A Distant Call

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = A Distant Call | type = studio | artist = Sheer Mag | cover = A Distant Call - Sheer Mag.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2019|08|23}} | recorded = | studio = | genre =  * Heavy metal<ref name="pitchfork review"/> * power pop<ref name="pitchfork review"/> * protest music<ref name="Rolling Stone review"/> * punk rock<ref name="Rolling Stone review"/> * rock n' roll<ref name="pitchfork review"/> | length = 33:52 | label = Wilsuns | producer = | prev_title = Need to Feel Your Love | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = Playing Favorites | next_year = 2024 | misc = {{Singles | name = A Distant Call | type = Studio | single1 = Blood from a Stone | single1date = June 19, 2019<ref name="rettig 2019-06-19">{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Sheer Mag – "Blood From A Stone" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2048258/sheer-mag-blood-from-a-stone/music/ |website=Stereogum |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=June 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="shteamer 2019-06-19">{{cite web |last1=Shteamer |first1=Hank |title=Song You Need to Know: Sheer Mag, ‘Blood From a Stone’ |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sheer-mag-blood-from-a-stone-new-album-849809/ |website=Rolling Stone |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> | single2 = Hardly to Blame | single2date = July 22, 2019<ref name="gottsegen 2019-07-22">{{cite web |last1=Gottsegen |first1=Will |title=Sheer Mag – "Hardly To Blame" |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/07/sheer-mag-hardly-to-blame-video/ |website=Spin |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> | single3 = The Killer | single3date = August 19, 2019<ref name="Grow 2019-08-19">{{cite web |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Hear Sheer Mag’s Gritty New Song ‘The Killer’ |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sheer-mag-new-song-the-killer-873313/ |website=Rolling Stone |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=August 19, 2019}}</ref> }} }} '''''A Distant Call''''' is the second studio album by American band Sheer Mag. It was released on August 23, 2019, through the band's own label; Wilsuns Recording Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/sheer-mag-a-distant-call-stream/|title=Sheer Mag Release New Album 'A Distant Call'|work=Spin|last=Burks|first=Tosten|date=August 23, 2019|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref>

The first single from the album, "Blood From A Stone," was released on June 19, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/sheer-mag-announce-new-album-and-tour-share-new-song-listen/|title=Sheer Mag Announce New Album and Tour, Share New Song|website=Pitchfork|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=June 19, 2019|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref>

== Release and promotion == === Singles === Three singles were released on ''A Distant Call'' which were released prior to the release of the album. The first single, "Blood From A Stone" was released on June 19, 2019, which coincided with the album's announcement.<ref name="rettig 2019-06-19"/> The second single, "Hardly to Blame", was released on July 22, 2019.<ref name="gottsegen 2019-07-22"/> The third, and final single from the album, "The Killer", came out on August 19, 2019.<ref name="Grow 2019-08-19"/>

==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | ADM = 7.3/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/10032/Sheer-Mag-A-Distant-Call.aspx|title=A Distant Call by Sheer Mag|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | aggregate1 = | aggregate1score = | MC = 81/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/a-distant-call/sheer-mag|title=Metacritic Review|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-distant-call-mw0003294733|title=AllMusic Review|publisher=AllMusic|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Consequence of Sound'' | rev2score = B<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2019/08/album-review-sheer-mag-a-distant-call/|title=Sheer Mag Answer A Distant Call with Expected Fervor|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Sachllah|first=David|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Exclaim!'' | rev3score = 7/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sheer_mag-a_distant_call|title=Exclaim Review|website=Exclaim!|last=Garcia|first=Brad|date=August 20, 2019|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Guardian'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}} | rev5 = ''NME'' | rev5score = ''{{Rating|4|5}}''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/sheer-mag-distant-call-review|title=NME Review|website=NME|last=Smith|first=Thomas|date=August 28, 2019|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Paste'' | rev6score = 8.5/10<ref name="Paste review">{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Clare |title=Sheer Mag: A Distant Call Review |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/08/sheer-mag-a-distant-call-review.html |website=Paste |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev7score = 7.8/10<ref name="pitchfork review">{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Dayna |title=Sheer Mag: A Distant Call Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sheer-mag-a-distant-call/ |website=Pitchfork |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=August 24, 2019}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Q'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="MC"/> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone review">{{cite web |last1=Shteamer |first1=Hank |title=Sheer Mag Unite the Personal and Political on Bold Concept Album ‘A Distant Call’ |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/sheer-mag-distant-call-866944/ |website=Rolling Stone |accessdate=February 8, 2020 |date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> | noprose = yes }} ''A Distant Call'' was met with universal acclaim reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 81, based on 12 reviews.<ref name="MC"/>

==Track listing== {{Tracklist |title1=Steel Sharpens Steel |length1=4:02 |title2=Blood From a Stone |length2=2:37 |title3=Unfound Manifest |length3=3:36 |title4=Silver Line |length4=3:25 |title5=Hardly to Blame |length5=3:07 |title6=Cold Sword |length6=3:29 |title7=Chopping Block |length7=2:32 |title8=The Right Stuff |length8=3:14 |title9=The Killer |length9=4:43 |title10=Keep On Runnin |length10=3:07 }}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Distant Call, A}} Category:2019 albums Category:Sheer Mag albums Category:Albums with cover art by Robert Beatty (artist)