Reluctant Hero Explained

Reluctant Hero
Type:Studio
Artist:Killer Be Killed
Cover:Killer Be Killed - Reluctant Hero.png
Released:November 20, 2020
Studio:Hybrid Studios
Length:47:42
Label:Nuclear Blast
Producer:Josh Wilbur
Prev Title:Killer Be Killed
Prev Year:2014

Reluctant Hero is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Killer Be Killed. It was released on November 20, 2020, by Nuclear Blast.[1]

Writing

The band began writing the album in 2016, before going to Hybrid Studios in California in 2018 to record the music. They then finished recording the vocals in 2019.[2]

Cover artwork

In an interview, guitarist Max Cavalera discussed the origins of the album cover:

"I'm really happy with how it came out, because I wasn't happy with the first one. I have a lot of these National Geographic magazines at home, and one had a story about haunted places in America. One of them was this cemetery in Cleveland, which has this really cool statue of an angel with a sword. I thought it would look so badass on an album cover — it almost looks like black metal — so I suggested to our label to find someone to go over and take a picture of the statue."[3]

Singles

On September 4, 2020, Killer Be Killed announced the release of the album, along with the first single "Deconstructing Self-Construction".[1]

The second single "Dream Gone Bad" was released on October 13, 2020.[4]

On November 6, 2020, the third single "Inner Calm from Outer Storms" was released.[5] In a press release, bass guitarist Troy Sanders said the single is "about having the ability to sense a distant or unseen target. It explores a journey of reckless abandon where the destination may, or may not, actually exist."[6] The single also featured on Consequence of Sound's Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Songs of 2020.[7]

The fourth single, "From a Crowded Wound", was released on November 20, 2020, the same day as the album release.[8]

Critical reception

Reluctant Hero was met with generally favorable reviews from critics. Aggregator Album of the Year gave the release a 78 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of six reviews.[9]

Max Heilman of Exclaim! said the songs on the release are "elevating poppy ideas with explosive, multilayered musicality and hard-hitting emotion. Reluctant Hero proves metal can be catchy without being stupid."

Accolades

Publications' year-end list appearances for Reluctant Hero!Critic/Publication!List!Rank!Ref
Consequence of SoundTop 30 Metal/Hard Rock Albums of 202021[10]
Kerrang!Top 50 Albums of 202022[11]
LoudwireTop 70 Rock/Metal Albums of 2020N/A[12]
RevolverTop 25 Albums of 20209[13]

Personnel

Killer Be Killed

Additional personnel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Supergroup Killer Be Killed Announce New Album, Reluctant Hero. Kerrang!. September 4, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  2. Web site: "This Was Just Too Damned Good To Let Go After One Album": Troy Sanders On The Return Of Killer Be Killed. Kerrang!. September 10, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  3. Web site: Killer Be Killed's Max Cavalera Interview. Revolver. Bennett. J.. November 5, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  4. Web site: Watch Killer Be Killed's Intense New Video For Dream Gone Bad. Kerrang!. Carter. Emily. October 13, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  5. Web site: Killer Be Killed Are Teasing A New Single. Kerrang!. Ruskell. Nick. November 3, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  6. Web site: Killer Be Killed Unleash New Song "Inner Calm from Outer Storms". Consequence of Sound. Hadusek. Jon. November 7, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  7. Web site: Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Songs of 2020. Consequence of Sound. December 12, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  8. Web site: Watch Killed Be Killed's stunning animated video for From A Crowded Wound. Louder Sound. November 20, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  9. Web site: Album of the Year Review. Album of the Year. December 19, 2020.
  10. Web site: Top 30 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2020. Consequence of Sound. December 9, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  11. Web site: The 50 Greatest Albums of 2020. Kerrang!. December 16, 2020 . December 19, 2020.
  12. Web site: The 70 Best Rock and Metal Albums of 2020. Loudwire. Divita. Joe. November 30, 2020. December 19, 2020.
  13. Web site: 25 Best Albums of 2020. Revolver. Madden. Emma. November 25, 2020. December 19, 2020.