XO (Leathermouth album)
| XO | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Studio album by Leathermouth | |
| Released | January 27, 2009 |
| Recorded | Late 2008 in basements throughout the New York and New Jersey area |
| Genre | Hardcore punk, post-hardcore |
| Length | 23:37 |
| Label | Epitaph |
| Producer | Steve Oyolla, Leathermouth |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Alternative Press |    |
| Bombshellzine.com |   |
| Kerrang! | |
| NME | (8/10) |
| ThePunkSite.com | (3.5/5) |
| Rock Sound | (9/10) |
| Thrash Hits | (5/6) |
XO (often typeset as XØ) is the debut album released by Leathermouth, My Chemical Romance's rhythm guitarist Frank Iero's post-hardcore side project. The album was released through Epitaph Records on January 27, 2009. Although the album did not chart on the Billboard 200, it did reach No. 21 on the Top Heatseekers chart.
Leathermouth serves as lead singer Frank Iero's first project where he has written lyrics. He has used this band as a way to vent about things that make him angry, and also the issues that have been attached to his depression and anxiety problems. Many songs hit on "topics people want to forget exist" and the album as a whole suggests that "the world is going to shit, and someone has to say it." The song "5th Period Massacre" reflects Iero's feelings on school shootings and how the entertainment industry is often blamed for these events, and the song "Sunsets Are For Muggings" is about Iero's visits to the psychiatrist, and the mental illnesses in his family. Iero discusses his feelings on the theme of the album:
I would say this record is about trying to wake people up to what is happening right in front of their eyes. We are all trying our hardest to pretend bad things don't happen to good people, and that there is some higher power looking over us... but it's bullshit. Stop covering your children's eyes. Everything is fucked, and pretending it's not isn't making things any better. I'm tired of people praying for a change when it's up to them to get off their asses and make a change.
Lyrics were also inspired by 80s horror films that Iero watched as a child, and many songs on the album were about issues today and used the imagery of 80s horror films to illustrate the points.
Frank Iero recently said in an interview with Alternative Press, the Secret Service paid him a visit regarding his song "I Am Going to Kill the President of the United States of America." He explained that he wrote it when he was touring overseas with My Chemical Romance. He saw Anti-American rallies everyday, and explained that he wrote it from the protester's point of view. The Secret Service told him if he rereleased the song or ever played the song live again that he would be sentenced to five years in prison.
All tracks written by Leathermouth.
Leathermouth
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