La Gárgola
Studio album by
Chevelle
ReleasedApril 1, 2014 (2014-04-01)
Recorded2013–2014
StudioPasadena, California
Genre
Length48:29
LabelEpic
ProducerJoe Barresi
Chevelle chronology
Stray Arrows: A Collection of Favorites
(2012)		 La Gárgola
(2014)		 The North Corridor
(2016)
Singles from La Gárgola
  1. "Take Out the Gunman"
    Released: February 4, 2014
  2. "Hunter Eats Hunter"
    Released: June 24, 2014
  3. "An Island"
    Released: November 19, 2014[1]

La Gárgola (Spanish for "The Gargoyle") is the seventh studio album by American rock band Chevelle. It was released on April 1, 2014 in the US and on June 9, 2014 in the UK.

The album cover depicts vocalist Pete Loeffler wearing a plague doctor mask. Joe Barresi, who produced the band's previous studio album, Hats Off to the Bull, returned as the producer for this album. In August 2019, and with the collaboration of Revolution Brewing, Chevelle announced the release of their Helles Lager beer, named after the album and featuring the same illustration as the cover art.

Release

"Take Out the Gunman" was released as the lead single for the album on February 4, 2014.[2] It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[3] "Hunter Eats Hunter" was released as the second single on June 24, 2014.[4] "An Island" was released as the third single on November 19, 2014.[3] The band had plans to release "One Ocean" as the third single.[5] However, "An Island" was ultimately released as the third and final single for the album.[6] The album cover depicts vocalist Pete Loeffler wearing a plague doctor mask.[5] The album was released on April 1, 2014 in the US[2][5][7] and on June 9, 2014 in the UK.[8]

In August 2019, and with the collaboration of Revolution Brewing, Chevelle announced the release of their Helles Lager beer, named after the album and featuring the same illustration as the cover art.[9][10]

Composition

La Gárgola has been described as hard rock[11][12][13] alternative metal,[14] heavy metal,[13] and progressive metal.[15] The album has been described as a darker and heavier album for the band.[16][17]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Exclaim!6/10[18]
Loudwire[19]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5[17]
Ultimate Guitar9/10[20]

Early critical reception to the album has been generally positive and has since gained high acclaim. AllMusic reviewer Gregory Heaney said the band has "found a way to avoid the perils of age and complacency, with the band somehow growing more into its own with each album...the real key to (La Gárgola) lies in open and ambient cuts like album closer "Twinge," where the heaviness is implied with ominous, reverb-drenched guitars and mysterious, almost mantra-like vocal repetition, creating a subtle tension that just can't be accomplished by distorted, in-your-face guitars."[7] Loudwire noted that the experimentation is noticed in the album and comments about the band thinking outside the box. They go on to state "All in all, fans have come to know what to expect from Chevelle and the band definitely deliver on many of the signature sounds they've generated over the years."[19] Loudwire would also go on to rank La Gargola No. 2 on their "Best Rock Albums of 2014" and No. 42 on their "66 Best Rock Albums of the Decade: 2010-2019".[21][22]

Greg Fisher of Sputnikmusic stated "Deriving its title from a grotesquely carved figure, La Gárgola is by far the trio's darkest release, and the darkness suits them."[17] Michael Rancic of Exclaim! was less positive stating "Inventiveness and originality aren't in Chevelle's playbook, which should surprise no one, but it still makes it difficult to want to come back to this rather front-loaded album for repeat listens."[18]

La Gargola debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 44,900 copies in the first week and becoming the band's highest charting album.[3] The album has sold 153,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016.[23]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Pete Loeffler, all music composed by Pete Loeffler, Sam Loeffler, and Dean Bernardini.

No.TitleLength
1."Ouija Board"4:18
2."An Island"5:11
3."Take Out the Gunman"4:18
4."Jawbreaker"4:54
5."Hunter Eats Hunter"5:45
6."One Ocean"5:49
7."Choking Game"5:23
8."The Damned"4:15
9."Under the Knife"3:57
10."Twinge"4:39
Total length:48:29

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[24] 9
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 36
US Billboard 200[26] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[27] 1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[28] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[29] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard 200[30] 196
US Billboard Alternative Albums [31] 30
US Billboard Hard Rock Albums[32] 12
US Billboard Rock Albums[33] 45

References

  1. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart". Billboard.
  2. 1 2 "Chevelle Returns In April With 'La Gárgola'". Blabbermouth.net. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Chevelle La Gargola Chart Position". Billboard. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Graff, Gary (May 5, 2014). "Chevelle Announces Summer Tour (Exclusive)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Heaney, Gregory. "La Gárgola Chevelle". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  8. ↑ Purdie, Iain (April 22, 2014). "Band of the Day: Chevelle". Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (July 24, 2019). "Chevelle Have Their Own Beer Now Called La Gargola". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ Krovatin, Chris (August 1, 2019). "Inside Chevelle's New Craft Beer With Revolution Brewing". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  11. ↑ Barkan, Jonathan (December 26, 2014). "[Best & Worst '14] Jonny's Top 15 Albums Of 2014". Bloody Disgusting. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  12. ↑ Hawkins, Ashley (April 3, 2014). "Chevelle: 'La Gárgola' Album Review". Neon Tommy. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Chevelle: 'La Gárgola' Album Review". Khaleej Times. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ Colgan, Chris (April 1, 2014). "New & Noteworthy, April 1st: One more for the road". Metal Insider. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ Keevil, David (July 2, 2014). "Chevelle: La Gárgola". Louder Sound. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ Lesas, Sylvie (April 1, 2014). "Chevelle La Gárgola Album Review". Evigshed Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 Fisher, Greg (April 13, 2014). "Review: Chevelle - La Gargola". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Rancic, Michael (April 1, 2014). "Chevelle La Gárgola". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Childers, Chad (March 31, 2014). "Chevelle, La Gárgola - Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  20. ↑ "La Gargola Review". Ultimate Guitar. April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  21. ↑ "20 Best Rock Albums of 2014". Loudwire. December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  22. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (December 13, 2019). "Stone Sour's 'House of Gold & Bones - Pt. 1' Is the Rock Album of the Decade". Loudwire. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Charts.nz – Chevelle – La Gárgola". Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Chevelle Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums - Year End". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  32. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  33. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
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