The Inevitability of a Strange World

The Inevitability of a Strange World
Studio album by
Halifax
ReleasedMay 23, 2006
StudioCarriage House (Stamford, Connecticut), The Machine Shop (Weehawken, New Jersey)
GenrePost-hardcore, pop punk
Length49:24
LabelDrive-Thru
ProducerLou Giordano, Machine
Halifax chronology
A Writer's Reference
(2004) 		The Inevitability of a Strange World
(2006)

The Inevitability of a Strange World is Halifax's third release, issued on May 23, 2006 by Drive-Thru Records.

Recording

Recording sessions were held at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut, and The Machine Shop in Weehawken, New Jersey. Lou Giordano produced and mixed "Anthem for Tonight", "Snow on Hollywood", "Giant in the Ring", "Promise Me Tragedy", "A Tint of Rain", and "Murder I Wrote"; Todd Parker acted as engineer, with assistant engineer Derek Karlquist. Machine produced and engineered "Our Revolution", "Hey Italy", "Such a Terrible Trend", and "I Told You So"; they were engineered and edited by Chris Sasulo and Dan McLouglin, with assistance from Jim Feeney. Giordano also produced and engineered "Nightmare", "Under Fire", and "Better Than Sex", with additional production and mixing from Machine. The tracks were mixed at Black Dog Studios in Stamford, and at The Machine Shop, and were mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.[1]

Bassist Doug Peyton joined Halifax in-between the two recording sessions, hence singer Mike Hunau played bass on the Giordano-produced tracks.[2] Guest musicians on the CD include guitarist Paul Nelson (performing a solo on "Anthem for Tonight"[3]) and Tourmaline's keyboardist Corey Zaloom.

Release

On May 7, 2005, The Inevitability of a Strange World was announced for release in four months' time. Shortly after this, they embarked on a European tour throughout the month with Allister, I Am the Avalanche and Hidden in Plain View. Upon returning to the US, they toured across the country with From First to Last, Emanuel and He Is Legend, which lasted until mid-June. They closed out the month with a headlining tour, with support from Over It and A Thorn for Every Heart.[4] Following this, they went on a tour of the Southern states with Hidden in Plain View and Spitalfield in September 2005.[5] On February 7, 2006, a three-song sampler containing "Nightmare", "Under Fire", and "Anthem for Tonight" was made available for online purchase and at the band's concerts.[6] Alongside this, Drive-Thru Records mentioned that they delayed the album at the band's request as the label was having issues with their distributor.[7] Throughout the month, the band went on an East Coast tour with Paramore and So They Say.[8] On March 21, the album was formally announced for release.[9] On the same day, "Nightmare", "Anthem for Tonight" and "Under Fire" were made available for streaming.[9] An e-card was posted shortly afterwards.[10]

In April 2006, the band filmed a music video and "Our Revolution" was made available for streaming.[9][11] Alongside this, they played a few shows with the Audition; the following month, they appeared at The Bamboozle festival.[12][13] On May 19, 2006, the band released an acoustic version of "Such a Terrible Trend" via PureVolume.[14] The Inevitability of a Strange World was made available for streaming on May 16, 2006, before being released seven days later through Drive-Thru.[15] The album is named after a book Moberg was supposedly writing, in Hunter S. Thompson's novel 'The Rum Diary'. The album's cover and inlay artwork bears resemblance to that of Finch's Say Hello to Sunshine (2005), as both were created by Californian illustrator Jeff Soto. The Japanese version of the album, released on May 17, 2006 through In-n-Out Records, features a bonus track titled "Obsession". The song first appeared as "Because Pillows Are for Sleeping" in an interview with video podcasting group DMZ on December 10, 2005.[16] They went on an East Coast tour with the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Aiden in May 2006.[17] On May 27, 2006, the music video for "Our Revolution" was posted on the band's Myspace profile.[18] Halifax supported Bayside on their US headlining tour until June 2006.[19] Following this, they spent two weeks on that year's Warped Tour, appeared at Dirt Fest, and supported Sugarcult on their headlining US tour in September and October 2006.[17][20][21] In November and December, the band supported Hoobastank on their tour of the U.S., as well as headlining a number of off-dates.[22] "Our Revolution" was released to radio on June 13, 2006.[23]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk.net81% link
Allmusic link
Melodic[24]

The album had sold 34,795 copies as of October 2006, peaking at No. 130 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.[25][26]

Track listing

All songs written by Halifax.[1]

  1. "Nightmare" – 3:52
  2. "Our Revolution" – 3:08
  3. "Under Fire" – 3:02
  4. "Anthem for Tonight" – 3:44
  5. "Hey Italy" – 3:14
  6. "Snow in Hollywood" – 3:47
  7. "Such a Terrible Trend" – 4:14
  8. "Better Than Sex" – 3:48
  9. "Giant in the Ring" – 3:51
  10. "Promise Me Tragedy" – 3:15
  11. "A Tint of Rain" – 4:04
  12. "I Told You So" – 3:29
  13. "Murder I Wrote" – 5:50
  14. "Obsession" – 3:41 (Japanese bonus track)

B-Sides

  1. "Box and Chains" – 3:50
  2. "Disaster" – 4:02
  3. "Nightingale" – 4:05

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Inevitability of a Strange World (booklet). Halifax. Drive-Thru Records. 2006. DTR #66/06076-83637-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Interview With Halifax". Europunk.net. Retrieved June 8, 2006.
  3. ^ "Paul Nelson – Guest Spot". Retrieved July 7, 2006.
  4. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 7, 2005). "Halifax completes upcoming full length, dates with Allister, FFTL, others". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 26, 2005). "Hidden in Plain View/Spitalfield/The Academy Is… dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Halifax CD Preview and Tour". Drive-Thru Records. Retrieved May 22, 2006.
  7. ^ Paul, Aubin (February 14, 2006). "Drive-Thru/Rushmore suffering distribution difficulties". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 19, 2006). "Halifax touring with So They Say, Paramore". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Halifax announce LP release date; need extras for video shoot". Alternative Press. March 21, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  10. ^ Shultz, Brian (April 3, 2006). "Halifax e-card posted". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 19, 2006). "Halifax posts first single from 'The Inevitability of a Strange world'". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Paul, Aubin (March 3, 2006). "Poison The Well, Strike Anywhere, Paint It Black, Chiodos, Moneen, others added to Bamboozle". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "News". The Audition. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Halifax post acoustic track". Alternative Press. May 19, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 16, 2006). "Full album stream for Halifax". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "mefeedia videoblogging directory: DMZ". Retrieved July 7, 2006.
  17. ^ a b Paul, Aubin (May 3, 2006). "Halifax touring in support of 'The Inevitability of a Strange World.'". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 27, 2006). "New video from Halifax". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Bayside announce tour with I Am The Avalanche, Hit The Lights". Alternative Press. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  20. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 27, 2006). "Sugarcult / The Spill Canvas / Halifax / Maxeen / So They Say". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  21. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 2, 2006). "Dirt Fest with DEP, Halifax, Black Dahlia Murder, Silverstein and 66 more". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  22. ^ "Halifax to open for Hoobastank's U.S. tour". Alternative Press. November 21, 2006. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  23. ^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  24. ^ Roth, Kaj (October 6, 2006). "Halifax – The Inevitability of a Strange World". Melodic (magazine). Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  25. ^ "Soundscan Results: October 1st, 2006". Absolutepunk.net. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  26. ^ "Halifax Chart Position". Absolutepunk.net. Retrieved June 3, 2006.