Divisions (album)

Plans for a third studio album were revealed as early as January 2018, though frontman Dustin Bates stated its release would be far in the future, as he was taking a break from Starset to release a side-project electronic album under the moniker of "MNQN".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8095734/starset-dustin-bates-new-project-mannequin|title=Starset Frontman Dustin Bates Details Electronic-Leaning Project MNQN|magazine=Billboard |publisher=}} Talks of a third album arose again in August 2018, upon the band's announcement of the re-release of their second album, Vessels, as Vessels 2.0.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/starset-reimagine-vessels-music-deluxe-edition-reworked-bringing-it-down/|title=Starset Reimagine 'Vessels' Music for Deluxe Edition|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire|date=17 August 2018 }} Shortly after the April 2019 release of MNQN material, in May 2019, the band announced that the third album was scheduled for release on September 13, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/starset-2019-tour-album-release-date/|title=Starset Announce 2019 U.S. Tour + New Album Release Date|first=Joe|last=DiVita|website=Loudwire|date=13 May 2019 }} The album's title, Divisions, was announced on August 15, 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/8/15/starset-announces-new-album-divisions-listen-to-single-manif.html|title=Starset announces new album, "Divisions"; listen to single "Manifest" now - Music News - ABC News Radio|website=abcnewsradioonline.com|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=2020-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325174419/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/8/15/starset-announces-new-album-divisions-listen-to-single-manif.html|url-status=dead}} The album's first single, "Manifest", was released the same day, alongside its music video.{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2019/08/17/starset-release-manifest-music-video-from-forthcoming-album-divisions/|title=Starset Release 'Manifest' Music Video From Forthcoming Album "Divisions"|date=August 16, 2019|website=Wall Of Sound}}{{Cite web|url=https://bringthenoise.com/blog/starset-announce-new-lp-divisions-share-lead|title=Starset Announce New LP 'Divisions,' Share Lead Single "Manifest" / the NOISE|website=the NOISE}} The album is the first to feature session drummer Luke Holland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/starset-manifest-video-luke-holland/|title=Starset release new dystopian video for "MANIFEST"|first=Alex|last=Darus|website=Alternative Press |date=August 16, 2019}}

Much like the band's prior two albums, the album conceptually refers to frontman Dustin Bates' fictional story about a dystopian future struggling with the misuse of technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/starset-to-release-divisions-album-in-september-manifest-video-available/|title=STARSET To Release 'Divisions' Album In September; 'Manifest' Video Available|date=August 15, 2019|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}} The music video for "Manifest" established the setting of New West, where denizens of a work camp are mind controlled into compliance through technology embedded into their heads, while others start to stage a rebellion.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/starset-divisions-album-manifest-video/|title=Starset Announce 'DIVISIONS' Album, Reveal 'MANIFEST' Video|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire|date=15 August 2019 }} Three other songs, "Where the Skies End", "Diving Bell", and "Stratosphere" were released in the leadup to the album, with accompanying music videos featuring citizens from various socioeconomic backgrounds affected by the mind control technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/starset-releases-music-video-for-new-song-diving-bell/|title=STARSET Releases Music Video For New Song 'Diving Bell'|date=August 29, 2019|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/starset-continue-to-break-down-divisions-with-diving-bell-video/|title=Starset Continue to Break Down 'DIVISIONS' With 'Diving Bell'|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire|date=29 August 2019 }}{{Citation|title=STARSET - STRATOSPHERE|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfOSJg7_qv8|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = A Brief History of the Future

| length1 = 1:37

| writer1 = {{hlist|Dustin Bates|Paul Trust}}

| title2 = Manifest

| length2 = 4:27

| writer2 = {{hlist|Bates|Daniel Ticotin|Garrison Turner}}

| title3 = Echo

| length3 = 3:36

| writer3 = {{hlist|Bates|Ticotin|Turner|Stacy Hogan}}

| title4 = Where the Skies End

| length4 = 6:33

| writer4 = {{hlist|Bates|Trust}}

| title5 = Perfect Machine

| length5 = 5:23

| writer5 = {{hlist|Bates|Trust}}

| title6 = Telekinetic

| length6 = 5:12

| writer6 = {{hlist|Bates|Joe Rickard}}

| title7 = Stratosphere

| length7 = 4:17

| writer7 = {{hlist|Bates|Rickard}}

| title8 = Faultline

| length8 = 3:36

| writer8 = {{hlist|Bates|Stevie Aiello}}

| title9 = Solstice

| length9 = 5:41

| writer9 = {{hlist|Bates|Trust}}

| title10 = Trials

| length10 = 4:18

| writer10 = {{hlist|Bates|Johnny Lee Andrews}}

| title11 = Waking Up

| length11 = 3:49

| writer11 = {{hlist|Bates|Aiello}}

| title12 = Other Worlds Than These

| length12 = 4:18

| writer12 = {{hlist|Bates|Rickard|Lucio Rubino}}

| title13 = Diving Bell

| length13 = 5:38

| writer13 = {{hlist|Bates|Rickard}}

| total_length = 58:25

}}

Notes

• All track titles are stylized in all uppercase.

Musicians

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Dustin Bates – vocals, backing vocals, production
• Joe Rickard – programming; drums (track 12)
• Alex Niceford – programming
• Igor Khoroshev – additional programming
• Niels Nielsen – additional programming
• Paul Trust – additional programming, interlude music
• Randy Torres – interlude sound design
• Ron DeChant – backing vocals
• Brock Richards – backing vocals
• JR Bareis – guitars
• Lucio Rubino – bass; guitars (track 12)
• Luke Holland – drums
• David Davidson – strings arrangement and violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Conni Ellisor – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Karen Winkelmann – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Janet Darnall – violin (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Betsy Lamb – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Simona Russo – viola (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Carole Rabinowitz – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)
• Sari Reist – cello (all except tracks 7 and 12)

{{div col end}}

Technical

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Dustin Bates – production
• Joe Rickard – co-production (track 2), engineering, digital editing, guitars engineering
• Nick Chiari – co-production (track 11)
• Dan Lancaster – mixing
• Rhys May – mixing assistance
• Paul Decarli – digital editing
• Taylor Pollert – string recording
• Dave Schiffman – drums engineering
• Mike Plotnikoff – guitars engineering
• Michael Closson III – assistant engineering
• Niels Nielsen – mastering
• Tnsn Dvsn – creative direction, album art and package

{{div col end}}

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Category:2019 albums

Category:Fearless Records albums

Category:Starset albums