True Power
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = True Power
| type = studio
| artist = I Prevail
| cover = I Prevail - True Power.png
| alt =
| released = August 19, 2022
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
- Metalcore
- post-hardcore
- {{nowrap|hard rock}}
- rap metal
- nu metal
| length = 44:27
| label = Fearless
| producer = Tyler Smyth
| prev_title = Trauma
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = True Power
| type = studio
| single1 = Body Bag
| single1date = June 17, 2022
| single2 = Bad Things
| single2date = July 12, 2022
| single3 = Self-Destruction
| single3date = August 19, 2022
| single4 = There's Fear in Letting Go
| single4date = November 22, 2022
| single5 = Deep End
| single5date = March 16, 2023
| single6 = Closure
| single6date = November 4, 2023
}}
}}
True Power is the third studio album by American rock band I Prevail, released on August 19, 2022. The album was proceeded by the singles "Body Bag" and "Bad Things". "Self-Destruction", "There's Fear in Letting Go", "Deep End" and "Closure" also later became singles. It was the final studio album to feature founding member and clean vocalist Brian Burkheiser before his departure from the band on May 15, 2025.
Background and recording
The album was produced by Tyler Smyth, who also produced the band's previous album, Trauma.{{cite web|first=Samuel|last=Stevens|url=https://www.crucialrhythm.com/i-prevail-true-power-review|title=I Prevail - True Power|work=Crucial Rhythm|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2022}} In an interview with Wall of Sound, guitarist Steve Menoian discussed the process of making the album:
{{Blockquote|"[We] were...drawn to way more of, just like rock and roll vibes on this record and I think part of that was like bucking expectation, but it’s also part of just what we were drawn to at the time. So I feel like we wanted to always have this record...[keep] you guessing and not feeling like you could ever really predict what’s coming in a lot of spots. And I feel that just was kind of the natural songwriting evolution that we were drawn to [on] this record and yeah, I think it’s a cool blend of styles for what we were able to create."{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Brown|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/08/18/i-prevails-heavy-true-power-is-almost-unleashed/|title=Start Your Countdown Until You Bear Witness to I Prevail's Heavy True Power…|work=Wall of Sound|date=August 18, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022}}}}
Composition
True Power has been described as metalcore,{{cite web|first=Chanel|last=Issa|url=https://www.hysteriamag.com/prevail-true-power/|title=I Prevail True Power|work=Hysteria Mag|date=August 18, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} post-hardcore, hard rock, rap metal, and nu metal, with elements of pop, trap, electronic, and grunge. Vocalists Brian Burkheiser and Eric Vanlerberghe both incorporate rap vocals on the album.{{cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/08/14/i-prevail-true-power-album-review/|title=I Prevail – True Power (Album Review)|work=Wall of Sound|date=August 14, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}}
Release
On June 17, 2022, the band released the lead single "Body Bag".{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/06/16/news/i-prevail-to-release-new-album-true-power-in-august-debut-body-bag/|title=I Prevail To Release New Album "True Power" In August, Debut "Body Bag"|work=The PRP|date=June 17, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-i-prevails-super-heavy-new-song-body-bag|title=Hear I Prevail's Super Heavy New Song "Body Bag"|work=Revolver|date=June 17, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}}{{cite web|first=Martin|last=Kielty|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/watch-i-prevails-body-bag-single-from-third-album-true-power|title=Watch I Prevail's Body Bag single from third album True Power|work=Metal Hammer|date=June 18, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} On July 12, 2022, the band released the second single "Bad Things".{{cite web|first=Jack|last=Rogers|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/i-prevail-have-released-an-emotionally-massive-new-track-bad-things|title=I Prevail Have Released An Emotionally Massive New Track 'Bad Things'|work=Rock Sound|date=July 12, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715041513/https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/i-prevail-have-released-an-emotionally-massive-new-track-bad-things|url-status=dead}} On August 19, 2022, the band released a music video for the song "Self-Destruction".{{cite web|first=Jack|last=Rogers|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/i-prevail-reveal-dystopian-video-for-self-destruction|title=I Prevail Reveal Dystopian Video For 'Self-Destruction'|work=Rock Sound|date=August 19, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} The album was released on August 19, 2022. On November 22, 2022, the band released a music video for the song "There’s Fear In Letting Go".{{cite web|first=Jack|last=Rogers|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/watch-i-prevails-gravity-defying-video-for-theres-fear-in-letting-go|title=Watch I Prevail's Gravity-Defying Video For 'There's Fear In Letting Go'|work=Rock Sound|date=November 23, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}} On March 16, 2023, the band released a music video for the song "Deep End".{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/03/16/news/i-prevail-share-deep-end-music-video/|title=I Prevail Share "Deep End" Music Video|work=The PRP|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://heavymag.com.au/i-prevail-release-new-music-video-for-deep-end/|title=I Prevail Release New Music Video For "Deep End'|work=Heavy Mag|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Kerrang!
| rev1score = 4/5{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Travers|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-i-prevail-true-power|title=Album review: I Prevail – True Power|work=Kerrang!|date=August 17, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2022}}
| rev2 = Hysteria Mag
| rev3 = The Spill Magazine
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Melinda|last=Welsh|url=https://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-i-prevail-true-power/|title=Spill Album Review: I Prevail – True Power|work=The Spill Magazine|date=19 August 2022 |access-date=August 19, 2022}}
| rev4 = Sputnikmusic
| rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|author=Jesper L.|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/85429/I-Prevail-True-Power/|title=I Prevail – True Power|website=Sputnikmusic|date=August 25, 2022|access-date=August 27, 2022}}
| rev5 = Wall of Sound
}}
True Power has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Paul Travers of Kerrang! complimented the album's dynamics and production stating, "I Prevail have expanded on the lighter moments from Trauma. But there’s always an explosion waiting to drop, and producing those jaw-dropping moments is one of the things they do so well." Chanel Issa of Hysteria Mag felt that "[the album] breathed new life into I Prevail’s sound, placing them in high contention for the coveted title of kings of the metalcore sandpit.
Melinda Welsh of The Spill Magazine praised unclean vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe for "[stepping out of his comfort zone...to deliver some softer-spoken rap style lyrics and clean vocals..." and called True Power "their most aggressive album yet." In a less positive review of the album, Jesper L. of Sputnikmusic considered the album to be a "reminder that overblown production can’t hide lazy songwriting." Wall of Sound stated "I Prevail take everything they did on Trauma and dial it up to 11." On November 2, 2022, their single 'Bad Things' have peaked number 1 on the Billboard Active Rock Radio Charts, the first time since 2020 with their hit single, Hurricane.
Track listing
All songs written by Brian Burkheiser, Steve Menoian, Eric Vanlerberghe, Tyler Smyth and Jon Eberhard except where noted.
{{Track listing
| title1 = 0:00
| writer1 = {{hlist|Burkheiser|Menoian|Vanlerberghe|Smyth}}
| length1 = 0:41
| title2 = There’s Fear in Letting Go
| writer2 = {{hlist|Burkheiser|Menoian|Vanlerberghe|Smyth}}
| length2 = 3:54
| title3 = Body Bag
| length3 = 3:16
| title4 = Self-Destruction
| length4 = 2:26
| title5 = Bad Things
| length5 = 3:48
| title6 = Fake
| length6 = 2:51
| title7 = Judgement Day
| length7 = 2:46
| title8 = FWYTYK
| length8 = 3:17
| title9 = Deep End
| length9 = 3:26
| title10 = Long Live the King
| length10 = 3:00
| title11 = Choke
| length11 = 3:02
| title12 = The Negative
| length12 = 2:20
| title13 = Closure
| writer13 = {{hlist|Burkheiser|Menoian|Vanlerberghe|Smyth|Eberhard|Erik Ron}}
| length13 = 3:09
| title14 = Visceral
| length14 = 2:44
| title15 = Doomed
| writer15 = {{hlist|Burkheiser|Menoian|Vanlerberghe|Smyth}}
| length15 = 3:47
| total_length = 44:27
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Expanded Editon
| title16 = Bad Things (Stripped)
| length16 = 3:41
| title17 = There’s Fear in Letting Go (Stripped)
| length17 = 3:02
| title18 = Deep End (Stripped)
| length18 = 3:30
| title19 = Hate This Song (feat. All Time Low)
| length19 = 2:56
| total_length = 57:44
}}
Personnel
Credits retrieved from album's liner notes.
I Prevail
- Brian Burkheiser – clean vocals, composer
- Steve Menoian – lead guitar, bass, composer
- Eric Vanlerberghe – unclean vocals, composer
- Dylan Bowman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Gabe Helguera – drums
Additional Musicians
- Bonnie McIntosh – piano on "Doomed"
Production
- Tyler Smyth – production, engineering, mixing
- Jon Eberhard – additional production
- Joey Doherty – additional production contributions
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Design
- 23in – art direction, cover design
- John Van Unen – digital illustration
- Strange Practice – design
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for True Power ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|5|artist=I Prevail|album=True Power|rowheader=true|access-date=August 26, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|42|artist=I Prevail|album=True Power|rowheader=true|access-date=August 31, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums/2022-09-03/|title=Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of September 3, 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 30, 2022}}
| 68 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Germany4|28|id=502340|artist=I Prevail|album=True Power|rowheader=true|access-date=August 26, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|84|date=20220826|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|50|artist=I Prevail|album=True Power|rowheader=true|access-date=August 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|96|date=20220826|rowheader=true|access-date=August 26, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UKRock|3|date=20220826|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite tweet|user=billboardcharts|number=1564329830576963587|title=Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)...|date=August 29, 2022|access-date=August 30, 2022}}
| 48 |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title
! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="width:5em; font-size:90%;"| US Main. |
| scope="row"| "Bad Things"
| 1 |
| scope="row"| "Deep End"
| 4 |
| scope="row"| "Closure"
| 25 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{I Prevail}}
{{Authority control}}