Underoath is not lost

Since 2004, few bands in the “punk” scene have grasped the hearts and minds of fans quite like Underoath.

They’re Only Chasing Safety catapulted the Tampa, Fla., act and the post-hardcore/metalcore genre into the mainstream consciousness with an unmatched combination of ferociousness and hooks. But with 2006’s Define The Great Line, screamer Spencer Chamberlin took more control, resulting in a truly epic sonic experience that hasn’t been met.

Until now.

Underoath’s new record Lost in the Sound of Separation further extends the boundaries they destroyed with Define. The album is categorically dense, full of ear-tingling anthems that morph into grandiose crescendos.

It’s devoid of the crisp and catchy choruses powered by drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie that made the band so popular, but the thrashing work done by everyone quickly erases any doubts.

After their near implosion due to Chamberlin’s substance abuse issues over the past few years, it’s obvious that Underoath made sure to put all those combustible feelings into Separation.

Chamberlin’s screaming oozes emotion without sounding repetitive, and his lyrics hauntingly reveal the demons he’s battled (“I’m no leader, just a mess / The only thing in my way is myself / I messed up like I always do” ).

Although older fans may be disappointed with the band’s emphasis on the spacey and expansive, the tracks that incorporate those elements are wonderful. The dueling tracks “Emergency Broadcast : : The End Is Near” and “Desolate Earth : : The End Is Here” do an exceptional job of creating an atmosphere about them that few bands can match.
 
“Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear,” the band’s attempt at a ballad, is also quite beautiful. Gillespie delivers a really great vocal performance with some bite while the other members provide unobtrusive hand claps and gang vocals. And once Chamberlin explodes into the track to help Gillespie deliver the line “Good God can you still get us home,” the song takes on a whole new life.

Lost in the Sound of Separation is a watermark for any other band in the metalcore genre and absolutely Underoath’s best work to date. They’ve clearly weathered internal storms and separated themselves from everyone else.