The Fall (Trapt album)
| The Fall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 31, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2024 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock[1] | |||
| Length | 54:35 | |||
| Label | New Legacy | |||
| Producer | Trapt | |||
| Trapt chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Fall | ||||
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The Fall is the eighth studio album by American rock band Trapt, released on May 31, 2024, via the band's own New Legacy Recordings,[2] after being delayed twice. It is the first Trapt album to feature Shawn Sonnenschein on guitar and Mitch Moore on drums. All of the songs were released as singles prior to the album.
Background
When discussing the album in 2023, frontman Chris Taylor Brown stated "the last three years have been crazy, right? And I definitely was guilty of indulging my feelings of revenge and powerlessness", later going on to say that the album's theme is "embracing powerlessness and being humble".[3] Many of the tracks are also about Brown's wife, Ashley Lauren.
Brown began writing tracks for the album in early 2021, with acoustic previews of "Halo",[4] "When I Get Better",[5] "Think of You"[6] and "Drop Your Guard"[7] being posted to the band's YouTube page; "Halo" was first performed in full around that same time.[8] Guitarist Brendan Hengle, who performed on the three tracks released in 2021, quit the band later that same year, being replaced by Shawn Sonnenschein.
Unlike the band's previous releases, which have been recorded in traditional recording studios, The Fall was recorded at each members' home studios. The band produced it themselves, much like their prior two releases, and the bassist, Pete Charell, was in charge of mixing it.[9]
Release
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Diazable | 3/10[10] |
| Melodic |   [11] |
| Sputnikmusic | [12] |
The album's first three singles, "Pride", "Above It All", and "Drop Your Guard" were released in 2021. Starting in May 2023, the band began releasing new singles on the last Friday of each month, beginning with "Ignorance Is Bliss". The band released two 5-track teaser EPs in November 2023 and May 2024 respectively.[13][1] The album was originally set to release at the end of 2023,[14] before being pushed to March 29, 2024,[15] and again to May 31, 2024.[16][17]
Much like its predecessor, Shadow Work, The Fall failed to make it onto any US Billboard charts, although the amount of copies sold has yet to be made public.
Reception
- Pre-release
In December 2023, Exclaim! placed the cover art for "Ignorance is Bliss" at no. 6 on their "25 Worst Album Covers of 2023".[18]
- Critical response
Not many publications reviewed The Fall at release, but the ones that did did not review it favorably, with Sputnikmusic staff member Shamus giving it 1 out of 5 stars.[12] Nick Anastasia of Melodic also gave it 1 out of 5 stars, saying the album "not only suffers from amateur & sludging production, but the songwriting does the band absolutely no favors either," while also stating ""Try It First" shows a tiny glimmer of what the band once was, while "Home" even has some nice moments in it, despite the song feeling incomplete somehow."[11] A reviewer for Diazable gave the album a 3/10, noting how some songs "drag on endlessly," riffs are "clumsy and disjointed," and that the album "is just further proof of how far they've fallen from their former glory," although tracks such as "Home" and "Can't Look Away" "manage to sound somewhat passable."[10]
Dave Franklin of The Big Takeover was more favorable, saying "if The Fall is anything to go by, that music is more mature, more experimental, more interesting, and more exciting, unguided by the fickle winds of fad and fashion that may once have weighed them down. Ironically, The Fall sees the band rising to the top of their game."[19]
Touring
To promote the album, the band embarked on The Fall Tour, which took place from August 2023 to November 2024,[13] featuring several opening bands across three legs, such as Smile Empty Soul.[20] In May 2024, the band joined Josey Scott (formerly of Saliva) on the Parental Advisory Tour, alongside Adema, Tantric, and One Day Alive.[21][22]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chris Taylor Brown; "Stories" written by Brown, Simon Ormandy, and Pete Charell.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Meant to Be" | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Try It First" | 3:36 |
| 3. | "Halo" | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Think of You" | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Bulletproof" | 3:11 |
| 6. | "Home" | 3:29 |
| 7. | "My Devices" | 3:23 |
| 8. | "Above It All" | 3:28 |
| 9. | "Safe Here in the Shade" | 3:00 |
| 10. | "Drop Your Guard" | 4:46 |
| 11. | "When I Get Better" | 3:12 |
| 12. | "Ignorance is Bliss" | 2:51 |
| 13. | "Can't Look Away" | 3:46 |
| 14. | "Stories" (Electric) | 4:02 |
| 15. | "Pride" | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 54:35 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Try It First" | 3:36 |
| 2. | "Meant to Be" | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Think of You" | 4:13 |
| 4. | "Home" | 3:29 |
| 5. | "Drop Your Guard" | 4:46 |
| 6. | "Halo" | 3:12 |
| 7. | "Safe Here in the Shade" | 3:00 |
| 8. | "My Devices" | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Bulletproof" | 3:11 |
| 10. | "Above It All" | 3:28 |
| 11. | "When I Get Better" | 3:12 |
| 12. | "Ignorance is Bliss" | 2:51 |
| 13. | "Can't Look Away" | 3:46 |
| 14. | "Pride" | 4:09 |
| 15. | "Stories" (Electric) | 4:02 |
| Total length: | 54:35 | |
Personnel
Trapt
- Chris Taylor Brown – vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitars, keys and synths
- Pete Charell – bass guitar
- Shawn Sonnenschein – lead guitar (all tracks except Above It All, Drop Your Guard, Pride)
- Mitch Moore – drums
Additional musicians
- Brendan Hengle – lead guitar (Above It All, Drop Your Guard, Pride; uncredited)
Production
- Trapt – producers
- Pete Charell – mixing
- Maor Appelbaum – mastering at DNA
Notes
References
- 1 2 Mineo, Mike (May 25, 2024). "Feature: Trapt – 'The Fall (Teaser #2)' EP". Obscure Sound.
- ↑ "The Fall (Deluxe) - Album by Trapt - Apple Music". Apple Music.
- ↑ traptofficial (September 20, 2023), New Trapt Album Discussion "The Fall", retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ traptofficial (May 20, 2021), Super New Trapt "Halo", retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ traptofficial (June 27, 2021), Trapt "When I Get Better" New song acoustic clip, retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ traptofficial (June 30, 2021), Trapt New Song "Think Of You" Acoustic Metal remix, retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ traptofficial (May 14, 2021), Trapt New Music! "Drop Your Guard", retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ traptofficial (June 15, 2021), Trapt new song "Halo" live, retrieved May 3, 2026
- ↑ "Trapt Releases 'The Fall Teaser #2'". Punk Head. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- 1 2 "Trapt - The Fall Review". Diazable. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- 1 2 Anastasia, Nick (June 5, 2024). "Trapt - The Fall". Melodic Net.
- 1 2 Shamus (July 27, 2025). "Trapt - The Fall". Sputnikmusic.
- 1 2 "Trapt Releases 'The Fall' 5-Track Teaser EP". The Indie Grid. May 20, 2024.
- ↑ wookubus (August 28, 2023). "Trapt Premiere "Bulletproof" Music Video". Theprp. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- ↑ wookubus (December 4, 2023). "Trapt Release "Try It First" Music Video". Theprp. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- ↑ wookubus (April 12, 2024). "Trapt Premiere "Meant To Be" Video, New Album "The Fall" Headed For May Release". Theprp. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Pertola, Aleksi (April 13, 2024). "New Trapt album "The Fall" set to arrive in May". Rockfreaks. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Exclaim!'s 25 Worst Album Covers of 2023". Exclaim!. December 13, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ Franklin, Dave (June 20, 2024). "Trapt - The Fall (New Legacy Recordings)". The Big Takeover. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ Wippsson, Johan (October 18, 2024). "Get Ready To Rock With Trapt and Smile Empty Soul On Their Upcoming Tour!". Melodic Net. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Bregman, Jeremy (June 5, 2024). "Iconic Rockers Trapt Unleash Ninth Studio Album 'The Fall'". Mesmerized. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ↑ Virmakari, Tarja (April 28, 2024). "ONE DAY ALIVE Release New Single 'Addicted Again' + Announce 'Parental Advisory Explicit Content Tour' with Josey Scott, Trapt, Adema and Tantric". Metal Shock Finland. Retrieved May 2, 2026.