Photos, Live Review: Underoath @ Birmingham Academy 2

09th September 2008 | by Aidan Williamson

The Americans have invaded Birmingham tonight, three bands from various regions of the U.S. First were Texans Oh Sleeper, secondly from the melting pot of alternative music, Long Island, New York were Envy On the Coast and finally the men of the hour Underoath, from South-East America, aka Florida.

Underoath's label-mates Oh Sleeper seemed slightly blasphemous (for a Solid State artist) pulling tracks from their album entitled "When I Am God" yet through their nifty art of nerve-shredding hardcore screams the English language was contorted to such an extent they could have been singing about the weather forecast. Slotting in nicely for Underoath fans as a mixture of "The Changing of the Times" and "Define the Great Line" we have little doubt that they proved most popular.

Even Envy on the Coast were forced to admit that they were something of an ill-fit for tonight's line-up. Thanking the crowd for giving them a chance despite the sonic disparity they launched into their set of lightly sung alternative rock. With their vocalist sounding like Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo and looking like Zach de la Rocha you'd expect great things, especially considering the underground hype sounding them. Sadly there seemed to be little to back up any of this hurrah and the band lumbered through a so-so set which offered little in the way of memorable moments.

Underoath surprised many people including ourselves tonight. Despite word that the band had ceased playing much of anything from their early work, they pulled four tracks from their commercial giant of an album "They're Only Chasing Safety". Although, as per usual, "Reinventing Your Exit" was absent, they did offer "A Boy Brushed Red... Living in Black and White" and "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door" among others. Besides that, material was mostly drawn from their most recent two albums. Despite numerous requests, the endless fun-mobile of "Angel Below" did not make an appearance. D'oh.

With the exception of their customary ode to Jesus, which never garners anything more than polite smiles in this country, they kept their set tight. Searing metalcore seemingly delivered by a Persian nightclub owner who's lived in Middle-America for too long and a guitarist who may just have come straight from the set of 'Lonely Housewives 14: When a Tradesman Calls'. A sonic treat if not so much in the visual department.