Angels & Devils

Infobox Album | Name = Angels & Devils
Type = studio
Artist = Fuel


Released = August 7, 2007
Recorded = Chop Shop Studios

Hollywood, California
Genre = Hard rock
Alternative rock
Length = 45:40
Label = Sony
Producer = Scott Humphrey, Carl Bell
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://wc02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:knfqxzy5ldhe link]
Last album = "The Best of Fuel"
(2005)
This album = "Angels & Devils"
(2007)
Next album = TBA |

"Angels & Devils" is Fuel's fourth studio album, released on August 7, 2007. It is Fuel's first studio album since their 2003 release "Natural Selection", and is the band's first album to feature new vocalist Toryn Green.

Former Godsmack drummer Tommy Stewart was announced as the band's new drummer but was unable to perform on the album due to other commitments so Josh Freese and Tommy Lee performed drums in his place. [http://www.fuelweb.com/ Official Fuel website] ] [http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/fuel_were_excited_about_a_whole_new_chapter_in_the_bands_progression.html Fuel: 'We're Excited About a Whole New Chapter in the Band's Progression'] ]

Background

Following the "Natural Selection" album and tour, longtime drummer Kevin Miller was dismissed from the group in 2004. [ [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=815 Ex-Fuel Drummer Explains His Departure] ] In 2006 lead singer/guitarist Brett Scallions left the group as well, citing tensions and creative differences that had existed between him and guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell. [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=884 Carl Bell of Fuel Speaks Out] ] According to Bell, some of the tensions with Scallions originated from his desire to contribute to the group, "He wanted to write more, and be [involved] a little bit in the writing, which was fine with me; I can’t stop somebody from writing." Bell had also stated that he was unhappy with Scallions voice, feeling that Scallions had lost some range, although Scallions has stated that his voice had nothing to do with his decision to leave the group. [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=893 Brett Scallions Tells His Story] ]

Around the time that Scallions left the group, rumors began to rise that American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry might be in line to replace Scallions as Fuel's frontman. Daughtry had performed a version of the band's 2000 Top 40 hit, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" in one of his performances on the show and Bell has stated that several conversations occurred between Daughtry and the band reflecting the possibility of him joining the group, " [Daughtry] was saying ‘Hey if I don’t make this American Idol thing, maybe there is something that both of us can work out.'" Ultimately Daughtry would decline the opportunity to join the band, so Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie began searching for a possible replacement for Scallions in the Los Angeles area. Bell and Abercrombie felt that there were a paucity of singers in the area, so they wound up allowing potential singers to send in their auditions through the internet. After going through a large amount of audition tapes that were sent in and auditioning other singers, Bell and Abercrombie chose Toryn Green as the band's new frontman. Green was chosen as he had the image, preparation, and knew the lyrics to the songs he was singing during the audition. [ [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=832 Fuel Names New Lead Singer] ]

Writing, recording and production

Bell spent more than two years writing material for "Angels & Devils", drawing inspiration from the departure of former members Miller and Scallions as well as from his own relationship troubles. [ [http://www.sohood.com/1/content/view/2126/41/ "Fuel to Release Fourth Album of New Material"] ] Bell had most of the album written and demoed before Green joined the group.

For the recording of the album, Fuel hired on producer Scott Humphrey, who had previously worked with Rob Zombie and Mötley Crüe. Bell liked working and recording in Humphrey's studio, as Humphrey kept the instruments and amps miked up at all times, which allowed them to go back and change and/or add parts to songs that were recorded previously. According to Bell, "Most studios, as soon as you do the drums they will tear down the drums... So with Scott’s setup, that alone adds a different level of what you can do with as far as the record goes and as far as production style goes."

"Angels & Devils" is the first Fuel album where outside collaborators are credited in the songwriting.

Promotion

The first single released off of the album was "Wasted Time," and was followed by "Gone" on October 23rd. The video to "Wasted Time" was released on September 24th, there has been no mention about the possibility of a video being produced for "Gone."

On August 10, the band performed "Wasted Time" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". [ [http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/printer_1338553.php Fuel to perform on Tonight Show with Jay Leno] ,]

The album debuted at #42 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 15,000 copies in its first week. [Katie Hasty, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003625922 "After Five-Year Absence, UGK Scores First No. 1 Album"] , Billboard.com, August 15, 2007.] The album slid down the charts quickly after its debut and has failed to sell as well as previous Fuel albums have.

World Wrestling Entertainment has used two songs off this album. "Gone" for their pay-per-view event "", and "Leave the Memories Alone" for their tribute videos to the retiring wrestler Ric Flair.

Track listing

All songs written by Carl Bell, except where noted
# "Gone" - 3:55
# "I Should Have Told You" (Bell, Marti Frederiksen) - 3:52
# "Forever" - 3:42
# "Wasted Time (G-Mix)" - 4:07
# "Leave the Memories Alone" - 3:57
# "Mess" - 0:13
# "Not This Time" - 3:32
# "Scars in the Making" (Bell, Keith Wallen) - 3:25
# "Hangin' Round" - 3:48
# "Again" - 3:57
# "Halos of the Son" (Toryn Green, Jeff Abercrombie, Ryan Giles) - 3:29
# "Angels Take a Soul" - 3:47
# "Wasted Time (S-Mix)" - 4:16

iTunes bonus tracks

Live acoustic versions were made available to customers who purchased the album through iTunes that were not available on the physical album.
# "Shimmer" - 3:23
# "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" - 3:56
# "Falls on Me" - 4:11
# "Forever" - 3:43

Personnel

*Toryn Green: Vocals
*Carl Bell: Guitars
*Jeff Abercrombie: Bass guitar
*Tommy Stewart: Drums (Credited in album's liner notes, but did not participate in the recording)

Additional personnel

*Josh Freese: Drums
*Tommy Lee: Drums

References