Underoath

If someone had allowed me to write the Hollywood script on Underoath, I would have beat them down into a contrived mass of calculated hooks and sweet looks that would cater to the legions of fawning females, television appearances. Yes, I would’ve stuck my writing pencil in the back of my throat to regurgitate this morning’s breakfast creation, but I would have done so on the way through a drive-in window and a chatty but grateful bank teller. Neither Hollywood nor T&N Records have begged for my help, so I’ll just spoil the ending here and tell you that this Florida six-piece has opted for the artistic integrity approach, which dutifully earns the Solid State imprint on the back. Forget the fact that girls have been flocking to their shows and singing along, Define The Great Line is like one harsh line in the sand that dares its audience to embrace the band on its own terms. I count not one contrived note. This album is chock full of authentic, gritty metal/rock. “In Regards To Myself” kicks off the 11-song shout-fest with the type of abrasive aggression usually reserved for a mid-album’s moment of self-indulgence. While still melodic and able to fetch a singable chorus with ease (check out the infectious “To Whom It May Concern” or “Writing On The Walls”), these guys show enough bravado and toughness to land an appearance in The Sopranos. The sounds are great and there’s plenty of highlights to enjoy. “Casting Such A Thin Shadow” wanders and jams along for almost four minutes before the now-seasoned vocalist, Spencer Chamberlain, decides he needs to participate. While the short departure, “Salmarnir,” reveals that Chris Dudley might be aware of Sigur Ros, he’s not about to change his stripes as a headbanging keyboardist. “Returning Empty Handed” screams in the gutter loud enough to presume that these guys would just as soon beat the living tar out of a boy band before it would entertain becoming one. My hat is off to this nearly perfect album.
[Solid State] Kern County Kid, The

This album review was originally published in the July/August Issue (#120) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version now to read tons more album reviews.

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Comments

By Josh Elliot

Crap yes.... this new album is amazing and shows the public that underoath will not conform to the boxes and outlines that the public (and 12 year old girls) have tried to contain them in. the lyrics are deep and thoughtful, forcing many out intellectually while luring in many new found fans... i'd give it a 4*

By Matthew

This CD rocks!

By yvonne z.

wow! i am amazed at this album! i love track #11. i cant wait to hear this stuff live!

By j-net

okay, so am i the only one that thought this album was WAY OFF?? i will probaby receive a lot of hate mail for this but i was deeply disappointed by the new underoath album. i have not followed underoath since the beginning but what attacted me to the band was it's last album, "Define the Great Line." i felt it blended its emotions melodically with climaxed screams well. While there were a few good songs in their new album, the album overall was just one big sreaming mess. choppy and chaotic, i felt like they were just screaming every single word. maybe it isn't popular these days for a band to have a certain "sound" but constantly change theirs. For a fan of the last underoath's album sound, this one definitely let met me down.

By j-net

my bad, correction: underoath's last album was "They're only chasing safety"

By No Name

This CD is bad. Thats in a good way. Underoath is the best band there is right now. Great sound, good singing and screaming and alwsome drum licks and fills. Keep the good work Underoath!!!

By nick

you guys rock and i like you guys oyur one of my favorite bands

By Isaac

Underoath is still my favorite band...I'll just keep listening to "They're Only Chasing Safety" and pretend this CD never came out....Good job Underoath, but you lost the rythm and got way too choppy for me...and the vocals were recorded way too low because the music drowns it all out

By B

Vocals are way low....when you get it from a source that had it before the album even came out. Great album, amazing stuff, especially to follow up the monumental "They're Only Chasing Safety". Remarkable album for a band that is trying to repeat something as successful as that was. They are a post-hardcore band...don't think they are all about selling radio tunes that you heard a lot on the debut album w/spencer. Besides, radio overplays songs which attributes to its downfall among actual fans.

By mt

it's a great album that reaches back to their metal roots (first two ep's) and at the same time moves past there pop-core "only chasing safety" <- was a great album, yes, amazing in fact, but it's good to hear a little more hardcore and breakdowns back again. killer, simply killer

By scott

really, really good album. I have listened to this album more than any other peice of music or album ever. I'm glad its heavy. I have yet to listen to an Underoath album and be dissapointed.

By paul

the new underoath rocks its a great return to their original roots and a mix of their new sound

By joshua

the new underoath fans are lame.
underoath is good again. sort of.

By JAY-COB

HOYLY CRAP THE NEW ALBUN IS AMAZING i am a huge underoath fan and this is defenently thre best yet i would defenently have to say it deservs 5 stars

By Christmetalhead

This is a very good cd. It is becoming the custom these days for a babnd to change their sound every album. I'm not for that, but these guys it it so well I can't stop listening. And on top of that, it's great hardcore as it is! BUY IT IMMEDIATELY!