bassist Declan Hart joined the band.

Following this, the band toured the UK as part of Rock Sound Presents... Powered by Fender tour in September and October, alongside Architects, Norma Jean and Devil Sold His Soul. Rock Sound predicted the band's popularity would increase following the tour. The band recorded World Record at Outhouse Studios in Reading in October. Ben Humphreys helped with recording and engineering. It was mixed by John Mitchell. Mat Rider of The Holiday Plan contributes guest vocals on "Marilyn's Mansion". Thrower's dad, John plays trumpet on "Another Sad Song". Alan Douches mastered the album at West West Side in New York in November.

Composition

All of the songs on World Record were written by vocalist/guitarist Mike Duce, but were credited to the band as a whole. Duce considers the album "a big of a gamble" as the band created something they wanted to hear but at the same time they thought it would alienate the fans that enjoyed the fast-paced material found on Far Q. World Record was heavily influenced by Lostprophets' Start Something (2004). It had a more alternative rock sound influenced by Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World. This was something that Duce claimed no one else in the current music scene was doing. Duce also claimed that there might be "more albums sounding a bit like this afterwards..." The band were going for a bigger sound, compared to Far Q, as that half of that album has "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" moments, according to Duce.

"(Motor) Way of Life" is the band's view of life as a touring band. "Beech Like the Tree" is about Duce's friend Josh who models for a living. "High at Five" is about Duce's "overactive brain" – Duce would over think things and usually end in having panic attacks. "Uni 9MM" is about how the band envies their friends who graduated university, got jobs, etc. The band is "truly grateful that we get to do what we do but there's always that 'what if'?" "Another Sad Song" is about "Me being me", according to Duce. "Marilyn's Mansion" is about when Duce was younger, he would make dens in a forest where he would feel "safe". He wished that he had a similar sanctuary these days. "Deadliest Catch" is "about a girl! I won't bore you with gory details", according to Duce.

Duce had a fling with a female bassist in another band but she led Duce on, causing him to write "Bug". "Bug" was his nickname for the girl. "Up in Smoke" is about the fact Duce has smoked since he was 11/12 years old and is constantly trying to quit. "Could You? Would You?" is about Duce's friend's girlfriend. She would treat Duce's friend "like crap and I hate her". "Working for the Man by Day, Stickin' It to the Man by Night" is about Duce's old job as a labourer for a bricklayer when he was 16. Duce admitted that he tried to emanate the message of "Hey man, it's ok. We all go through some shitty experiences at work" through the lyrics. "R.O.I." is about where Duce's family originated from in Ireland and how Duce is unable to visit due to his schedule.

Release

On 13 January 2011 the music video for "Beech Like the Tree" was released. On 8 February, it was announced Lower Than Atlantis had signed to Sumerian for North America. Sumerian founder Ash Avildsen after listing hardcore/punk bands At the Drive-In, Refused and Fugazi, called Lower Than Atlantis "a fresh hope for a true blue-collar DIY punk rock band" bringing the "same spirit to the scene." "Beech Like the Tree" was released as single, with "Grounded" as the B-side, on 14 February. The band played a series of shows from 18 February until 10 March, before joining the The Reckless and Relentless Tour supporting Asking Alexandria throughout March and April. On 28 March, "Uni 9MM" was made available for streaming via Alternative Press. A couple of days later, the music video for "Deadliest Catch" was released, the video switches between the band playing and fan submissions. The band's scenes were filmed by the Brighton seafront. "Up in Smoke" was premiered via Noisecreep on 12 April. "Deadliest Catch" was released as a single, "Beside Myself" as the B-side, on 18 April.

World Record was released in the UK through A Wolf at Your Door on 25 April. Paul Jackson designed the artwork illustration and also did the layout. A double-disc containing World Record and their previous album Far Q (2010) was released on 19 April in the US. The songs, "Live by the Remote", "Grounded" and "Beside Myself", are tacked onto the end of World Record as bonus tracks. In late April and early May, the band supported We Are the Ocean in the UK. The band toured the UK in June, with Futures as the support act. A music video for "(Motor) Way of Life" was released on 11 June. It was released as a single on 20 June, with "Live by the Remote" as the B-side. In October, the band supported You Me at Six on their tour of the UK. In November, the band toured the US with Close Your Eyes. The band then supported Norma Jean from late November to mid December in the US on the Pizza Riot 2011 Tour. The band went on their first headline tour in the UK in January 2012 with support acts Sights and Sounds and Marines. The band supported Young Guns in Europe in February and March.

Reception

AbsolutePunk staff member Kelly Doherty called World Record "An album to win the mainstream" and drop "the hardcore". It mixes "memorable hooks" with alternative rock. Doherty noted that the album "is the sound of a young band on the verge of something brilliant." Doherty said the first half sounded "so promising", compared to the second half which is "[a let] down." Reviewing the album for Allmusic, William Ruhlmann proclaimed the band were "more musically ambitious" on this album. Ruhlmann said the band "stops and starts its rhythms" with Duce's "expressions." Ruhlmann claimed the album was more of a melodic hard rock released, compared to their previous album Far Q. BBC Music reviewer Raziq Rauf said the album shows the band moving to a "grungier sound, with even cleaner vocals." Rauf noted one "major criticism" with album – "slightly one-paced." Despite there being "little in the way of variety" Rauf found "very little poor content" on the album.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Lower Than Atlantis, lyrics by Mike Duce.

1. "(Motor) Way of Life" – 3:05
2. "Beech Like the Tree" – 2:18
3. "High at Five" – 3:59
4. "Uni 9MM" – 3:19
5. "Another Sad Song" – 4:31
6. "Marilyn's Mansion" – 1:34
7. "Deadliest Catch" – 3:40
8. "Bug" – 1:46
9. "Up in Smoke" – 3:04
10. "Could You? Would You?" – 3:46
11. "Working for the Man by Day, Stickin' It to the Man by Night" – 3:09
12. "R.O.I." – 2:51

13. "Live by the Remote" – 3:48
14. "Grounded" – 2:36
15. "Beside Myself" – 4:05

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.