Sounds like … the screamo-metalcore of bands like Emery, Blindside, Demon Hunter, Haste the Day, Norman Jean, and Thrice.
At a glance … though not as melodic or experimental as some suggest, Lost in the Sound of Separation still demonstrates why Underoath ranks among the upper echelon of metalcore.
With their release of Define the Great Line in 2006, Underoath became the biggest band out of Tooth & Nail Records since P.O.D., thanks to strong album sales, widespread critical acclaim, and a surging fan base overflowing from the Christian market into the mainstream. Yet shortly after, to everyone's surprise, the band pulled out from the Vans Warped Tour. Some fans grew increasingly uncertain of Underoath's future the following year when drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie released his side project as The Almost.
Breathe easy, Underoath isn't finished yet. They took time off to solidify their friendships within the band, strained by the rigors of touring. They're seemingly stronger for it, growing more collaborative in their creative process. This new season is reflected through their fourth studio project, Lost in the Sound of Separation, which, though not necessarily their best work, sure comes close—and it's almost certainly their most thought-out.
Reteaming with Define producers Adam Ditkiewicz (Killswitch Engage) and Matt Goldman (Copeland, The Chariot), Underoath sounds as polished as metalcore can be. The primary appeal of this Tampa, Florida sextet is that, unlike most hardcore metal bands, there's more to them than decibel level. There's a lot of musicianship underlying the vocals, much of it bombastic, though some of it intricate and experimental.
That said, this is not a record for those who can't find the musicality in metalcore. Nor is it as melodic as it's made out to be—unless by melody you mean occasional singing by Spencer Chamberlain and Gillespie, but it's never as catchy as, say, P.O.D. or Demon Hunter. And while some parts are experimental, it's not much different or groundbreaking from past projects by Underoath and other metalcore bands. Lost in the Sound of Separation is about as good as Define or 2004's They're Only Chasing Safety, but it never quite surpasses them with anything that hasn't been heard before.
What does elevate Lost above its predecessors is thematic scope. This 43-minute album represents a soul-searching journey of change that takes the listener to hell and back.
The opening thrash of "Breathing in a New Mentality" revolves around the chanted scream, "I'm the desperate and you're the Savior," and when you grasp the words, it's very much a modern psalm pleading for deliverance: "Clean me up, show me how to live/Tear me down, let me start again." Carrying on with the wordy titles, "Anyone Can Dig a Hole…" expresses fear and uncertainty that faith and life are meaningless, yet concludes, "I am the one who's wrong/God forgive me!" And then "A Fault Line a Fault of Mine" plays like a confession, admitting a need for change....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
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