I've Failed You is the sixth and most recent studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on August 30, 2011, through eOne Music. Recorded between April and May 2011 at Beach Road Studios in London, Ontario, it was the band's second album to feature producer Siegfried Meier. Considered by the band to be their darkest and most personal release, the album acts as a continuation of the sound featured on In the Black (2009), and its lyrics thematically revolves around "[the] feeling like you've let yourself down and you've let everyone else down that cared about you."

I've Failed You received mixed reviews from critics and debuted at number 178 on the Billboard 200, selling over 3,000 copies in its first week. Bassist Ivy Jenkins left Kittie in February 2012, and was replaced by former bassist Trish Doan; following Doan's death, she would return to the band in 2022.

Background and recording 

In September 2009, Kittie released their fifth album In the Black. The band would embark on a two-year international tour in support of the album, which concluded in October 2010. Following a collective break from band activities to recuperate, the members of Kittie regrouped in January 2011 and spent three months writing songs for their next album. In mid-April 2011, Kittie commenced the  recording of I've Failed You with producer Siegfried Meier at Beach Road Studios in London, Ontario, lasting a total of three weeks.

As with In the Black, Meier used a Studer A827 tape machine to record I've Failed You tracks; Mercedes drums, which had been recorded digitally on In the Black, were also tracked using the tape machine. Due to immigration difficulties preventing her from joining the other members of Kittie in Canada, Meier was forced to travel to the United States with a mobile recording setup to record Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks, which were recorded with no distortion so they could be run through a bass amplifier and some comps at Beach Road. In a 2011 interview with OnMilwaukee, Meier said that Kittie had joking compared the album's "bassless" sound during production to Metallica's ...And Justice for All. Despite this setback, the other members of Kittie managed to keep Jenkins as involved as possible with the album during production, sending her rough mixes as recording progressed; they initially planned on having Jenkins send material over to the band as well, but this was scrapped due to time constraints.

Composition 
I've Failed You has been described as death metal, nu metal and heavy metal.

Release
I've Failed You was released on August 30, 2011 and peaked on the US Billboard 200 at 178. The album also charted on Billboards's Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Independent Albums, Top Rock Albums charts, peaking at 10, 26 and 46th positions respectively.

Critical reception

I've Failed You received mixed reviews from critics. Exclaim! gave I've Failed You a positive review, referring to the album as Kittie's "most accomplished release to date". Blabbermouth.net praised the album's production and dynamics, stating that it "won't irreversibly alter the face of metal, but it'll leave some nasty cuts and scratches from those permanently sharp claws." Andreas Himmelstein and Frank Albrecht, both from Rock Hard, gave differing opinions. Himmelstein gave the album a 5 out of 10, criticizing its "total lack of ideas" and Morgan Lander's limited range, whilst Albrecht gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, finding its mix of death metal riffs and melodic vocals to be "highly entertaining". 

AllMusic stated that the album "sounds nearly interchangeable with their previous releases, which may provide solace for some of the quartet's many fans, but will likely provide a whole lot of ammunition for their detractors." Katharina of Metal.de felt the album was monotonous and uninspired, calling it "an average Nu Metal album, enhanced by its interludes." NOW criticized the album's lack of "memorable lyrics, riffs or melodies". David Buchanan of Consequence of Sound criticized the album's song titles, style and attitude, stating that the album "yields the reason some late-’90s cusp performers will never regain their footing commercially or artistically: [Kittie] flat out sucked to begin with."

Track listing
All songs written by Kittie.

Personnel
Adapted from CD liner notes.Kittie
 Morgan Lander – lead vocals, guitars, piano 
 Mercedes Lander – drums, percussion, backing vocals
 Tara McLeod – guitars
 Ivy Vujic Jenkins – bass
Production
 Siegfried Meier – production, mixing, engineering
 T-Roy – mastering (at Spectre Studios)Artwork
 Morgan Lander – artwork concept
 Ama Lea – photography
 Paul Grosso – creative direction
 Sean Marlowe – art direction  & design

Charts

Release history

References

Bibliography 

 

2011 albums
Kittie albums
E1 Music albums
Albums produced by Siegfried Meier