| Exi(s)t | |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | Reflections |
| Cover: | ExistReflections.jpg |
| Released: | October 22, 2013 |
| Recorded: | Audio Hammer Studios Orlando, Florida |
| Genre: | Metalcore, djent, progressive metal[1] |
| Length: | 42:39 |
| Label: | eOne, Good Fight |
| Producer: | Eyal Levi |
| Prev Title: | The Fantasy Effect |
| Prev Year: | 2012 |
| Next Title: | The Color Clear |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
Exi(s)t is the second studio album by American metalcore band, Reflections. The album was released October 22, 2013 through labels eOne Music and Good Fight Entertainment.[2] [3] The album was produced by Eyal Levi, who has produced albums for bands such as August Burns Red, The Black Dahlia Murder, Motionless in White, Unearth, and Whitechapel.[4]
The first single from Exi(s)t, titled "My Cancer," was released for download through iTunes and all other digital retailers on September 10, 2013. Reflections simultaneously released a lyric video for the single through their YouTube channel.[5] Vocalist Jake Foster explained "My Cancer" and some of the background to their music writing: "This song was written to speak to a lot of people in my life and I hope that other people can use it the same way and connect with us... we aren't writing music as a gimmick. We write music to express our struggles and triumphs to try and let people know that they are not alone. We couldn't be more excited for everyone to hear the new song. Hopefully everyone enjoys the new album."[6] [7]
The album was leaked a few days prior to its actual release date.[8]
Exi(s)t debuted at #179 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 1,972 copies within the first week of being released.[9] [10] The album made it onto five Billboard charts:[10]
The album also made it onto four of iTunes' album charts—three U.S. charts and one Canadian chart:[11] [12] [13]
Guitarist Charles Caswell was excited to have made it onto the charts: "We want to sincerely thank everyone for the continuing support of our debut record. It's unreal to think our music hit the charts! We can't express enough how much it means to us!"[10]
Exi(s)t was well received by most critics, though some had nothing good to say of the album. Austin Weber from No Clean Singing spoke very positively, stating "Exi(s)t is a big step up from Reflections' promising but not yet diverse enough debut, The Fantasy Effect. Sonically, Reflections have matured into a band capable of giving us a very nasty, massive-sounding assault of heaviness, and yet the undercurrents of sadness and beauty that find their way into the music counterbalance the aggression nicely. The end result is both catchy and calming, a byproduct of Reflections writing in a more sophisticated format then most of their peers. With Exi(s)t, Reflections have just climbed up from the pile into elite status."[15] Dave from Hellhound Music also had much positive to say of the album: "Every song on Exi(s)t is a sonic roller coaster blazing through with enormous depth and shockingly-raw personal exposition."[16]
Metal Blast gave a very negative review, stating that Exi(s)t "frankly just isn't very good" and that "I rarely regret listening to an album... Exi(s)t... is one of those albums."