What makes Arbiter by Hopesfall notable?

'Arbiter' received critical acclaim for its ambitious blend of genres, successfully charting within the top 10 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums. The album's innovative approach has influenced contemporary post-hardcore artists and contributed to discussions around genre boundaries. Released on January 1, 2018, 'Arbiter' is Hopesfall's first album in over a decade, marking their return after a lengthy hiatus. This album follows the band's previous work, 'Magnum Opus,' and showcases their evolution in sound while re-establishing their presence in the post-hardcore scene.

How many songs are on Arbiter?

Arbiter has 10 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

Arbiter

Hopesfall · 2018

45 min · 10 tracks · hardcore punk

A dynamic fusion of post-hardcore and atmospheric melodies, punctuated by intense vocals and intricate instrumentation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Faint Object Camera — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its atmospheric build-up and powerful dynamics, encapsulating Hopesfall's signature sound.
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C.S. Lucky‐One — With its intricate guitar work and poignant lyrics, this track highlights both the band's emotional depth and musical complexity.
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Indignation and the Rise of the Arbiter — As the closing track, it encapsulates the themes of the album through a climactic arrangement that showcases the band's evolution.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends post-hardcore with atmospheric elements, showcasing strong writing and production choices.

What we noticed

The album opens with a track that features layered guitar melodies and a gradual build-up, leading into intense vocal delivery.
Several tracks incorporate atmospheric interludes that contrast with the heavier instrumentation, creating dynamic shifts in energy.
The final track is notably longer than the others, featuring an extended instrumental section that gradually fades out.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Faint Object Camera 5:26
2 H.A. Wallace Space Academy 4:03
3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle 3:40
4 C.S. Lucky‐One 4:22
5 I Catapult 5:01
6 Tunguska 4:37
7 Aphelion 1:43
8 Drowning Potential 4:37
9 To Bloom 5:23
10 Indignation and the Rise of the Arbiter 6:19

What to play next

Go back to

Magnetic North

2007

Full Hopesfall discography Artists like Hopesfall

hardcore punk

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