INTERVIEW: Underoath

 "God put us here to meet people and hang out", say the rockers with faith
CHRISTIAN metal. No, wait, come back!

Underoath's scorching progressions and eloquent garage thrash provide a welcome diversion from the well-worn hardcore metal crossroads.
And while proud of their beliefs, the sextet from Ocala, Florida aren't overly preachy.

"I think when you use the term religion it's different with everyone, each person has their own personal relationship with God", says drummer Aaron Gillespie, the band's

longest-serving member.

"Anyone of any race or ethnicity can have that. I believe what I believe, but I can't force that on anyone else. I can't spend my life judging people."

The band have enjoyed a slow, impressive rise since forming in 1998. Gillespie was recruited by former guitarist Luke Morton, who attended the same church.

"I've bene playing since I was about three – I grew up in church, watching the other guys who played drums and wanting to do what they did", Gillespie says.

He's the only remaining member of the Underoath who appeared on 1999 debut Act of Depression. Keyboardist Christopher Dudley joined for 2000's Cries Of The Past, and

bassist Grant Brandell's debut was 2002's The Changing Of Times.

But the Underoath today largely came into shape on breakthrough fourth record They're Only Chasing Safety, as former members fell away to be replaced by vocalist Spencer

Chamberlain, and guitarists Timothy McTague and James Smith. It was the first Underoath record to achieve a US chart placing.

Seemingly a dizzying array of line-up changes, although Gillespie's version of events suggests differently.

"Those were really just early incarnations, playing around in Florida. The full-time touring band has had the same line-up for about seven or eight years now", he says, and

we'll forgive him the exaggeration.
"Back then we were still figuring out who we wanted to play with. It's definitely not the same band now as when we started.

"The only thing that's really the same is we're still a Christian band, with the same goals."

New album Lost in the Sound of Separation hit the shelves on September 1, and the band have sold out Leeds Cockpit for their show there on September 13, which forms part

of an eight-date British tour.

"We've played twice before at the Cockpit", Gillespie recalls. "It's cool, we haven't been there in a long time.

"We've toured Britain four or five times now. I miss my wife really bad, and American food.

"I had a really hard time with the food and weather at first but I like it now. We played (festival] Give It A Name, and toured at the end of 2006 with Taking Back Sunday.

"We also did another tour with The Hurt Process, playing tiny bars. That was hard, with 21 of us in one bus! But the shows were fun."

Underoath's current globetrotting exploits are giving Gillespie more pleasure.

"This is the best tour we've ever done", he proclaims. "On this particular tour we're also going to South Africa, which is somewhere we've never been.

"We played in Mexico a few weeks ago as well which was a bit different."
Underoath's music is driven both by the music they grew up loving, and the spiritual influences which bind them together.

"Our belief is in everything in our every day life", Gillespie says. "We're all born-again Christians and we believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.

"I believe God put us here to meet people, hang out. Our lyrics all point back to Jesus, but they're about everyday struggles, relationships, meeting people."

Musically, Gillespie mentions (Swedish punk legends] Refused, and, perhaps oddly, Foo Fighters as major influences.

He describes the Underoath sound as "honest, real, loud, heavy, and fun", and argues that the band's new record sees them embracing a new ethos.

"I think it's heavier and more honest. It holds true to the Underoath sound, but it's more experimental.

"We did a lot of stereo drum tracking, and used different recording processes. It's becoming easier and easier to make records using computers!

"So we tried instead to give it more of the feel of a live band."
And how about his best moment in the band?

"Every night man, when you see people sing back to you", Gillespie says. "And when kids come to you and say the music has helped them."


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