Usually metalcore reaches out to a very limited group of people. Not saying we all cannot enjoy it, but for the most part there are a fair number of people that turn their head when people merely mention the word metalcore. Sometimes there are exceptions to this, and on this website I have read more than once about how rock solid
Unearth is. Coming from people who are usually into different kinds of metal, I took this quite seriously. If a metalcore album impresses them, than what will it do for me, a somewhat regular listener to the genre. Well after hearing so many good things about
Unearth, I decided to check out their sophomore release
The Oncoming Storm. As I listened to this album from start to finish I became increasingly angry, upset, depressed and confused. Negative thoughts raced through my head faster than drivers at Daytona as I thought to myself,
“Why was I so previously so oblivious to Unearth?” Forecasts call for fast winds and nasty weather on the way, all beware and brace yourself for
The Oncoming Storm.
Take shelter, board up your windows, and watch as
The Great Dividers tears it all down, reducing resistances to ruin. The opening riff sends things into oblivion with its aggressive nature. Drums pummel through with some of the most brutal sounding rolls and usage of double bass I have ever endured in my lifetime. As vocals come in, the mayhem only continues. The yell of Trevor Philipps might be a little on the generic side but it keeps the fury coming in full force. His clean singing is fit into things very carefully and provides a nice variation to the screaming. It is not the most powerful singing I have ever heard, but he always stays on key and it fits the music perfectly, always sounding respectable. There is a nicely executed build up leading up to the final breakdown and outro. While breakdowns come out, they are never overwhelming and do not take anything away from the music or interfere with the flow of a song. However, it is a generic metalcore trait the band carries; but fear not, as it is the only one the plagues the group. Clearly they are more than comfortable with playing their instruments, as the sweeping during
Failure will astound listeners. The speedy intro lead over double bass adds up to a lovely intro. More riffs persist as the pace stays at a high tempo until a bridge comes into play. Once more it leads into a little breakdown, this time with superbly done guitar work atop of it. The pinch during the breakdown leads perfectly into a more melodic based riff, adding a new texture to the song. Clearly guitarists Buzz and Ken are capable of creating all sorts of riffs whether they are a brutal in your face style or a more melody based sound. Whatever the situation may be, they deliver powerful riffs which add a lot of depth to the music and show creativity.
The guitarists are more than capable of creating just fantastic riffs though, as
Zombie Autopilot will in turn reveal. During the intro, the harmony and tone sounds a bit DragonForce reminiscent. As vocals come in, the riff switches up carrying a solid state of stability throughout the verse. The vocal work sounds quite inspired throughout the song as the yells shape up an awesome contrast to the melodic guitar work. Than it happens, a moment no one will predict, a solo comes ripping through. It is absolutely beautiful as its melodic nature serves up a very tasteful addition. The harmonization is done in perfect moderation as is the shredding. At this point in the record, much respect is deserved by both guitar players, as they truly write breathtaking sections and manage to blend them together quite effortlessly. Between the magnificent guitar work and superb vocals, this track ends up a highlight. Than the moment which occurs in every storm is upon us, deception; we all begin to breathe a little easier as sunshine triumphs over the clouds. Their rays penetrate through the thick, sinister resembling sky as
Aries sets a calming mood. Its clean guitar work is so peaceful, as a comforting and relaxing atmosphere is now in play. The two and a half minutes of instrumental work is only the eye of the storm, as things are far from over.
Slowly but surely the darkness dominates the temporarily blue sky, as
Predetermined Sky locks in the storm’s customary intensity. While a bit of a mid-tempo song at first, the heaviness returns which some crushing riffs.
“The growing devastation, brings human extinction, this plague aims at our weakness.” The lyrics I like, and work very well as a follow up to the previous track. Verse wise, things are not a complete riff fest, as they are used with a bit more restraint in some cases, possibly giving vocals the spotlight. There in an intense passage with speedy rolls and thundering double bass, marking one of the fastest and most aggressive bridges on the record. It ends up the perfect route leading to a slower passage, as drummer Mike keeps his double pedal in the background, keeping a nice speed for the guitarists to build upon. Some super sweet melodic hammer on and pull of riffs come out, as two different pieces come out from both guitars and are played over the moderate double bass filled rhythm section. With such a unique bridge, the outro ends up superb as a nicely executed breakdown only adds to the rebuilding fury. From the opening pickslide of
False Idols it becomes obvious this storm will not be ending peacefully. Drums set an unrelenting pace, with not only some quick rolls, but a few blast beats thrown into the mix a little at a time. Trevor’s vocals sound quite destructive here, mainly because of what he is yelling over. The music itself is quite brutal sounding, as the guitarists stick to plenty of their trademark riffs along with a couple of chugs, beefing up the rhythm section in plenty of cases. This frantic pace dominates most of the song, possibly establishing a peak of intensity. As the ending is in sight, things do not slow down all at once, rather slightly slow as a diminished sounding lick is played over a chugging guitar. The breakdown eventually releases its chokehold, as peace has finally been restored. While the winds have come to a halt, the sky remains dark and all surrounding maintains its gloomy state.
The Oncoming Storm hits you hard and fast, yet manages to reveal plenty of talent in the process. While vocals mainly add to the chaos, the usage and balance of the clean vocals and the gut-wrenching screaming is superb. Despite the fact that none of Trevor’s individual aspects are incredible, his overall performance is very respectable. Guitar wise there is so much to enjoy. Riffs are done magnificently, solos when used are very effective in their songs, and overall the guitarists seem to have a trick up their sleeve for whatever situation they find themselves in. Whether it be an in your face riff or a melodic lead, they deliver a wonderful effort. Drums put forth quite the commendable effort as well, as their speediness and variety of patterns never become boring. They add so much to the music and manage to stand out in their own light while keeping the music tight knit. While bass is not dominantly heard, it does its job of adding to the rhythm section and in all honesty, there is not a whole not more for him to do in this case. With so much going on with the guitars and drums, a crazy bass line in every song would be overwhelming. At the end of the day,
Unearth put forth quite the effort in delivering a strong record. Its strong songwriting and talented instrumentals have the capability to pull in fans of many genres, as the band does mix a few elements together while maintaining a strong identity. If
Unearth is an unfamiliar name to you, unleash the storm upon yourself and let that all change, as this 40 minutes of madness known as
The Oncoming Storm should do plenty to leave you breathless.
Unearth is…
Trevor Philipps – vocals
Ken Susi – guitar
Buzz McGrath – guitar
John Maggard – bass
Mike Justian – drums
Final Rating: 4/5
