''Arbiter'' is the fifth studio album by American

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...

band

Hopesfall Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, left the band ...

. The album, the band's first since 2007's ''

Magnetic North The north magnetic pole, also known as the magnetic north pole, is a point on the surface of Earth's Northern Hemisphere at which the planet's magnetic field points vertically downward (in other words, if a magnetic compass needle is allowed t ...

'', was released on July 13, 2018 through Graphic Nature /

Equal Vision Records Equal Vision Records is an independent record label based in Albany, New York. It was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo, singer for the punk bands Youth of Today, Shelter, and Better Than a Thousand. The label originally existed solely to ...

Background and release

Shortly after the release of ''

'' in May 2007, every member of Hopesfall left the band, with only vocalist Jay Forrest remaining. Around the same time, Jay Forrest, in an interview with ''Thrash Magazine'', said the record label,

Trustkill Records Trustkill Records was an American independent record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle ...

, altered the album's track listing without the band's knowledge. Cory Seals (guitar), Robert DeLauro (bass), Paul Cadena (guitar), and Joey Manizone (drums) toured in support of the album with Forrest. After the tour's completion, in September 2007 Forrest announced that the band would be changing their name, but these plans never came to fruition. Hopesfall announced their breakup in January 2008 after all of the replacement members left the band. After the band's breakup, former drummer Jason Trabue accused former label Trustkill Records of withholding royalties and providing the band with insufficient financial support and promotion. Hopesfall briefly reunited in 2011 with Doug Venable on vocals, Joshua Brigham and Ryan Parrish on guitar, Pat Aldrich on bass, and Adam Morgan on drums. The band played two shows, one in

Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in N ...

and one in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

, performing songs from ''

The Frailty of Words Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, left the ban ...

'', ''

No Wings to Speak Of ''No Wings to Speak Of'' is an EP by melodic hardcore band Hopesfall. The EP was first released on Takehold Records in 2001, and was re-released in 2002 by Trustkill Records and on vinyl in 2008 by One Day Savior Recordings. Track listing Pe ...

'' and ''

The Satellite Years ''The Satellite Years'' is the second studio album by the melodic hardcore band Hopesfall. It was released in 2002 on Trustkill Records, the group's first for the company. The album was also released on vinyl by One Day Savior Recordings. The al ...

''. The band reunited in 2016, signing to

and re-issued ''The Satellite Years'', ''

A Types ''A Types'' is the third full-length album released by the post-hardcore band Hopesfall. The musical direction of this album deviated vastly from their hardcore roots, instead opting for a more rock-oriented sound. On January 28, 2017, the alb ...

'' and ''Magnetic North'' on vinyl. "H.A. Wallace Space Academy", the group's first new song in 11 years, was released on April 11, 2018 and announced a new album, named ''Arbiter'', would be released on July 13. The album's name, ''Arbiter'', was originally planned to be the new name for the band until Equal Vision suggested they stick with the "Hopesfall" name. The album's second single, "Tunguska", was released on June 12. Third single, "Faint Object Camera", was released on June 28; the song was named after the camera of the same name that was installed on the

Hubble Space Telescope The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versa ...

from 1990 to 2002. "Faint Object Camera" was included in ''

Alternative Press Alternative press may refer to: Individual publications * ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine Alternative journalism * Alternative media ** Alternative media (U.S. political left) ** Alternative media (U.S. political ri ...

s list of "10 New Songs You Need to Hear This Week" on June 29, 2018. A music video for "Bradley Fighting Vehicle" was released on August 9 and features clips from the band's performances at the St. Vitus Bar in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

Reception

Upon its release, ''Arbiter'' has received highly positive reviews from critics. Jeannie Blue of Cryptic Rock praised the album, favorably comparing the song "I Catapult" to the

Hum Hum may refer to: Science * Hum (sound), a sound produced with closed lips, or by insects, or other periodic motion * Mains hum, an electric or electromagnetic phenomenon * The Hum, an acoustic phenomenon * Venous hum, a physiological sensation ...

song "

Stars A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night, but their immense distances from Earth ma ...

". Blue said the album "proudly carries the flag for the band's signature sound; oft muddy tones, gritty vocals, and always thoughtful lyrics and anchor a collection that is reminiscent of a better time" that is "steeped in

melodic hardcore Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. It generally incorporates fast rhythms, melodic and often distorted guitar riffs, and vocal styles tending towards shouting and ...

", but is "something much more." Luke Spencer of Music Existence also gave the album a positive review, commending the album's riffs and melody and the band's ability to mix nostalgic sounds with new ones.

Track listing

Charts

Personnel

* Jay Forrest – lead vocals * Joshua Brigham – guitar * Dustin Nadler – guitar * Chad Waldrup – bass, backing vocals * Adam Morgan – drums

References

{{Authority control Hopesfall albums Equal Vision Records albums 2018 albums