FVEY (album)

FVEY (pronounced Five Eyes) is the ninth studio album by New Zealand alternative rock band Shihad, released on 8 August 2014. The album debuted at number one on the New Zealand albums chart, making it Shihad's fifth New Zealand number one album. The chart position also makes Shihad the only New Zealand band to have five number one albums, tying them with solo artist Hayley Westenra who also has five number one albums.

The album name is a reference to "Five Eyes", often abbreviated as FVEY, an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Background
For the production of their ninth studio album, Shihad worked with Jaz Coleman, of English post-punk band Killing Joke. Coleman produced Shihad's debut album, Churn, but a disagreement with the band occurred after the release of the album. Following a 15-year period in which Coleman and Shihad did not communicate, Coleman made amends with the band members at a London, UK awards ceremony. Toogood explained in June 2014:

Three years ago we were at the Metal Hammer awards. I hadn't talked to Jaz for ages. We'd had a falling out, I just didn't have time for him. Tom [Larkin] went and chatted to him and was like, "come over and talk to him". I was like, "Fuck that guy". But he was softer—he doesn't drink alcohol anymore. He's still gnarly and idealistic and brutal but minus the alcohol that makes him this focused machine. It was just the perfect meeting of what we wanted to do and having the right guy to do it with.

Toogood explained that the entirety of the ninth album was recorded live, while Coleman conducted, and the band members were forced to focus entirely on each song as they were recorded, without outside distractions, such as mobile phones.

FVEY was released on 8 August 2014 on the Warner Music New Zealand label. The first single, "Think You're So Free", was described by Australia's Double J radio station as sounding "more furious now than they ever have" and the music video for the song was published on YouTube on 5 July 2014. Prior to the release of the album, Toogood explained that anger towards social injustice was a primary motivation during the songwriting process, stating: "I don't have any answers but just as a concerned citizen, I'm going, 'This is bullshit'. The music's how we feel about that. It's fucking frustrating." Musically, the band chose a heavier sound, signifying a return to the first album, which the band found most enjoyable to play during their greatest hits tour.

Reception
FVEY received mostly positive reviews. Chris Schulz of The New Zealand Herald praised the intensity of the album, stating "They've just made the angriest album of their career - and it's a work of beauty."

Personnel
Shihad
 * Jon Toogood – vocals, guitars
 * Tom Larkin – drums
 * Phil Knight – guitars
 * Karl Kippenberger – bass guitar

Art and design
 * Alt Group – artwork

Production and recording
 * Evan Short – recording, engineering
 * Scott Seabright – additional engineering
 * Micha Livesay – additional engineering
 * Forrester Savell - mixing, mastering
 * Samuel K Sproull - vocal recording, mixing (tracks 12, 14, 15)
 * Jaz Coleman – producer