Love Amongst Ruin (album)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Rock Sound	[13]

Rock Sound gave the album 8/10, saying the album "reveals itself to be an intelligent, complex and confident effort that’s delivered with an energy and determination that seeks to redefine Hewitt as a credible artist in his own right".[13] Soundsphere gave the album 4/5, stating "this is a fine album, with double points for being a debut".[14] Student Beans gave the album 3/5, saying "Love Amongst Ruin captures a range of sounds, packaged as a polished rock album".[2]

An acoustic version of the album was released on 5 December 2011, titled "Acoustic".[15] "Come On Say It" and "Love Song" were omitted from the track list.[15]

Prior to the tour, Love Amongst Ruin made their live debut at Eurosonic Festival in January 2010 (with bassist Jonathan Noyce) and played two one-off club dates in London the following May and June.[16][17] Bassist Magnus Lundén joined the band prior to the club dates,[17] but was replaced by Teresa Morini in July.[18] The band followed with an appearance at the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth Park in August.[19]

The Heaven & Hell tour began one week after the release of the album in September 2010.[20] The first leg began with a three-week jaunt through continental Europe, beginning in Zaandam, Netherlands and finishing in Paris, France in mid-October.[20] Following a two-week break, the tour resumed with seven dates in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[21] Gigs in Southampton (later rescheduled) and Glasgow were cancelled due to drummer Keith York suffering with illness.[22] Following the conclusion of the European tour, the band were invited to support Feeder and The Futureheads in Birmingham at Kerrang! magazine's "X-Mas Party".[23] Keith York quit the band at the end of the year and was replaced by Ramon Sherrington.[5]

In February 2011, the band reemerged with more slots supporting Feeder in the United Kingdom on their Renegades tour.[24] Prior to the gigs, the band slimmed down to a five piece after removing keyboardist/cellist Laurie Ross from the lineup. The band supported the release of the "Alone" single with five shows in France in March, but only managed to play one date of their German tour in April after shows in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Dortmund were cancelled.[25] The band returned to France in May for two dates on the Recycling Party tour, with guitarist Gizz Butt filling in for Steve Hove. The band finished the tour in June 2011 with two headlining dates at the Borderline in London and at the Fête de la Musique in Valence, France.[26] Jon Thorne filled in for Teresa Morini at the latter date.

The band's setlists for the tour were mainly drawn from their debut album, with "Love Song" being the only track from the album which was not played live. A cover of Thin Lizzy's "Got To Give It Up" was a regular inclusion. Owing to the band's shortage of material, encores often included a repeat play of debut single "So Sad (Fade)", in addition to non-album track "Bring Me Down (You Don't)".[27] New song "Pop DC" was premiered in London in June 2011, along with a cover of "Rise" by Public Image Ltd.

• Steve Hewitt – vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano
• Jon Thorne – bass, guitar, string arrangements
• Donald Ross Skinner – guitar, bass, piano
• Nick Hewitt – guitar
• Steve Hove – guitar on "Come On Say It"
• Paul Turner – bass on "Come On Say It"
• Laurie Ross – keyboards, cello on "Come On Say It"
• Keith York – drums on "Come On Say It"
• Tracy Bowen – backing vocals on "Truth"
• Emily Reid – backing vocals on "Love Song"
• Claire Nicolson – backing vocals on "Truth"
• Jo Thorne – backing vocals on "Alone"

• Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 – recorded and mixed by Donald Ross Skinner, Paul Corkett, Steve Hewitt.
• Track 5 – recorded and mixed by Donald Ross Skinner, Paul Corkett, Steve Hewitt, Nick Poortman.

• 2010: "So Sad (Fade)" (30 August 2010)
• 2010: "Home" (25 October 2010)
• 2011: "Alone" (28 February 2011)