Review Summary: Former singer of Attack Attack! presents a new, more serious band and sound.
Caleb Shomo, someone we would call a prodigy in the world of music. Starting as keyboardist for Attack Attack! then later becoming the band’s lead singer. Then moving into record production and having the ability to play multiple instruments all in his teenage years. Now he brings a new band with a great sound. Surpassing Attack Attack! in almost every way: harder riffs, harder drumming, emotional singing, and serious lyrical content, Beartooth.
Their debut EP, Sick, was a questionable but held extreme potential. The debut album, Disgusting, taps into the unheard potential that the Sick EP had lacked. What was at first slow tracks with screams and catchy chorus had been transformed into tracks with the harder sounds and quality lyrics with a better speed. “Beaten in Lips” was the first single from Disgusting and is the example that shows Beartooth’s transformation in such a short bit of time. The quality and meaningful lyrics about parents who abused their children and a chorus that can show influences from Billy Talent.
The track “I Have a Problem” features some of the best messages and themes seen in music. This was the one track taken from the EP for the album. It is obvious Shomo and the band do not have problems speaking about addictions and their religious beliefs pertaining to God. The song starting with an extreme instrumentals with Shomo yelling “I found my vice! I found my vice! It lives in a bottle, it wants me to die!”. Shomo then begins to scream about his regrets and addictions going into hook of how alcohol can’t save him. Then explaining the result of what the addiction had brought him. This may be one of the best or the best track featured on the album.
Even in some of the best albums there can always be a low point. “Keep Your American Dream” is a track that presented the definition of cliché and obvious. Though it’s still catchy it sounds like any other generic band had created it. What can be seen as the basic premise of the song is that the newer generations are changing and lack the ability to adapt to the older generation’s way of living. Though this may be the weakest song of the album it still holds decent instrumentals and speed.
Beartooth had a slow start but transitioned into something with a comparably better sound, better lyrics, and better themes. Disgusting is probably one of the best metalcore albums released in 2014. Let’s hope that they keep the sound and build upon it for any future projects.
