Death Atlas
{{Infobox album
| name = Death Atlas
| type = studio
| artist = Cattle Decapitation
| cover = Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas.jpg
| alt = a skeleton with a scythe holds up the world like Atlas
| released = {{Start date|2019|11|29}}
| recorded = May 2019
| studio = Flatline Audio, Westminster, Colorado
| genre = Technical death metal, deathgrind
| length = 54:58
| language =
| label = Metal Blade
| producer = Dave Otero
| prev_title = The Anthropocene Extinction
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Terrasite
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Death Atlas
| type = Studio
| single1 = One Day Closer to the End of the World
| single1date = September 5, 2019{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/cattle-decapitation-one-day-closer-end-of-world-song/|title=Cattle Decapitation Debut Cinematic New 'Death Atlas' Song |author=Joe Divita|date=September 5, 2019|accessdate=September 5, 2019|publisher=Loudwire}}
| single2 = Bring Back the Plague
| single2date = October 3, 2019
| single3 = Death Atlas
| single3date = November 21, 2019
| single4 = Finish Them
| single4date = January 19, 2021
}}
}}
Death Atlas is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Cattle Decapitation. It was released on November 29, 2019, via Metal Blade Records. Its release coincided with Black Friday and came more than four years after their previous studio album, 2015's The Anthropocene Extinction.
It is the band's first album to feature second guitarist Belisario Dimuzio and new bassist Olivier Pinard. At just under 55 minutes, it is also their longest album to date. The album debuted at number 116 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 56 in Germany.
Background
Death Atlas was recorded at Denver's Flatline Audio with producer Dave Otero. Album artwork was by Wes Benscoter.[https://www.metalblade.com/us/news/cattle-decapitation-reveals-details-for-new-album/ Cattle Decapitation reveals details for new album]. Metal Blade Records. Vocalist Travis Ryan comments: "We have crafted what we feel is our strongest album to date", (...) "Musically and lyrically, there is a lot of grief, anger, hate, passion, and emotion poured into this one".[https://www.theprp.com/2019/07/18/news/cattle-decapitation-share-first-tease-of-new-music-from-upcoming-album-death-atlas/ Cattle Decapitation Share First Tease Of New Music From Upcoming Album "Death Atlas"]. theprp.com. JUL 18TH, 2019. Prior to the album release, the band co-headlined the 2019 Summer Slaughter Tour.
The opening track "Anthropogenic: End Transmission" samples the Greetings in 55 Languages from the Voyager Golden Record.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| aggregate1 =
| aggregate1score =
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/death-atlas-mw0003320403|title=Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas|website=AllMusic |accessdate=June 8, 2023}}
| rev2 = Blabbermouth.net
| rev2Score = 9/10{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/death-atlas|title=Cattle Decapitation Death Atlas|date=21 December 2019 |accessdate=August 25, 2022}}
| rev3 = Consequence of Sound
| rev4 = Distorted Sound
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev5Score = 6/10{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/cattle_decapitation-death_atlas|title = Cattle Decapitation Death Atlas | Exclaim!}}
| rev6 = No Clean Singing
| rev6Score = favorable{{Cite web|url=https://www.nocleansinging.com/2019/11/20/cattle-decapitation-death-atlas/|title=Cattle Decapitation Death Atlas|date=20 November 2019 |accessdate=August 25, 2022}}
| rev7 = Metal Storm
| rev7Score = 8.1/10{{Cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=15331|title=Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas review|accessdate=August 25, 2022}}
}}
Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-metal-albums-2019/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=March 7, 2021 |date=December 3, 2019}} Decibel magazine named it the 20th best album of 2019.
Track listing
{{Track listing
|title1 = Anthropogenic: End Transmission
|length1 = 2:15
|title2 = The Geocide
|length2 = 3:43
|title3 = Be Still Our Bleeding Hearts
|length3 = 3:54
|title4 = Vulturous
|length4 = 4:59
|title5 = The Great Dying
|length5 = 1:12
|title6 = One Day Closer to the End of the World
|length6 = 3:47
|title7 = Bring Back the Plague
|length7 = 4:28
|title8 = Absolute Destitute
|length8 = 4:35
|title9 = The Great Dying II
|length9 = 1:05
|title10 = Finish Them
|length10 = 2:55
|title11 = With All Disrespect
|length11 = 4:31
|title12 = Time's Cruel Curtain
|length12 = 5:31
|title13 = The Unerasable Past
|length13 = 2:50
|title14 = Death Atlas
|length14 = 9:14
|total_length = 54:58
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks
| title15 = In the Kingdom of the Blind, the One-Eyed Are Kings
| length15 = 4:10
| note15 = Dead Can Dance cover
| title16 = An Extreme Indifference to Human Life
| length16 = 3:15
| total_length = 62:23
}}
Personnel
=Cattle Decapitation=
- Travis Ryan – vocals, keyboards {{small|(track 5, 9)}}
- Josh Elmore – guitars
- Dave McGraw – drums
- Belisario Dimuzio – guitars
- Olivier Pinard – bass
=Additional personnel=
- Jon Fishman – narration {{small|(track 13)}}{{cite web |author=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=September 5, 2019 |title=Cattle Decapitation Share First Single From "Death Atlas," Reveal More Album Details |url=http://www.invisibleoranges.com/cattle-decapitation-share-first-single-off-death-atlas-reveal-more-album-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906171735/http://www.invisibleoranges.com/cattle-decapitation-share-first-single-off-death-atlas-reveal-more-album-details/ |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |accessdate=November 25, 2019 |website=Invisible Oranges}}
- Riccardo Conforti – keyboards {{small|(track 1)}}
- Laure Le Prunenec – vocals {{small|(track 14)}}
- Tony Parker – keyboards {{small|(track 13)}}
- Ottone Pesante – horns {{small|(track 16)}}
- Melissa Lucas-Harlow – narration {{small|(track 5)}}
=Production=
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Digital Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/5B41F218E91D208AF21D7A901DF1EE6F292F04230DDC79E2CB9AD796D5F91474/ARIA%20Digital%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=26|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=December 9, 2019|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}
| 10 |
| {{album chart|Germany4|56|id=396962|artist=Cattle Decapitation|album=Death Atlas|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 6, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|97|artist=Cattle Decapitation|album=Death Atlas|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 11, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|116|artist=Cattle Decapitation|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 10, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|3|artist=Cattle Decapitation|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 11, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|12|artist=Cattle Decapitation|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 11, 2019}} |
References
External links
{{external media
| video1 = {{YouTube|MmYcFP1vTdk|Cattle Decapitation Presents: "The Unerasable Past" A Short Film by Wes Benscoter}}
| float = right
| width = 220px
| video2 = {{YouTube|lXGSLKWeVwE|Cattle Decapitation "Bring Back the Plague" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)}}}}
- [http://www.cattledecapitation.com/ Official website]
{{Cattle Decapitation}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Dave Otero
Category:Albums recorded at Flatline Audio
Category:Albums with cover art by Wes Benscoter