Welcome Reality
studio
ArtistNero
CoverWelcomeReality.jpg
Released12 August 2011
Recorded6 October 2008 – 1 April 2011
GenreDubstep · electro house · new rave · drum and bass
Length61:10
LabelMTA · Mercury
ProducerNero
Next year2015

Welcome Reality is the debut album by British dubstep group Nero. A concept album,[1] it was released first in Ireland on 12 August 2011[2] and the rest of the world on 15 August 2011 except Australia and New Zealand where it was released on 19 August 2011[3] on Chase & Status's MTA Records.[4] The album has sold 120,000 copies in the United States as of July 2015.[5]

Critical response

Welcome Reality has received generally positive reviews. Spin gave the album a score of 7/10, and wrote, "Alana Watson gives Nero's robotic skronk a rare injection of humanity, and the U.K. producers are smart enough to build most of their debut full-length around her husky voice, skipping the sampled spasticity of Skrillex in favor of Daft Punk's melodic big beat, '80s-inspired electro, and stadium-sized mash-ups of squealing guitar and windy synths."[6] Jeff Weiss, for the Los Angeles Times, found the album to be "As effective as it is predictable", stating "Welcome Reality will inevitably soundtrack thousands of summer and fall blowouts".[7] The album was not well received by Clash, who stated that "Welcome Reality is so in your face and predictable it feels like the musical equivalent of a Michael Bay movie: loud, crass, periodically fun, but ultimately forgettable".[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Welcome Reality
Chart (2011–2012)Peak
position
US Top Current Albums (Billboard)[9]178

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Welcome Reality
Chart (2011)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[10]98
Chart (2012)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[11]186
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[12]16

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "iTunes - Music - Welcome Reality by Nero". iTunes. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  3. ^ "'Welcome Reality' release date, track listing and art work announced". Nero. 20 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  4. ^ Sigel, Tego (11 April 2011). "Nero To Release Their Debut Album Welcome To Reality in August". RWDmag. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. Archived 4 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Nero, 'Welcome Reality' (MTA)". Spin. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Album Review: Nero's 'Welcome Reality'". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Nero - Welcome Reality | Clash Music Latest Album Review". Clash. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Nero Chart History: Current Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  10. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  11. ^ "End of Year 2012". UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 4 October 2021.