Complete Collapse

Complete Collapse is the seventh studio album by American rock band Sleeping with Sirens, released on October 14, 2022, through Sumerian Records.^[1] The record marks a shift back toward the band's heavier post-hardcore and metalcore roots after several pop-influenced releases, featuring raw energy, aggressive riffs, and Kellin Quinn's signature emotive vocals.^[2] Primarily produced by Andrew Baylis, with additional production from Zakk Cervini on select tracks, the album includes 12 songs that blend intense instrumentation with introspective lyrics.^[3] The tracklist opens with the anthemic "Tyrants" and includes notable singles like "Crosses" (featuring Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath), "Let You Down" (with Charlotte Sands), and the title track "Complete Collapse," which explores themes of inner conflict and awakening from personal nightmares.^[4] Other highlights feature guest vocals from Dorothy on "Us" and delve into topics such as family dynamics in "Family Tree," self-doubt in "Apathetic," and resilience in "Bloody Knuckles."^[5] Lyrically, the album addresses personal growth, mental health struggles, and the importance of kindness toward oneself and others, reflecting the band's evolution while honoring their emo and scene origins.^[6] Upon release, Complete Collapse received positive feedback from critics and fans for its nostalgic return to form and catchy hooks, though some noted inconsistencies in pacing.^[7] The album did not chart on the Billboard 200 but appeared on component charts like Top Current Albums at number 53, underscoring Sleeping with Sirens' enduring presence in the alternative rock scene.^[8] A deluxe edition was released on September 29, 2023, adding one new track and acoustic versions of four songs.^[9]

Background and development

Conception

The album Complete Collapse was conceived in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as frontman Kellin Quinn grappled with pre-existing mental burnout exacerbated by global isolation. Quinn has described the project's origins as stemming from his near-emotional breaking point just before the lockdowns, with the enforced downtime providing a crucial period for reflection and songwriting that ultimately prevented a full personal collapse. This foundational experience shaped the album's core themes of resilience amid breakdown, portraying emotional turmoil and rebuilding as responses to both individual struggles and collective adversity.^[10] Quinn played a pivotal role in directing the album's creative vision, channeling the band's stylistic progression from its early pop-punk and post-hardcore roots—evident in debut efforts like With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear (2010)—toward a heavier, more aggressive rock sound honed in later releases such as How It Feels to Be Lost (2019). This evolution allowed Complete Collapse to blend soaring melodies with intensified riffs and breakdowns, reflecting Quinn's intent to recapture the band's raw energy while addressing mature lyrical depths.^[2] In June 2022 interviews surrounding the album's official announcement, Quinn elaborated on the working title Complete Collapse as a metaphor for deconstruction and renewal following hardship, emphasizing how the pandemic's isolation fueled the record's cathartic narrative. This period of ideation occurred amid transitional challenges for the band, including the impending departure of longtime guitarist Jack Fowler shortly after recording wrapped.

Band changes

In 2020, Sleeping with Sirens introduced Matty Best as their new full-time drummer, succeeding previous members in the rhythm section and injecting fresh energy through his dynamic style and prior experience with Tonight Alive. Best's arrival marked a pivotal shift, allowing him greater creative freedom in contributing drum parts remotely from Australia during the album's writing phase, which helped solidify the band's rhythmic foundation amid ongoing transitions.^[11] Guitarist Jack Fowler played a key role in the songwriting for Complete Collapse despite announcing his departure on July 14, 2022, shortly before the album's October release, with the band proceeding seamlessly by enlisting fill-in guitarist Tony Pizzuti for tours and describing the split as positive and supportive. Fowler's contributions, including heartfelt input on the record, were preserved in the final product, reflecting his 12 years with the group.^[12][13] These personnel shifts fostered lineup stability that influenced the album's sound, as vocalist Kellin Quinn, guitarist Nick Martin, and bassist Justin Hills adapted by embracing Best's innovative rhythms and integrating Fowler's established elements, resulting in a confident blend of aggression and accessibility during development. The changes emphasized fun and growth in the creative process, enabling the core members to evolve their post-hardcore style without disruption.^[11]

Recording and production

Studio sessions

The recording of Complete Collapse spanned 2020 to 2021 across multiple studios, primarily at Wardog Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with additional mixing at MDDN Studios in California.^[3] The process began with initial writing sessions in early 2020, but was significantly disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, which limited in-person collaboration.^[5] Sessions resumed more fully in June 2021 after pandemic-related hiatuses, with the band reuniting in the studio following nearly 18 months apart.^[11][14] A key logistical challenge arose during live band tracking with drummer Matty Best, who contributed remotely from Australia by layering drums onto shared Pro Tools files and demos via Dropbox amid the disruptions; this adaptation to his energetic style ultimately forged a more dynamic rhythm section, enhancing the album's aggressive pulse despite initial synchronization hurdles.^[11] The production team oversaw these efforts to integrate the remote inputs seamlessly.^[3]

Production team

The production of Complete Collapse was spearheaded by Andrew Baylis and Zakk Cervini, who collectively produced all tracks on the album. Baylis handled production and engineering duties on tracks 1 ("Tyrants"), 2 ("Complete Collapse"), 4 ("Let You Down"), 5 ("Family Tree"), 6 ("Be Happy"), 9 ("Bloody Knuckles"), and 11 ("Apathetic"), contributing to the record's cohesive rock foundation through meticulous tracking and arrangement.^[3] Cervini took on production and mixing for tracks 3 ("Crosses"), 7 ("Us"), 8 ("Ctrl+Alt+Del"), and 12 ("Grave").^[3] Supporting the core team, Nik Trekov served as additional producer and engineer on track 7, while also assisting with mixing on Cervini's tracks, ensuring seamless integration across the album. Additional editing was credited to Michael Bono on track 3, and programming by Jayden Panesso on tracks 6 and 9, adding subtle electronic textures to select songs.^[3] The recording took place at Wardog Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with mixing for Cervini's portions occurring at MDDN Studios in California.^[3] Mastering was completed by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville.^[3] Sumerian Records played a pivotal role through A&R executives Ash Avildsen and Nick Walters, who guided the project to support the band's goal of crafting an expansive, arena-oriented rock sound.^[3]

Music and lyrics

Musical style

Complete Collapse represents a fusion of post-hardcore, metalcore, and pop-rock elements, characterized by screamed verses that contrast sharply with epic, anthemic choruses, often enhanced by subtle electronic accents.^[11][15][2] The album's sound draws from the band's post-hardcore roots while incorporating pop-rock structures for broader accessibility, creating a dynamic tension between aggressive breakdowns and melodic hooks that evoke both intensity and emotional release.^[11][16] Instrumentally, the album highlights heavy guitar riffs crafted by lead guitarist Jack Fowler and rhythm guitarist Nick Martin, which drive the post-hardcore and metalcore influences with jagged, riff-heavy passages.^[5][11] Bassist Justin Hills provides driving bass lines that underpin the rhythmic foundation, while drummer Matty Best delivers dynamic, punchy beats that propel the tracks forward, contributing to the album's high-energy feel.^[17] Fowler's programming adds layers of electronic texture, including synth elements that subtly accentuate the transitions between heavier sections and more atmospheric moments.^[5][2] Compared to earlier works like Feel (2014), Complete Collapse evolves toward a more arena-ready production style, amplifying the band's sound with polished mixes that emphasize anthemic choruses for live performance appeal while retaining core aggressive elements.^[11] The standard edition runs for a concise 41:07, allowing for tight song structures that balance the genre fusions without excess.^[15] This progression incorporates subtle synth layers to enhance emotional depth, marking a return to the band's heavier origins with contemporary refinements.^[11][16]

Lyrical themes

The lyrics of Complete Collapse revolve around central motifs of personal collapse and subsequent growth, drawing from frontman Kellin Quinn's experiences with mental health challenges including alcoholism, depression, and anxiety.^[5] These themes manifest as introspective explorations of inner turmoil and self-sabotage, as seen in the opening track "Tyrants," where Quinn confronts feelings of suffocation and dehumanization under personal pressures, portraying the self as its own oppressor.^[18] The album emphasizes self-compassion and resilience, encouraging listeners to be kinder to themselves amid adversity, reflecting a broader narrative of recovery and renewal through sobriety and support networks.^[6] Quinn has described the title track as capturing his pre-pandemic mental state, where he teetered on the edge of total breakdown but was saved by the people around him, underscoring themes of vulnerability and interpersonal reliance without delving into explicit political commentary.^[19] Quinn's confessional style, rooted in the band's emo and post-hardcore influences, permeates the album with raw, diary-like reflections on mental health and post-pandemic emotional rebuilding.^[2] Tracks like "Complete Collapse" and "Be Happy" highlight this approach, blending despair with hopeful introspection to address how individuals perceive and navigate their inner worlds.^[20] Relationships under strain emerge as a recurring undercurrent, often intertwined with mental health struggles, depicting the tension between giving everything in partnerships and receiving emptiness in return, as in "Crosses."^[21] Guest vocalists enhance these themes, with Underoath's Spencer Chamberlain providing aggressive screams in "Crosses" that intensify the song's depiction of conflict and the push toward resolution in strained relationships.^[22] His contribution amplifies the emotional release, mirroring the album's overall arc from breakdown to tentative healing.^[2]

Release and promotion

Singles

The lead single from Complete Collapse, "Bloody Knuckles", was released on June 2, 2021, via Sumerian Records, serving as Sleeping with Sirens' first original material since 2019 and signaling the band's return to a heavier, more aggressive sound characterized by driving riffs and frontman Kellin Quinn's dynamic vocals.^[23][24] The track's accompanying music video, directed by Orie McGinness, depicts Quinn in an intense boxing match, symbolizing personal struggle and resilience, which aligned with the song's themes of perseverance and helped generate early buzz for the album.^[25] While it did not chart on major Billboard lists, "Bloody Knuckles" amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify within its first year, contributing to heightened fan engagement ahead of further announcements. (Note: Spotify data approximate based on public tracking.) Building anticipation through collaborations, "Crosses" featuring Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath followed on June 22, 2022, blending post-hardcore intensity with soaring choruses to preview the album's evolution.^[1] The music video, directed by Brian Cox, explores themes of duality through split-screen visuals contrasting light and dark elements, underscoring the track's message of empathy and shared human struggles, and it played a key role in teasing the full record's release.^[26] This single further amplified hype by securing placements on rock radio playlists and garnering praise for its guest vocalist's raw delivery.^[27] On August 11, 2022, Sleeping with Sirens released a double single package consisting of "Let You Down" featuring Charlotte Sands and "Ctrl + Alt + Del", both designed to showcase the album's pop-punk edges and emotional depth as the release date approached.^[28] "Let You Down" highlights Sands' harmonious vocals in a duet-style format, emphasizing vulnerability, while "Ctrl + Alt + Del" delivers a high-energy reset narrative with glitchy production elements; neither track received standalone music videos at launch but were promoted via lyric visuals and live previews to sustain momentum.^[29] These releases collectively boosted streaming numbers, with the package exceeding 5 million combined plays shortly after debut, reinforcing the band's relevance in the alternative scene.^[30] The title track "Complete Collapse" arrived on September 14, 2022, offering a climactic anthem of breakdown and rebirth that encapsulated the album's core ethos, complete with a cinematic music video directed by Jensen Noen featuring apocalyptic imagery and band performance shots to heighten dramatic tension.^[31] This single solidified the promotional rollout by providing crucial context for the record's thematic intensity. Coinciding with the album's October 14, 2022, launch, "Be Happy" featuring Royal & the Serpent was issued as an upbeat closer, its infectious hooks and collaborative energy serving to balance the project's heavier moments and extend post-release promotion.^[32] The official music video, also by Jensen Noen, portrays a surreal, colorful party scenario that contrasts inner turmoil with outward joy, further engaging fans through its vibrant aesthetic and role in live setlists.^[32] For the deluxe edition of Complete Collapse released on September 29, 2023, "Don’t Let the Party Die" emerged as a new single, capturing a defiant party anthem vibe with urgent riffs and Quinn's impassioned delivery to reflect on societal excess and resilience.^[33] Accompanied by a lyric video emphasizing chaotic revelry, the track tied into broader marketing by previewing acoustic reimaginings on the expanded set and maintaining hype through its anthemic appeal, though it focused more on digital streaming than traditional charts.

Marketing and tour

The pre-release marketing for Complete Collapse began with social media teasers in mid-2022, building anticipation through cryptic posts and snippets shared by the band on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. On June 22, 2022, Sleeping with Sirens officially announced the album via a coordinated rollout across their social channels, revealing the title, October 14 release date, tracklist, and artwork depicting a distorted, abstract human figure evoking themes of emotional and societal breakdown.^[34] Sumerian Records amplified the promotion with a multi-faceted campaign, including digital pre-save links on streaming platforms to encourage early engagement and exclusive merchandise bundles paired with single releases, such as limited-edition vinyls and apparel tied to tracks like "Crosses" and "Let You Down." These efforts, distributed through the label's official storefront and the band's website, emphasized the album's heavier sound and featured collaborations to broaden reach.^[34] The Complete Collapse Tour launched in late 2022 as the primary live extension of the album's promotion, commencing on October 11 in Nashville, Tennessee, and spanning intimate U.S. venues through late October to coincide with the release. Setlists prioritized new material from Complete Collapse, with tracks like "Complete Collapse," "Tyrants," and "Crosses" comprising over half of each performance, alongside select fan favorites to showcase the album's evolution in a raw, up-close setting.^[35][36] In 2023, the deluxe edition of Complete Collapse, released on September 29 and featuring acoustic renditions plus the new single "Don't Let The Party Die," tied into ongoing promotional events during the band's fall support slot on The Used's tour from September 5 to October 11. These shows across the U.S. West and Midwest served as key platforms to debut deluxe content live, with setlists incorporating the expanded tracks to sustain momentum for the reissue.^[37]

Critical reception

Professional reviews

Complete Collapse garnered mixed-to-positive reception from music critics, who appreciated its nostalgic emo vibes and high-energy moments but often pointed to a shortfall in fresh ideas. Square One Magazine awarded the album 3 out of 5 stars, lauding its nostalgic emo appeal through Kellin Quinn's distinctive vocals, familiar guitar riffs, and melodic tracks like "Grave" and "Family Tree," while critiquing its lack of innovation and substance, as it hesitates between grittier hard-rock and pop-punk without fully evolving from prior efforts.^[7] Sputnikmusic rated it 3 out of 5, praising the energetic instrumentals that compensate for unoriginality with solid drive, particularly in the catchy opener "Tyrants." Wall of Sound gave it 7.5 out of 10, highlighting the anthemic choruses and vigorous production in songs like "Bloody Knuckles" with its intense drums and "Let You Down" with its massive vocal delivery, though it noted a strong start that gives way to a mid-album dip in repetition around "Family Tree" to "Us."^[38][39] Critiques on originality were voiced in Hysteria Magazine's 7 out of 10 review, which emphasized the album's return to post-hardcore roots with emo-infused tracks evoking early 2000s nostalgia, yet faulted some selections for lacking polish amid otherwise engaging features and production.^[2]

Fan response

Fans have expressed strong enthusiasm for Complete Collapse, particularly highlighting the emotional resonance and stage-ready intensity of tracks like "Tyrants" and "Crosses," which many view as standout moments blending vulnerability with aggressive energy. Online discussions and live show reports often describe the album as a "return to form," recapturing the band's early post-hardcore intensity after experimental detours in prior releases.^[40][11] Despite this acclaim, some community feedback points to perceived formulaic structures echoing earlier albums, with critiques focusing on predictable song progressions that dilute innovation for longtime listeners. However, these concerns have not overshadowed the broader positive tide, as evidenced by sustained streaming momentum, with the title track surpassing 12 million Spotify plays by late 2025 following the September 2023 deluxe edition's acoustic additions.^[41] In retrospect, Complete Collapse serves as a transitional "bridge" album during significant band shifts, marking the debut of drummer Matty Best while being the last with guitarist Jack Fowler, who departed in 2022; this evolution has cemented its enduring appeal within emo revival communities, where it continues to draw crowds on 2025 tours.^[42] This grassroots support mirrors aspects of the professional acclaim, underscoring the record's role in revitalizing the band's fanbase.

Commercial performance

Charts

Complete Collapse debuted on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart at number 25 on October 27, 2022.^[43] The album did not enter the Billboard 200 main chart. It reached number 53 on the US Top Current Album Sales chart in October 2022. In 2023, the deluxe edition of the album led to a re-entry on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart on June 1, boosting streams but not achieving new peak positions.

Sales figures

The album Complete Collapse achieved modest commercial success in its debut week in the United States. Streaming contributed significantly to its initial performance, helping bolster its equivalent album units. As of November 2025, the album has accumulated over 70 million streams on Spotify.^[44] The album's deluxe edition, released in 2023, contributed to steady catalog sales thereafter, underscoring the band's enduring appeal within its niche fanbase despite no RIAA or other major certifications as of 2025.^[45]

Track listing

Standard edition

The standard edition of Complete Collapse, released on October 14, 2022, by Sumerian Records, features 12 tracks with a total runtime of 41:13, capturing the band's return to a heavier post-hardcore sound while exploring themes of mental health and personal turmoil. The songwriting is primarily credited to vocalist Kellin Quinn, guitarist Jack Fowler, bassist Justin Hills, and drummer Matty Best, often in collaboration with producers and guest artists.^[5] Production was handled mainly by Andrew Baylis and Zakk Cervini, with additional contributions from engineers like Michael Bono for editing and mixing.^[3] This edition contains no bonus tracks, allowing the album to flow cohesively from aggressive, riff-driven openers that evoke raw emotion to a more introspective close, emphasizing emotional catharsis without expansions found in later versions.^[46] The track listing is as follows: Songwriting credits vary by track but consistently involve core band members Quinn and Fowler alongside production collaborators like Baylis for most songs, with specific guest contributions on featured tracks (e.g., Chamberlain co-wrote elements of "Crosses").^[47][3]

Deluxe edition

The deluxe edition of Complete Collapse was released on September 29, 2023, by Sumerian Records, expanding the original album by adding five bonus tracks to reach a total of 17 songs and a runtime of 57:15. These additions consist of one new original composition and four acoustic renditions of existing tracks from the standard edition.^[37][48] The new track, "Don't Let the Party Die," was written following the original album's release in October 2022 and runs 2:46 in length, capturing the band's signature blend of post-hardcore energy and melodic hooks. The acoustic versions—"Complete Collapse" (3:04), "Let You Down" (3:03), "Us" (4:26), and "Be Happy" (2:42)—offer stripped-down arrangements that emphasize vocal delivery and instrumentation, providing an intimate reinterpretation of the material without guest features. These recordings were created post-release to extend the album's lifecycle.^[49][50] This edition features refreshed artwork with a more colorful and dynamic visual aesthetic compared to the standard version's darker tone, and it launched exclusively on digital platforms before any potential physical variants. Intended as a fan-service extension, the deluxe release delivers fresh content through the new song and acoustics—without live versions or remixes—to enhance listener engagement and streaming activity while preserving the unaltered core tracklist from the standard edition.^[9][51]

Personnel

Sleeping with Sirens members

The lineup of Sleeping with Sirens for their 2022 album Complete Collapse features the following core members, each contributing key instrumental and vocal elements to the recording.^[3]

• Kellin Quinn: lead vocals. As the band's frontman and sole constant member since its formation, Quinn handled primary vocal duties.^[3]
• Nick Martin: rhythm guitar, backing vocals. Martin, who joined in 2013, provided rhythm guitar lines and contributed backing vocals throughout the tracks, stepping into expanded responsibilities following prior lineup shifts.^[3][16]
• Jack Fowler: lead guitar, backing vocals, programming. Fowler performed on the album as lead guitarist with backing vocals and programming, marking his final contribution to the band before departing in July 2022.^[3][13]
• Justin Hills: bass guitar, backing vocals. A founding member alongside Quinn, Hills delivered bass lines and backing vocals, maintaining his longstanding role in the band's rhythm section.^[3]
• Matty Best: drums, percussion. Best made his debut on the album as the band's new drummer, bringing fresh percussion energy to the sessions after joining in 2020.^[3][52]

Additional musicians

The album Complete Collapse features contributions from several guest vocalists, enhancing its post-hardcore sound with diverse influences from the alternative rock scene. Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath provided guest vocals on the track "Crosses," delivering intense screamed sections that complement the song's aggressive energy.^[53] Charlotte Sands contributed guest vocals to "Let You Down," adding a melodic pop-punk layer to the chorus and bridge.^[54] Royal & the Serpent appeared as a guest vocalist on "Be Happy," bringing her distinctive alternative style to the track's anthemic hooks.^[54] Dorothy lent her powerful vocals to "Us," providing harmonies that amplify the emotional depth of the song's themes of connection.^[54] The September 2023 deluxe edition adds acoustic versions of "Let You Down," "Us," and "Be Happy," plus the new track "Don’t Let the Party Die" (no additional guests). "Be Happy" incorporates backing vocals performed by session singers.^[55][56]

Production personnel

The production of Complete Collapse was handled primarily by Andrew Baylis and Zakk Cervini, who served as the main producers for the album's tracks. Baylis produced seven tracks, including the title track "Complete Collapse" and "Tyrants," while Cervini handled four, such as "Crosses" featuring Spencer Chamberlain and "Us" with Dorothy.^[3] Nik Trekov contributed as an additional producer specifically on "Agree to Disagree" and assisted with engineering and mixing across several songs.^[3] Additional programming was provided by Randy Slaugh. Engineering duties were led by Andrew Baylis for his produced tracks, with Nik Trekov serving as the primary engineer and mix assistant for Cervini's selections, including "Crosses," "Be Happy," and "Mr. Nice Guy." Additional editing was provided by Michael Bono on "Crosses," and programming support came from Jayden Panesso on tracks like "Be Happy" and "Apathetic." Mixing was overseen by Zakk Cervini for his tracks, with Nik Trekov assisting, all conducted at MDDN Studios in California.^[3] The album was mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville, Tennessee, ensuring a polished final sound across all 12 tracks.^[5] A&R direction was managed by Ash Avildsen and Nick Walters for Sumerian Records.^[3] Visual elements were created by Joby J. Ford, who handled the artwork and design, while Josh Adams provided the band photography. Management was overseen by 5B Artist Management.^[3]