Take It to the Limit (Hinder album)

Take It to the Limit is the second studio album by American rock band Hinder, released November 4, 2008 on Universal Republic Records. The album was recorded by Jay Van Poederooyen and produced by Brian Howes at Van Howes Studios in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The record was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge at Mix LA in Tarzana, California, USA. It has a much heavier glam metal and a lesser post-grunge influence than their last album, while retaining the elements of hard rock that the band had previously used. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

Take It to the Limit
Studio album by Hinder
Released	November 4, 2008
Recorded	2006-2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Portable Tour Bus Studio
Genre	Hard rock,^[1] glam metal, post-grunge
Length	41:16
Label	Universal Republic
Producer	Brian Howes
Hinder chronology
Extreme Behavior (2005) Take It to the Limit (2008) All American Nightmare (2010)
Singles from Take It to the Limit
"Use Me" Released: July 15, 2008 "Without You" Released: September 23, 2008 "Up All Night" Released: February 3, 2009 "Loaded and Alone" Released: 2009 "The Best Is Yet to Come" Released: 2009 "Last Kiss Goodbye" Released: August 2009

Release

The first single, "Use Me", was released to radio on July 7, 2008, with a digital download release on July 15, 2008. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard Hot 200, selling 81,000 copies in its first week. "Heaven Sent" was performed at Hinder concerts dating back to 2007; however, the song was originally called "Heaven Lost You" when it was first performed.

Background

"We're anxious to get in and get started," frontman Austin John Winkler tells Billboard.com. He says that the group has "probably three or four songs that we have prepared that we could play live at this point. Everything else is just ideas. We have a little rehearsal studio we set up (backstage) every day, and we're working on new material. It's all coming along real well."

Hinder started playing at least two new songs at each show, one in a full-band version and another in a stripped-down, acoustic arrangement in their 2007 tours. Winkler says that the then untitled album, which would succeed 2005's double platinum Extreme Behavior is not yet going in any particular direction, however.

"If you listen to 'Extreme Behavior,' it's so diverse. Not one song sounds like the other," Winkler explains. "We want it to be like that again. We write what we think are good songs, and you'll definitely hear some experiences of the last two years on the road."

Winkler says that Hinder plans to work again with "Extreme Behavior" producer Brian Howes ("You gotta go with what works, and we work very, very well together") and probably record half of the album in Los Angeles and the rest in Vancouver, with a hoped-for summer or fourth-quarter release.

"There's always a little bit of pressure there," Winkler says, "but I actually believe we've got a way better start on this record because we've grown so much as songwriters and learned a whole lot more."

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	(C+) ^[3]
Rolling Stone	^[4]

Although critical reactions to the album have been mixed, it was received better than their debut. It received a 49/100 score on Metacritic.^[5] Entertainment Weekly gave a grade of C+ and cited their lack of originality and contrasting song styles of hard rock and ballads. Chris Willman explained, "If you were ever young and in love, dumb with drink, and had a head swimming with not just Boone's Farm wine but also Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and AC/DC (to name these guys' most blatant anthemic influences), you may be willing to forgive Hinder's lack of originality and preponderance of madonna/whore issues."^[3] He summed up by saying "If only the whiplash they induce resulted from real headbanging, not from trying to follow Hinder's song-to-song indecision about whether to be studs or wimps."^[3] In a more positive review Hard Rock Hideout ^[6] gave it 4.5 out of five stars saying that "Take It To The Limit is a stronger album from start to finish than the band’s debut, and Hinder is one of the bands leading the revival for straight up rock-n-roll and “Take It To The Limit” is going to go a long way in helping the cause."

Many have criticized the originality of the album, saying many of the lyrical themes were similar to many snap music rap albums (especially the Dem Franchize Boyz album On Top Of Our Game), and the sound was similar to many 1980's glam metal bands.

Track listing

All songs written by Austin Winkler, Cody Hanson and Brian Howes.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Use Me"	3:49
2.	"Loaded and Alone"	4:06
3.	"Last Kiss Goodbye"	3:48
4.	"Up All Night" (feat. Crispin Earl and Eric Schraeder of The Veer Union)	3:33
5.	"Without You"	3:52
6.	"Take It to the Limit" (feat. Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe)	3:11
7.	"The Best Is Yet to Come"	3:22
8.	"Heaven Sent"	3:41
9.	"Thing for You"	3:59
10.	"Lost in the Sun"	3:52
11.	"Far from Home"	4:03

Bonus tracks

Best Buy have released a version that include six exclusive bonus tracks, featuring live and in-studio acoustic versions of these songs.^[7]

• "Heaven Sent (Live)" – 3:42
• "Loaded and Alone (Acoustic)" – 3:34
• "Lost in the Sun (Live)" – 3:46
• "The Best Is Yet to Come (Acoustic)" – 3:21
• "Without You (Acoustic)" – 3:52
• "Use Me (Live)" – 4:30

Wal-Mart have also release a special edition of the album which that includes three bonus tracks and a bonus DVD.^[8]

• "Thunderstruck" (AC/DC cover) – 4:52
• "Live for Today" – 2:56
• "Running in the Rain" (Extreme Behavior outtake) – 3:35

iTunes U.S. has two bonus tracks.

• "Heartless" – 3:38
• "One Night Stand" – 3:14

iTunes U.K. has two bonus tracks.

• "Heartless" – 3:38
• "Thunderstruck" (AC/DC cover) – 4:52

Japanese edition has two bonus tracks.

• "One Night Stand" – 3:14
• "Running in the Rain" (Extreme Behavior outtake) – 3:35

Chart positions

Weekly charts Chart (2008) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)^[9] 44 Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[10] 11 US Billboard 200^[11] 4 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)^[12] 3 US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)^[13] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position US Billboard 200^[14] 104 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)^[15] 35

Personnel

• Austin John Winkler: Vocals
• Joe "Blower" Garvey: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
• Mark King: Rhythm Guitar
• Mike Rodden: Bass
• Cody Hanson: Drums
• Brian Howes: Producer
• Chris Lord-Alge: Mixing
• Mick Mars: Guest
• Paul Laine: Backing Vocals

References

1. Stewart, Allison (November 4, 2008). "Hinder: Rocking Like It's 1989". The Washington Post.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Take It to the Limit at AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
3. Willman, Chris (October 30, 2008). "Take it to the Limit review". Entertainment Weekly (1019). Retrieved July 7, 2011.
4. Hoard, Christian (November 13, 2008). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
5. "Reviews for Take It To The Limit by Hinder". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
6. "Hinder – Take It To The Limit (Release Year – 2008) «". Hardrockhideout.com. November 3, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
7. Best Buy: Hinder - Take It To The Limit
8. "Take It To The Limit (Edited) (with 3 Exclusive Bonus Tracks) (Deluxe Edition) (Includes DVD) - Walmart.com". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
9. "Australiancharts.com – Hinder – Take It To The Limit". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
10. "Hinder Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
11. "Hinder Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
12. "Hinder Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
13. "Hinder Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
14. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
15. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.