Madness | ||||
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Studio album by Sleeping with Sirens | ||||
Released | March 17, 2015 | |||
Recorded | June–September 2014 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:04 | |||
Label | Epitaph | |||
Producer | John Feldmann | |||
Sleeping with Sirens chronology | ||||
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Singles from Madness | ||||
Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Alternative Press | |
Exclaim! | 4/10 |
Kerrang! | |
The New York Times |
Madness is the fourth full-length studio album by American post-hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens. The album was released on March 17, 2015 through Epitaph Records. The entire album was self-produced by Sleeping with Sirens with John Feldmann. The album is the band's first release following their departure from Rise Records in 2014. It's also the first record to feature guitarist Nick Martin (Cinematic Sunrise) who replaced former rhythm guitarist Jesse Lawson. Madness was preceded by lead single "Kick Me" as well as a string of digital singles released in the days leading up to the album's release. The album continues the band's progression to a more pop rock sound, but retains some post-hardcore influences on tracks.
Following the release of the band's third studio album, Feel (2013), they toured extensively worldwide in support of the album. In early 2014, the band entered the studio in Nashville, Tennessee and recorded 13 tracks with Nick Raskulinecz, however later scrapped them and recorded new material for a fourth album in Los Angeles, California. The band recorded a total of 15 new tracks with producer John Feldmann. Quinn explains, "We just planned on going to Feldmann to do 2 or 3 songs and after we got in there, I'm like, 'we're gonna re-do this whole thing." The two bonus tracks, "Parasites" and "2 Chord" were produced by Raskulinecz.
Madness is a pop rock album with punk and hardcore influences. According to a review by Radio.com, the album has "empowering lyrics and anthem-like sing-along choruses" and is "massive, emotional, and speaks directly to disaffected youth and others who’ve been told they’ll never amount to anything." Due to the fact that the album's recording sessions took place throughout a time where Sleeping with Sirens were not signed to a record label and had little money, frontman Kellin Quinn said "it's always chaotic and madness and just being caught in the middle of it and figuring out who you are in the midst of all the craziness."