Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Contains explicit content, Enhanced CD-ROM
Genre: Rock
Review
After years of reigning the rock scene in their homeland, New Zealand's Shihad were ready to try their hand in America. In the studio on September 11, 2001, the band nearly called it quits and headed for home. With a name slightly similar to "jihad," the Arab word of "holy war," the quartet figured the deck was stacked against them. Instead, re-christened Pacifier, the group poured itself into the sessions with renewed commitment. The resulting self-titled album is not so much a good band reinventing itself (being that their sound didn't alter that much), but a band finding a new enthusiasm for their own music. The first single, "Bullitproof," on the surface declares this new enthusiasm. It earned heavy rotation on MTV2 soon after its release. Though their nu-metal/hard rock sound is nothing that hasn't been done (maybe even done to death) in the last few years, the obvious amount of live energy translated to tape adds convincing weight. Add that to a rare melodic flair among hard rock bands: more radio-friendly tracks like "Walls" and "Trademark" display definite crossover potential. ~ John Duffy, All Music Guide
DJ Lethal (Scratching), GGGarth (Producer), John Goodmanson (Mixing), Phil Knight (Guitar), Phil Knight (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Phillips (Assistant), Michael Read (A&R), L.A. Reid (Executive Producer), Steve Sisco (Assistant), Bob Skoro (A&R), Randy Staub (Mixing), Louie Teran (Mastering), Johnny Toogood (Guitar), Johnny Toogood (Vocals), Andy Wallace (Mixing), Scott Weiland (Vocals (Background)), Mike Plotnikoff (Engineer), Victor McCoy (Mixing Assistant), Victor McCoy (Assistant), Jeffrey Schulz (Layout Design), Don Bartley (Mastering), Doug Erb (Art Direction), Karl Kippenberger (Bass), Karl Kippenberger (Vocals (Background)), Joshua Sarubin (A&R), Ryan Williams (Engineer), Ryan Williams (Mixing), Josh Abraham (Producer), Josh Abraham (A&R), Ian Blanch (Assistant), Jonas G. (Engineer), Stephen Oxenbury (Photography), Joe-Mama Nitzberg (Creative Consultant), John Arsenault (Photography), Pacifier (Engineer), Tom Larkin (Drums), Tom Larkin (Vocals), Tom Larkin (Vocals (Background)), Tom Baker (Mastering), Celia Church (Vocals (Background)), Belinda So (Photography)
Pacifier is the fifth full length album released by New Zealand band, Shihad.
At the time of the release they were performing under the name Pacifier due to perceived resemblance of Shihad to jihad. Released in 2002, tracks such as "Run" and "Bullitproof" went on to become hit singles. "Bullitproof" peaked at #27 on the BillboardMainstream Rock Tracks, and #37 on the BillboardModern Rock Tracks.[1] However, it still failed to break the band into the United States.
The band, and lead singer Jon Toogood especially, have since shown their displeasure with the album, calling it "overproduced", and "bullshit --- that would've been the wrong album to be big on."
One version of this album included the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" bonus disc and yet another version contained a bonus disc featuring live acoustic tracks from the "Helen Young Sessions".
