Review Of Define The Great Line
Posted September 03, 2008
By HMmag,
I don’t know what Underoath would have to have done to make their latest release a five-star record, but I do know that they definitely didn’t find it. That’s not to say the record isn’t a good one – which it is – but it seems like it’s just another notch in a bedpost. In the past, Underoath has come strong with pushing the envelope and being ahead of the curve in their genre.
Back in the day, the metal Underoath gave way to the metalcore Underoath in They’re Only Chasing Safety, a move that catapulted them to the top of their game and gave them immense recognition. When they put out Define The Great Line, they experimented a bit with instrumental tracks to mixed results, but they continued to do well, leaning on the edge of that cliff.
And now, with Lost in the Sound of Separation, they seem to have reverted to a version of They’re Only Chasing Safety and not dangled their feet over the cliff, ready to jump. Everything you’d expect from an Underoath record is still there: catchy lyrics and chants, breakdowns, a spastic flurry of guitar riffs and drumming. They re-visit the ethereal vibe of some of the tracks on Define The Great Line, such as in the middle of the song "Too Bright To See" through to the end – it’s less the metalcore Underoath you know and more set-the-mood metal; the obligatory end-of-the-CD instrumental "Desolate Earth" also follows suit.
They still bring the heaviness as well – tracks such as the "Anyone" and "We Are The Involuntary" are particularly punishing – but at the same time, I feel like I’ve heard the songs before. While this isn’t always a bad thing, Underoath have set their bar so high, I was expecting either a complete change of direction or songs that would physically push me out of my seat. In the midst of the Underoath career, the record feels like it’s going to be forgettable. It’s like that one year in school where you felt like you did a lot, but couldn’t exactly put a finger on what was so significant about it.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from HM Magazine. Click here to visit HMMagazine.com today! View All Music And Book Reviews By HMmag | View HMmag's Profile
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