Underoath - disambiguation (2010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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