Underoath They're Only Chasing Safety
  full reviewuser ratings (877) 
Tracklist:
1.Young and Aspiring
2.A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black and White
3.The Impact of Reason
4.Reinventing Your Exit
5.The Blue Note
6.It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door
7.Down, Set, Go
8.I Don't Feel Very Receptive Today
9.I'm Content With Losing
10.Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape

Ranking: #175 for 2004

user rating
3.5
great
Chart.
other reviews
xfragiletimex (4)
...
Michael Roberts (2.5)
...

related



members also liked
Between The Buried And Me Alaska
Protest the Hero Fortress
Between The Buried And Me Colors
As I Lay Dying Shadows are Security
Protest the Hero Kezia
August Burns Red Messengers
System of a Down Toxicity
All That Remains The Fall of Ideals

  On 3 Lists

2.5
average
Super Jens STAFF (62 Reviews)

2005-05-24 | 267 comments | 18,070 views

Some general impressions:
This is (again) one of these albums that got hyped pretty much (at least in the forums of MX). After hearing a lot about it, I thought I should check it out. But, it got pretty clear to me after a few listens, this album can not keep up with the lots of kudhos it got.

It's not the worst album I have heard in my life. That's for sure. But also not the best. Overall, the musical work is solid. The rythm section does good work in laying down a good basis the vocals, keys/electronics and guitars can build upon. The guitars do a good job, as does the singer. No matter if he is singing or screaming. Accents are set here and there with keys, samples and electronics. Though the musical work is solid, it can not convience me completely. This is mainly because the sound is so similar to many other bands popular in the genre. Some songs sound very similar to 'The Used' ('Its dangerous business walking out your front door' for example), other songs sound like 'Hawthorne Heights' ('Reinventing your exit' as an example). And there are probably a bit more to find.

What differs from named bands though are the somewhat christian lyrics. After all, the word 'Christian-core' is used often in context with Underoath. And I felt myself indeed like in church on one or two songs. 'It's dangerous business...' with it's church like choir, or 'Some will seek fogiveness, others escape' with lines like "Hey unfaithfull, I will teach you to be stronger" or "Oh sweet angel of mercy, with your grace like the morning".

What is definately on the plus side is the production. The overall mix is good IMO, as all instruments are heard good, nothing is particulary drowning (like bass is usually in Metalcore for example).

What was good:
Like mentioned above, the production is good, and the musical work solid. Not extraordinary, but good. Some of the songs have a catchyness to them, that makes the quite enjoyable. Hymn like chorus lines invite to sing along, songs get stuck in your head. I also liked the screaming of the singer. It's done quite good IMO, though there is better out there. Well, you can't have it all sometimes...

What was not so good:
Catchyness can become a problem. If a song is too catchy it can bore pretty fast. And some of the catchier tunes on this record suffer from the same problem. And, of course the lack of individual sound. On most of the songs they sound just like a weaker version/differen version of bands like 'The Used'. The electronic involved sets some more or less unique accents, but still I personally feel reminded of too many other bands when listening to this. Which is kinda sad, as earlier albums by Underoath sure demonstrated that the band can have (and had) a more or less unique sound.


Summary:
To whom could this album be recommended? To the die-hard Underoath fan for sure. But beyond that, not for many. I think if one likes stuff like 'The Used' or 'Hawthorne Heights' this might prove to be a suiting alternative for a while, if one gets a bit bored of the other bands albums. Or if you want to renew the reasons why you like those bands. After all, this album is a nice listen for while IMO if our into modern screaming pop-rock. For lasting entertainment I prefer other stuff.

Rating: 2.5-3/5

Share: Facebook Stumble Digg!Digg Twitter Del.icio.us


Recent reviews by this author
Down-Stares Cobras And Matadors
Unearth The March
The Psyke Project Apnea
In This Moment The Dream
This Is Hell Sundowning
Heaven Shall Burn Iconoclast (Part I:The Final Resistance)

Comments:Add a Comment 
cbmartinez


Comments: 2042
05.24.05


Better review. I agree more or less.

woofwoofwoof


Comments: 156
05.24.05


agreed. it was/is ridiculously overhyped at my school. in fact, just from walking to my car in the parking lot, i heard the "up against the wall up against he wall" song every day for 12 days in a row just from other people's cars.

captain chris


Comments: 73
05.25.05


An okay review, got to say though that i rele do like "Reinventing Your Exit" mainly cause i never hear it so it hasnt been killed, from being played to much, well got to go...

smooches xxx


YoureSuchaSucker


Comments: 1
05.25.05


Good review, but I have to say I don't quite agree with the whole a few songs sound like Hawthorne Heigths and The Used part.

(>dragon~guitarist<)


Comments: 243
05.25.05

Album Rating: 4

Alot of the songs were really good I gotta say, but yeah after a while, the entire album got boring. But it was good while it lasted, songs like "A Boy Brushed Red... Living In Black In White" is a really good song that I sometimes give a listen to once in a while.

BuddyBigsby


Comments: 531
05.26.05


Huge disappointment.

BuddyBigsby


Comments: 531
05.26.05


Good review, but I have to say I don't quite agree with the whole a few songs sound like Hawthorne Heigths and The Used part.


Yeah, me neither.

ALL of the songs sound like Hawthorne Heights and The Used.

NEDM


Comments: 1113
05.27.05

Album Rating: 3

yeah, reinventing your exit sounds like a hawthorne heights song. Good point BuddyBigsby

SpecialBoy


Comments: 47
06.21.05


On their purevolume they call themselves hardcore.

not_another_emo_kid


Comments: 5
06.21.05


well first thing is that the singing and screaming are done by two different people, spencer(vocals) does the screaming and the drummer who's name escapes me does the singing, and underoath claim to be a christian hardcore band

masada


Comments: 2735
06.21.05


well first thing is that the singing and screaming are done by two different people, spencer(vocals) does the screaming and the drummer who's name escapes me does the singing


Hey, just like Atreyu...

incubus62086


Comments: 147
06.21.05

Album Rating: 4.5

Quote
"ALL of the songs sound like Hawthorne Heights and The Used."

except for the fact that the Used sucks and UnderOath is sweet


tele_death


Comments: 27
06.29.05


I like Underoath, but I like their other stuff morethen this album, even though it's still good.

DFelon204409
Staff Reviewer


Comments: 3741
07.08.05

Album Rating: 2.5

[Quote=SpecialBoy]On their purevolume they call themselves hardcore.
[/quote]

On purevolume I'm a fairy princess.

Digging: Orphans of Cush - White Noize

Iai
Staff Reviewer


Comments: 3188
07.08.05


Really? Can we see?

Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland

normajean_fan


Comments: 15
07.09.05


great cd

Wizzy5


Comments: 32
07.13.05


Hawthorne is a great band. I have heard good stuff about these guys.

(>dragon~guitarist<)


Comments: 243
07.16.05

Album Rating: 4

First time through, its really catchy and cool. After that, it just gets really irritating and you wish they would go back to The Changing Of Times days. However A Boy Brushed Red... Is a song that sticks and a favorite of mine.

X-Y-U


Comments: 7
08.01.05


I dunno how you managed to drag it's rating down to pretty much "average" due to the cons of: sounding like the used [which they don't], and they're TOO catchy?

what the hell? even looking at your profile you've rated it lower than a lost prophets album!!!! jesus man, it's a bit poppy i know, doesn't mean it's crap coz this album isn't as heavy as their others.

the only downside i can think of this album, is that it's a bit short, clocking in at only 36 minutes. otherwise, i think this is a brilliant album, as is their others.

Damrod
Moderator


Comments: 892
08.02.05

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

After all it all comes down to what one likes. This album is just not my cup of tea, though it seems to others it seems like the coming of the Messiah.

*shrugs*

Digging: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





FAQ // STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // SITE FORUM // CONTACT US

Site Copyright 2005-2009 Sputnikmusic.com
All Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Privacy Policy