Review Summary: Wretched...AND Ruinous? You Don't Say.
Legendary metalcore act Unearth have returned with fireworks and fanfare, unleashing an onslaught of riffage and breakdowns with the same ferocity of some of their early classic records. After a sort of mixed bag with their previous release ‘Extinctions’ which channeled a bit more of the modern metalcore landscape rather than the technicality of other releases like ‘Watchers of Rule’ and ‘Darkness in the Light.’ With this latest release, Unearth have seemingly balanced out that more modern flavor with the technical flair and intricate songwriting that has made them a mainstay for so long in this scene. While also being possibly one of the most overlooked and underappreciated bands of their era, Unearth hasn’t allowed that to break their stride with consistent quality unlike other Massachusetts metalcore stalwarts like All That Remains, Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage.
With ‘The Wretched; The Ruinous’ Unearth have reached the ultimate sustainable output, opting for a brief 36-minute runtime, 11 songs that are all killer, no filler, and enough energy to compete with younger acts. Without having to reinvent the wheel, they’ve crafted songs worthy of their live setlist and that stand up in terms of quality to those older classic tunes. The band does manage to employ a couple novel ideas starting with the opening title track which features a slow doomy outro with low baritone chants echoing behind the ominous riffs. Also, with the track “Dawn of the Militant” the band is at their fiercest and heaviest, channeling the attitude and brutality of their producer Will Putney’s band Fit for an Autopsy with chaotic heavy riffs and ambient soundscapes layered behind those riffs. The song also features an emergency test broadcast and brief intervals of static as a buffer between the absolutely immense breakdowns and blast-beat passages.
A focal point and possible point of contention with this record is the Will Putney production which for many bands, feels very natural and elevates the quality of the music. On heavier tracks like the title track, “Dawn of the Militant” and “Eradicator,” I find that Putney’s very punchy drum production and beefy bass and guitar mix really highlight just how aggressive and visceral those songs are. However, on the more standard Unearth songs with a more ‘metal’ sound than ‘core’ sound, it can be a bit distracting with the production and mix being so focused on the low-end. This is most apparent on a song like “Into the Abyss” which features a very In Flames, melodic death metal style to it but that heavy bottom end kind of detracts from the melodic flow of the song itself. Besides my qualms with the production, “Into the Abyss” is vintage Unearth with lots of winding lead passages, energetic drumming patterns and one of the best guitar solos in Unearth’ s discography. With Ken Susi now departed from the band to join the murderous ranks of As I Lay Dying, Buz McGrath remains as the sole contributor to that famous, energetic guitar sound. He certainly rises to the challenge of being that guy with as many mind-bending solos and thick juicy riffs as they featured in their hey-day.
With this release, Unearth continue to be a force to reckoned with. It’s without a doubt that the time they take between releases is to ensure that the quality of their records remains high and unchallengeable in a landscape where continuous releases is preferred to remain relevant. The strength of these songs and the individual performances allows them to declaratively endure and continue their legacy without sacrificing quality.
Highlights:
“Into The Abyss”
“The Wretched; The Ruinous”
“Invictus”
“Dawn of the Militant”
“Eradicator”
