Unbreakable (Fireflight album)
Encyclopedia
Unbreakable is the third full-length studio album
released by Christian rock
band Fireflight
, but second full-length to be released on Flicker Records. The album was released on March 4, 2008 on Flicker Records
.
Dawn Michele said that the recording process was "one of the most hectic times in our lives because we had about six years to write the first album and about six months to write the second one".
The album was produced by Rob Hawkins.
" was officially released to radio in December 2007. The song was featured on an episode of NBC
's Bionic Woman
. A music video for "Unbreakable" made its premiere on March 29, 2008.
The album's second radio single, "The Hunger", was released in mid-2008. As of June 2010, the album sold about 100,000 copies.
sound has been compared to Paramore
and Evanescence
, and Dawn Michele's vocals on Unbreakable have been described as "riveting". Allmusic reviewer Jared Johnson labeled certain tracks as "pulsating rockers", such as the singles "Unbreakable" and "The Hunger"; he described the album's lyrics to be "victorious as a refuge for listeners struggling with loneliness
, discouragement, and isolation
." Guitar
ist Justin Cox said, "we push it as heavy as we can without being metal".
The title track "Unbreakable" is based on the Biblical account of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. Dawn Michele (lead vocalist) said: "the people in charge were ready to kill her, and Jesus
speaks up for her, changes their minds and makes them feel ashamed for accusing her. [...] She knows she’s guilty, and yet she’s suddenly free and given a second chance."
s Top Heatseekers
and #15 on the Top Christian Albums chart. The debut single "Unbreakable" was released in late 2007, and by February 2008 it reached number-one on Christian rock
radio charts after only seven weeks of radio airplay. The song also peaked at #4 on Radio And Records CHR Chart April, 2008. It was the 14th most-played song on R&R magazine's
Christian CHR
chart for 2008.
"The Hunger", the album's second single, charted at number 1 in July 2008.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Fireflight
Fireflight
Fireflight is an American Christian rock band formed in Eustis, Florida in 1999. The band is signed by Flicker Records. They have played in Shoutfest, Revelation Generation, and have been featured on The Scars Remain tour with Disciple, Family Force 5, and Decyfer Down...
, but second full-length to be released on Flicker Records. The album was released on March 4, 2008 on Flicker Records
Flicker Records
Flicker Records is a Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was founded by members of Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline. The label mainly focuses on rock/hard rock artists, though it also created a subsidiary, Big House Kids, for Christian children's music.The label was...
.
Background
Unbreakable was recorded in September and October 2007. Lead vocalistSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Dawn Michele said that the recording process was "one of the most hectic times in our lives because we had about six years to write the first album and about six months to write the second one".
The album was produced by Rob Hawkins.
Release and promotion
The album's title track "UnbreakableUnbreakable (Fireflight song)
"Unbreakable" is a song by Christian rock band Fireflight from their second album, Unbreakable. It was released in November 2007 as the album's lead single, receiving television promotion on the NBC network that month. The song soon became popular on Christian rock radio, charting at number one in...
" was officially released to radio in December 2007. The song was featured on an episode of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Bionic Woman
Bionic Woman
Bionic Woman may refer to:* The Bionic Woman, a television series that aired from 1976 to 1978 on ABC and NBC** Jaime Sommers , the main character* Bionic Woman , a 2007 remake of the series on NBC...
. A music video for "Unbreakable" made its premiere on March 29, 2008.
The album's second radio single, "The Hunger", was released in mid-2008. As of June 2010, the album sold about 100,000 copies.
Style and lyrical themes
The band's female-fronted hard rockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound has been compared to Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
and Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
, and Dawn Michele's vocals on Unbreakable have been described as "riveting". Allmusic reviewer Jared Johnson labeled certain tracks as "pulsating rockers", such as the singles "Unbreakable" and "The Hunger"; he described the album's lyrics to be "victorious as a refuge for listeners struggling with loneliness
Loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. However, it is a subjective experience...
, discouragement, and isolation
Solitude
Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation .Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one...
." Guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Justin Cox said, "we push it as heavy as we can without being metal".
The title track "Unbreakable" is based on the Biblical account of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. Dawn Michele (lead vocalist) said: "the people in charge were ready to kill her, and Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
speaks up for her, changes their minds and makes them feel ashamed for accusing her. [...] She knows she’s guilty, and yet she’s suddenly free and given a second chance."
Chart success
The album debuted at #10 on BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
and #15 on the Top Christian Albums chart. The debut single "Unbreakable" was released in late 2007, and by February 2008 it reached number-one on Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
radio charts after only seven weeks of radio airplay. The song also peaked at #4 on Radio And Records CHR Chart April, 2008. It was the 14th most-played song on R&R magazine's
R&R (magazine)
R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes...
Christian CHR
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
chart for 2008.
"The Hunger", the album's second single, charted at number 1 in July 2008.
Track listing
- "UnbreakableUnbreakable (Fireflight song)"Unbreakable" is a song by Christian rock band Fireflight from their second album, Unbreakable. It was released in November 2007 as the album's lead single, receiving television promotion on the NBC network that month. The song soon became popular on Christian rock radio, charting at number one in...
" – 3:21 - "You Gave Me A Promise" – 3:32
- "Brand New Day" – 4:11
- "The Hunger" – 3:09
- "Stand Up" – 3:16
- "Forever" – 3:43
- "Go Ahead" – 3:02
- "The Love We Had Before" – 3:43
- "So Help Me God" – 3:17
- "Wrapped In Your Arms" – 3:40
Personnel
- Dawn Michele – lead vocalLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
s - Justin Cox – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Wendy Drennen – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Phee Shorb – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Glenn Drennen – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...