UNDEROATH
"Define
the Great Line" (Solid State; 2006)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Underoath are labeled under “Christian Metalcore,” but good luck trying to pin that on them -- you just might get stomped in the mosh pit that will surely form when they hit the stage.
My first experience with the
band was less than palatable because I couldn’t get into the vocals. Although they’ve
now changed lead screamers they still stay with the unbridled fury that gives hardcore its edge. Right from the start, Spencer Chamberlain is in your face and he doesn’t let up. Spencer has a good singing voice and he uses it every now and then throughout the disc, but most of the time he is ranting with a grindcore growl and screaming while the music behind him
carves out deep craters. Their music also ventures into progressive territory; after a few listens you can hear a hint
as to what direction the band may take in the future.
Metalcore isn’t my first choice in music (my alarm clock already has that annoying buzz sound to wake
me), but when I need to raise my heart rate, I can always count on Underoath to do just that. These guys stay with their Christian beliefs and the song “Salmarnir” has one of the band member’s cousins reading scripture to music. Even though there’s a religious intermission, that doesn’t take away any of the fierce and unsettling passion they have for creating music that moves you, in more ways than one.
What makes these guys so appealing is not their skipping down the narrow road approach to their faith. They deal with issues that affect all of us. I know that sometimes it’s hard to understand the lyrics and having them in front of you for the initial listen through gives you an understanding of their mission. Their style of music reaches more and more each
year and Underoath has the talent to keep Christian metalcore alive.
Songs that will burn at least 200 calories are “In Regards To Myself,” “There Could Be Nothing After This,” “Casting Such A Thin Shadow,” “Moving For The Sake Of Motion,” and “To Whom It May Concern.”
Underoath: Christopher Dudley – electronic keyboard and drum machine, Timothy McTague - guitar, James Smith - guitar, Aaron Gillespie – drums and vocals; Spencer Chamberlain – lead vocals; and Grant Brandell – bass.
For more information, check out http://www.underoath777.com
or http://www.myspace.com/underoath.
"The
Changing of Times" (Solid State; 2002)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I’ve been challenged again to review an album where the lead singer screeches and screams all over the
track. I really find this guy's voice unsettling. The music is heavy; there are no
solos but you really don’t notice because the drums and guitar battle for first place. But
the singer, Dallas Taliaferro Taylor ... well, he just ruins the songs. If he ever developed a
real singing voice this band would soar above all others because the music is excellent in many parts of this disc.
So, I’ll focus on the instruments here instead. The guitar is crunchy and blasts powerful riffs and every now and then it gets melodic and acoustic. The keyboards are really keys; there is a piano sound that couples with the acoustic guitar sometimes to create an interesting sound. Each
track starts out kind of weird and you never really know where it’s going to go. “The Changing Of Times” track almost fooled me because a harmony can be heard for the first
34 seconds ... and then Dallas starts his caterwauling.
The rest of the disc starts to sound the same and hitting the stop button
becomes a real option. This band is labeled under Christian metal and even though they are angst ridden they do have some spiritual lyrics.
Dallas was asked to leave the band after the
recording of this CD and has since been replaced by Spencer Chamberlin. I can
only assume this is good news.
Underoath: Dallas Taliaferro Taylor – vocals; Octavio Lafayette Fernandez – guitar; Timothy Francis McTague – guitar; Christopher Allen Dudley – keyboards; William Edwin Nottke – bass; Aaron Roderick Gillspie – drums, bgv’s.
For more information, check out http://www.underoath777.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 20 Nov 2008 01:58:05 -0600.
