The Tropic Rot is the fifth studio album by American experimental

Experimental rock

Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....

 hardcore

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band Poison the Well

Poison the Well (band)

Poison the Well was an experimental hardcore band from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. Guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining members of the band who were involved since their inception, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira was...

. The album was released on July 7, 2009 through Ferret Music

Ferret Music

Ferret Music is an independent record label, founded in 1996. The label is owned in part by NORA's vocalist, Carl Severson, and in part by Philadelphian artist manager Paul Conroy, and based in West Windsor Township, New Jersey...

. The album was originally intended to be produced by J. Robbins

J. Robbins

James Robbins is an American rock music artist. He began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led four of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, and Channels. He was a touring bassist for Scream and played bass on the debut 7" from Jack Potential, which...

, however due to a family emergency he had to be replaced by Steve Evetts

Steve Evetts

Steve Evetts is a music producer who has produced music for Alesana, Poison the Well, A Static Lullaby, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Symphony X, Saves the Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Story of the Year, Every Time I Die, Earth Crisis, Still Remains and Our Last Night.-Partial...

.

Despite positive reviews, The Tropic Rot was Poison the Well's worst charting album to date, peaking at number 180 on the Billboard 200

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

.

Track listing

All music and lyrics written by Poison the Well.

1. "Exist Underground" – 3:36
2. "Sparks It Will Rain" – 4:07
3. "Cinema" – 4:22
4. "Pamplemousse" – 5:51
5. "Who Doesn't Love a Good Dismemberment" – 4:05
6. "Antarctica Inside Me" – 5:07
7. "When You Lose I Lose As Well" – 3:30
8. "Celebrate the Pyre" – 3:04
9. "Are You Anywhere" – 5:25
10. "Makeshift Clay You" – 2:40
11. "Without You and One Other I Am Nothing" – 5:33

Vinyl edition bonus tracks

12. "D10 D11" – 4:10
12. "Deportation Spreads" – 4:08

Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks (from I/III / II/III / III/III

I/III / II/III / III/III

I/III / II/III / III/III is a limited edition set of three 7" vinyl records by post-hardcore band Poison the Well. The collection features three EPs released both physically and digitally that contain songs written and recorded for the band's fourth studio album, but were never released...

)

12. "New Fast" – 2:11
13. "Purple Sabbath" – 4:52
14. "Shuffle" – 3:20
15. "Bowie" – 4:40
16. "A#No.1" – 2:35
17. "Run Desire Gone Clean" – 1:02

Personnel

Poison the Well

• Brad Clifford – guitar
• Bradley Grace – bass, background vocals, guitar, stomps
• Chris Hornbrook – drums and percussion
• Jeff Moreira – vocals
• Ryan Primack – guitar, keys

Production

• Produced and engineered by Steve Evetts
  Steve Evetts
  Steve Evetts is a music producer who has produced music for Alesana, Poison the Well, A Static Lullaby, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Symphony X, Saves the Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Story of the Year, Every Time I Die, Earth Crisis, Still Remains and Our Last Night.-Partial...
  
   at Castle Oaks Production & The Candy Shop Studios
• Mastered by Allan Douches for West West Side Music

Art

• Layout and design by Sons of Nero
  Sons of Nero
  Sons of Nero is a graphic design group that was formed in 2000 by Matthew "Portland" Hay of the metalcore group Nora. It consists of four artists who primarily design artwork and packaging for bands and musical ensembles, but also design t-shirts and websites...
  
  

External links

• "Exist Underground" live from Munich, Germany (March 21, 2009)