{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Old Gods | type = studio | artist = Shihad | cover = Shihad - Old Gods.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2021|10|08|df=yes}} | genre = Alternative metal | length = 38:27 | label = ADA, Warner | producer = Adam Spark | prev_title = FVEY | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = Old Gods | type = studio | single1 = Tear Down Those Names | single1date = 8 July 2021 | single2 = Little Demons | single2date = 30 July 2021 | single3 = Feel the Fire | single3date = 24 August 2021 | single4 = Empire Falling | single4date = 7 October 2021 }} }}
'''''Old Gods''''' is the tenth and final studio album by New Zealand rock band Shihad, released on 8 October 2021. The album debuted at number one in New Zealand.
==Production==
Much of the album was inspired by Jon Toogood's experiences after his conversion to Islam, before his marriage to Dana Salih in Sudan in 2014, and the band's disgust at the rise of Conservative politicians in the world.<ref name="Announcement"/><ref name="Stuff">{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300381555/shihad-hear-the-anger-and-the-love |title=Shihad: Hear the anger, and the love |first=Grant |last=Smithies |date=21 August 2021 |website=Stuff |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref> The song "Little Demons" was one of the first songs written for the album, inspired by a televised Australian political debate where a Liberal Party of Australia told an Aboriginal Australian woman to call the police when she experiences racist threats.<ref name="Maniacs">{{cite web|url=https://www.maniacsonline.com.au/news/shihads-new-anthem-little-demons-has-dropped|title=Shihad's new anthem Little Demons has dropped|website=Maniacs Online|date=30 July 2021|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref>
==Release and promotion==
The album was announced on 8 July 2021, at the same time when the first single from ''Old Gods'' was released, "Tear Down Those Names".<ref name="Announcement">{{cite news|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/shihad-announce-10th-studio-album-old-gods/ |title=Shihad Announce 10th Studio Album 'Old Gods' |date=8 July 2021 |publisher=new Zealand Music Commission |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref> This was followed by "Little Demons" on 30 July,<ref name="Maniacs"/> "Feel the Fire" in August<ref name="13th">{{cite web|url=https://www.13thfloor.co.nz/new-song-of-the-day-shihad-feel-the-fire/|title=New Song of the Day: Shihad – Feel The Fire|website=www.13thfloor.co.nz|date=24 August 2021|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref> and "Empire Falling" on 7 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/new-aus-music-playlist-our-favourite-tunes-of-the-week-79/|title=New Aus Music Playlist – 08/10/21|website=Music Feeds|date=8 October 2021|access-date=9 October 2021}}</ref>
The album was originally slated for release on 27 August,<ref name="Announcement"/> however the album was postponed due to the 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns in New Zealand,<ref name="13th"/> eventually released on 8 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maniacsonline.com.au/news/interview-shihad-guitarist-phil-knight-goes-deep-on-old-gods-riffs-and-trying-to-live-up-to |title=INTERVIEW - SHIHAD GUITARIST PHIL KNIGHT GOES DEEP ON 'OLD GODS', RIFFS AND TRYING TO LIVE UP TO AC/DC|first=Brenton|last=Harris|website=Maniacs Online|date=8 October 2021 |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref>
The album debuted at number one in New Zealand, scoring the band the record for New Zealand band with the most number one albums in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://warnermusic.co.nz/news/shihads-old-gods-debuts-at-1-and-makes-chart-history |title=SHIHAD'S NEW ALBUM 'OLD GODS' DEBUTS AT #1 AND MAKES CHART HISTORY |date=15 October 2021 |website=Warner Music |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref>
The band intended to tour the album in Australia with a seven-date tour in October, and a planned five date tour of New Zealand in November,<ref name="Maniacs"/><ref name="Stuff"/> however both were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in the countries.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/shihad-cancel-2022-australian-tour-35194/|title=Shihad Cancel 2022 Australian 'Old Gods' Tour|first=Tyler|last=Jenke|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=14 December 2021|access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jon-toogood-shihad-frontman-on-move-back-to-nz-postponed-tour-and-in-studio-performance/|title=Jon Toogood: Shihad frontman on move back to NZ, postponed tour and in-studio performance|website=Newstalk ZB|date=12 May 2022|access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref> Shihad held their This Is the Sound of an Empire Falling tour in New Zealand, performing four dates in September and October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/19887/Shihad-Announce-Nationwide-Tour-of-New-Zealand.utr|title=Shihad Announce Nationwide Tour of New Zealand|author=C.C.|website=Under the Radar|date=8 August 2022|access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Old Gods'' track listing | all_writing = Jon Toogood, Karl Kippenberger, Phil Knight and Tom Larkin
| title1 = Tear Down Those Names | length1 = 4:01
| title2 = Old Gods | length2 = 3:19
| title3 = Mink Coat | length3 = 4:04
| title4 = The Hill Song | length4 = 3:54
| title5 = Feel the Fire | length5 = 4:07
| title6 = Little Demons | length6 = 4:01
| title7 = Empire Falling | length7 = 3:37
| title8 = Just Like You | length8 = 4:17
| title9 = Slow Dawning | length9 = 3:47
| title10 = The Wreckage | length10 = 3:09
| total_length = 38:27 }}
==Credits and personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Shihad''' * Jon Toogood – guitar, songwriting * Karl Kippenberger – bass, songwriting * Phil Knight – guitar, songwriting * Tom Larkin – drums, songwriting {{col-2}} '''Production and recording''' * Adam Spark – mixing, producer * Tom Baker – mastering {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-start}} {{col-2}} ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Old Gods'' ! scope="col" | Chart (2021) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|15|artist=Shihad|album=Old Gods|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 January 2021}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Shihad|album=Old Gods|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 January 2023}} |} {{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''Old Gods'' |- !Chart (2021) !Position |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Artist Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-aotearoa-albums/2021-12-31|title=Official Top 20 NZ Albums: End of Year Charts 2021|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 19 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{Shihad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Old Gods}} Category:2021 albums Category:Shihad albums Category:Alternative Distribution Alliance albums