| Solid State Records, November 9, 2010 |
Tracklist
1. In Division
2.Catch Myself Catching Myself
3. Paper Lung
4. Illuminator
5.Driftwood
6. A Divine Eradication
7.Who Will Guard the Guardians
8.Reversal
9.Vacant Mouth
10.My Deteriorating Incline
11.In Conclusion
Underoath’s 2010 release is not just my top preference from their
discography. Dark, heavy, and experimental, it is one of the first
heavy albums I listened to, and one that influenced how I listen to
music today. Water is a recurring theme on this album, from some of the
lyrics to the music video for “In Division”. What makes this album so
strong is the way that Underoath fully immerses the listener into the
imagery and mood they convey. Track three, “Paper Lung” shows this
very well. “Paper Lung” is a beautiful, atmospheric, and ultimately
crushing track that builds to a climax and conveys imagery that
transitions from still, calm waters on a cold lake to being dragged down
underneath the surface. The Radiohead-inspired "Driftwood" is one of
the band's most experimental songs and really does wonders for the
album's atmosphere and pacing. There's not a moment of wasted space here.
Spencer Chamberlain’s performance is
something else here. He conveys a raw desperation and brutal
self-examination that brings furious purpose to songs like “In Division”
and “Catch Myself Catching Myself”. Additionally, for taking over the
clean vocals in the absence of Aaron Gillespie during this album cycle
he does a fantastic job. Tim McTague's driving guitar tone on these
songs further brings Spencer's urgency to the forefront. It’s well
known that many songs on this album are about Spencer’s struggle with
drugs (fortunately he is now clean) and nothing is lost in translation
in terms of the disillusionment he conveys. As far as the sound of this
album goes, there’s more to it than just the metalcore style of their
previous material, as there’s a post-rock and alternative metal
influence on “Paper Lung” and “In Completion”, as well as the
experimental track like “Driftwood”. This album is more than simply a high point for the band; it ranks among my favorite records of the 2010s.
Rating: 10/10
