All Distortions Are Intentional

All Distortions Are Intentional is the fourth studio album by Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep, released on 24 July 2020 by Hopeless Records. It was produced by Matt Squire and mixed by Seb Barlow. This is the first album to not feature Fil Thorpe-Evans who left in the Fall of 2018. The band's photographer Joshua Halling recorded bass on all tracks on this album. However, he decided not to join the band full-time in where he returned to being the band's photographer.

All Distortions Are Intentional
Studio album by
Neck Deep
Released24 July 2020
RecordedNovember – December 2019
StudioMonnow Valley Studio, Wales
Genre
Length39:35
LabelHopeless
ProducerMatt Squire
Neck Deep chronology
The Peace and the Panic
(2017)		 All Distortions Are Intentional
(2020)
Singles from All Distortions Are Intentional
  1. "Lowlife"
    Released: 28 February 2020
  2. "When You Know"
    Released: 13 April 2020
  3. "Fall"
    Released: 17 June 2020
  4. "I Revolve (Around You)"
    Released: 16 July 2020
  5. "Sick Joke"
    Released: 20 July 2020

Billed as a concept album, its story takes place in Sonderland—an exaggerated portrayal of society inhabited by lead characters Jett and Alice, who together deal with issues of love, loss, disillusionment and despair. The album also marks a significant departure from the bands more pop-punk leaning sound featured on their previous albums in favor of a more alternative rock and pop rock inspired sound.

Five singles were released to promote the album accompanied with music videos: "Lowlife", "When You Know", "Fall", "I Revolve (Around You)" and "Sick Joke".

Background

The group spent most of the second half of 2017 and 2018 touring in support of their third album The Peace and the Panic including performances at Slam Dunk Festival in the UK and the Warped Tour in the US. Soon after, bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans departed from the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Joshua Halling, the band's photographer. With their new member, the band released a single in June 2019 and embarked on a summer tour with Blink-182 and Lil Wayne. Following this they took the rest of the year off from touring. On 11 February 2020 they launched their official app. They also announced that longtime behind-the-scenes contributor and touring musician Seb Barlow had replaced Joshua Halling after completion of their new album.

The premise for the album first arose when Barlow got the idea for "Lowlife" during the Blink-182 tour. He played the rough draft of the song so frequently on the bus that other members got sick of it. The nonsensical and whimsical lyrics of the song inspired the creation of characters Jett and Alice, and their storyline began to take shape.

"Sonderland" is a portmanteau of the words "sonder"—"the profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passed in the street, has a life as complex as one's own, which they are constantly living despite one's personal lack of awareness of it"—and "wonderland".

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DEAD PRESS![2]
Exclaim!8/10[3]
Kerrang![4]
NME[1]

All Distortions Are Intentional has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Exclaim!'s Eva Zhu considers that it "might be the band's best work".[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neck Deep and Sebastian Barlow.

No.TitleLength
1."Sonderland"3:39
2."Fall"3:34
3."Lowlife"3:09
4."Telling Stories"3:19
5."When You Know"3:09
6."Quarry"1:26
7."Sick Joke"3:47
8."What Took You So Long"3:33
9."Empty House"3:34
10."Little Dove"3:04
11."I Revolve (Around You)"3:38
12."Pushing Daisies"3:43
Total length:39:35

Personnel

Neck Deep

  • Ben Barlow – lead vocals
  • Sam Bowden – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Dani Washington – drums
  • Matt West – rhythm guitar

Production

Design

  • Tom Noon – album artwork

Charts
Chart performance for All Distortions Are Intentional
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 46
Scottish Albums (OCC)[6] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 4
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[8] 1
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[9] 1
US Billboard 200[10] 64
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[11] 10
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[12] 7

References
  1. Leivers, Dannii (23 July 2020). "Neck Deep – All Distortions Are Intentional review: pop-punk high on ambition but low in originality". NME. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. Taylor, Damon. "ALBUM REVIEW: Neck Deep - All Distortions Are Intentional". DEAD PRESS!. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. Zhu, Eva. "Neck Deep's Lovestruck 'All Distortions Are Intentional' Is Their Catchiest Yet". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. McLaughlin, David. "Album Review: Neck Deep – All Distortions Are Intentional". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  6. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  10. "Neck Deep Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  11. "Neck Deep Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. "Neck Deep Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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