The album is Gilbert's fifth overall, and his third for the Valory imprint of Big Machine Records, to which he has been signed since 2011. It includes a total of fifteen tracks, some of which Gilbert released online prior to the album's release. The song "Not Like Us" was used in advertising for NASCAR in mid-2019. Vocal collaborators on the album include Willie Nelson and his son Lukas (of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real), Colt Ford, Jamey Johnson, and Alison Krauss. Canadian country singer Lindsay Ell is featured on the lead single, "What Happens in a Small Town".[2]
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "Maybe it doesn't have enough intensity to live up to its titular promise, but Fire & Brimstone nevertheless is a cohesive record that shows Gilbert in firm grasp of his craft."[3] Dan MacIntosh of Country Standard Time gave a largely positive review, noting a "spiritual" theme on some songs including the title track, while also praising "Man That Hung the Moon". His review called the album "quality if not exactly country".[4]
Commercial performance
Fire & Brimstone debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums based on 36,000 album equivalent units, of which 28,000 are in traditional album sales.[5] It also debuted at No. 9 on Billboard 200.[1] It sold a further 5,700 copies the second week.[6] It has sold 70,300 copies as of March 2020,[7] and 127,000 consumed units as of February 2020.[8]
