No More Heroes (album)

No More Heroes is the second studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released on 23 September 1977, through record label United Artists in most of the world and A&M in the United States, five months after their debut album, Rattus Norvegicus.

Background
No More Heroes was produced by Martin Rushent. The album consists of new material with four songs left over from the Rattus Norvegicus sessions ("Something Better Change", "Bitching", "Peasant in the Big Shitty" and "School Mam").

The album cover features a photo of a wreath placed on a coffin with the tails of several rats (the Stranglers' trademark). The brass plaque on the album cover was engraved by Steven Stapleton of Nurse with Wound.

Two singles were released from the album: "No More Heroes", and a double A-side of "Something Better Change" and the non-album track "Straighten Out".

Critical reception
The Oakland Tribune likened the band to "Capt. Beefheart backed by the Ramones." The Guardian noted that "a good organ sound and distinctive vocal tricks [keep] off the encroaching monotony."

AllMusic called No More Heroes "faster, nastier and better [than Rattus Norvegicus]. "At this point the Stranglers were on top of their game, and the ferocity and anger that suffuses this record would never be repeated." Trouser Press wrote that No More Heroes "continues in the same vein [as Rattus Norvegicus], but drops whatever hint of restraint may have been in force the first time around. Rude words and adult themes abound, with no punches pulled, from the blatant sexism of "Bring on the Nubiles" to the sarcastic attack on racism ("I Feel Like a Wog") to the suicide of a friend ("Dagenham Dave"). Despite the increased virulence, the music is even better than on the debut, introducing pop stylings that would later become a more common aspect of the Stranglers' character," finishing the review with "No More Heroes is easily [the Stranglers'] best album."

In 2000 it was voted number 427 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.

Track listing

 * 1987 CD reissue bonus track (EMI)


 * 1996 CD reissue bonus disc (EMI)
 * Disc one as per original album


 * 2018 CD reissue bonus tracks (Parlophone)

Personnel

 * The Stranglers
 * Hugh Cornwell – guitars, lead and backing vocals
 * Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
 * Dave Greenfield – keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead and backing vocals
 * Jet Black – drums, percussion


 * Technical personnel
 * Martin Rushent – production
 * Alan Winstanley – engineering
 * Nigel Brooke-Harte – mixing, engineering assistance
 * Doug Bennett – mixing
 * JONZ (John Dent) – mastering
 * Paul Henry – sleeve design, art direction
 * Trevor Rogers – sleeve photography
 * Eamonn O'Keefe – sleeve photography solarisation
 * The Red Room – artwork design (2001 reissue)

In popular culture
The popular hack and slash video game series No More Heroes by Grasshopper Manufacture got its name from the album.