Allegiance (As Blood Runs Black album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Allegiance
| type = studio
| artist = As Blood Runs Black
| cover = ABRBAllegiance.png
| alt =
| released = June 6, 2006
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Castle Ultimate Studios, Oakland, California
| genre =
- Deathcore
- melodic death metal{{cite web |website=Metal Storm |url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=15870 |title=As Blood Runs Black – Allegiance review |date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2022}}
- melodic metalcore
| length = 37:04
| label = Mediaskare
| producer = As Blood Runs Black, Baron Bodnar
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Instinct
| next_year = 2011
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Allegiance
| type = Studio
| single1 = My Fears Have Become Phobias
| single1date = June 30, 2006
| single2 = The Brighter Side of Suffering
| single2date = December 23, 2006
}}
}}
Allegiance is the debut studio album by American deathcore band As Blood Runs Black. This is the band's only release with vocalist Chris Blair and guitarist Ernie Flores.
Musical style
Allegiance is a melodic metalcore/deathcore album that has been compared to the works of At the Gates,{{cite web | url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=15870 | title=As Blood Runs Black - Allegiance review }} Unearth and Killswitch Engage. As Blood Runs Black utilizes various elements of death metal, melodic death metal, hardcore punk,{{cite web | url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/10594/As-Blood-Runs-Black-Allegiance/ | title=As Blood Runs Black - Allegiance (Album review 6) | Sputnikmusic }} metalcore, black metal, and grindcore by employing techniques such as death growls, shouts, shrieks, death metal riffs, tremolo picking, double kick and blast beat drums, drop-tuned breakdowns and melodic guitar solos.{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/allegiance-mw0000435805 | title=Allegiance - as Blood Runs Black | Album | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }}
Background
As Blood Runs Black was formed in 2003 in Los Angeles by vocalists Louie Ruvalcaba and Enrique "Ricky" Martin, guitarists Bijon Roybal and Kyle Hasenstab, bassist Richard Reyes, and drummer Brian "Animal" Matute. Matute would depart the band shortly after its formation and was replaced by Hector "Lech" De Santiago. The band recorded a demo in 2004 and another one in 2005; both demos featured the songs "Hester Prynne" and "In Dying Days", both of which would be re-recorded for Allegiance.{{cite web |website=Spirit of Metal |url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/album/Demo_2004/115344 |title=As Blood Runs Black Demo 2004 (Demo) |access-date=June 26, 2022}}{{cite web |website=Spirit of Metal |url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/album/Demo_2005/115345 |title=As Blood Runs Black Demo 2005 (Demo) |access-date=June 26, 2022}}
After the 2005 demo, the band was preparing to enter the studio to record its debut album, but every member except De Santiago left the band. De Santiago recruited vocalist Chris Blair, guitarist Ernie Flores, and bassist Nick Stewart to resume work on the band's debut. This lineup would record the Halloween of Massacre demo, which featured the songs "In Dying Days", "My Fears..." (later re-titled "My Fears Have Become Phobias"), "Hester Prynne", and "Chug Chug" (later re-titled "Strife (Chug Chug)");{{cite web |website=Spirit of Metal |url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/album/Halloween_of_Massacre/115346 |title=As Blood Runs Black Halloween of Massacre (Demo) |access-date=June 26, 2022}} all four songs would be re-recorded for Allegiance.
Allegiance was recorded in early 2006 and was self-produced by the band, with Baron Bodnar serving as executive producer.
Reception
Reviewers complimented the album's musicianship. Reviewers criticized the lack of differentiation between the album's tracks.{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/allegiance-mw0000435805 | title=Allegiance - as Blood Runs Black | Album | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 =Allmusic
| rev1Score ={{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |author= Eduardo Rivadavia |title=Review: Allegiance |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/allegiance-mw0000435805|publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=May 22, 2013}}
| rev2 = Blogcritics
|rev2score={{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|author= Brian Gould|title=CD Review: As Blood Runs Black – Allegiance|url= http://blogcritics.org/music/article/cd-review-as-blood-runs-black//|publisher=Blog Critics |accessdate=May 22, 2013}}
}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_writing = As Blood Runs Black
| title1 = Intro
| length1 = 0:57
| note1 = Instrumental
| title2 = In Dying Days
| length2 = 3:41
| title3 = My Fears Have Become Phobias
| length3 = 3:59
| title4 = Hester Prynne
| length4 = 3:38
| title5 = Pouring Reign
| length5 = 3:13
| note5 = Instrumental
| title6 = The Brighter Side of Suffering
| length6 = 4:54
| title7 = The Beautiful Mistake
| length7 = 4:34
| title8 = Strife (Chug Chug)
| length8 = 3:46
| title9 = Beneath the Surface
| length9 = 4:38
| title10 = Legends Never Die
| length10 = 3:44
|total_length = 37:04
}}
Credits
;As Blood Runs Black
- Chris Blair – vocals
- Ernie Flores – guitar
- Nick Stewart – bass
- Hector "Lech" De Santiago – drums
;Production
- Produced by As Blood Runs Black
- Recorded by Zack Ohren @ Castle Ultimate Studios
- Executive Producer & Management – Baron Bodnar
;Artwork
- Layout by Calvin Exline