If there's one lesson which we should all heed when it comes to pre-release promotion, it is that we should never lend our ears to the artist's own description of their work. Just as every filmic sequel tags itself the 'Empire Strikes Back' of their genre only to turn out to be the “Spider-man 3” of their genre, so too do the artists laying down terms such as 'heavier', 'grander', 'forward thinking', 'with greater intensity' and 'more epic in scope'.
Every idea holds greater potential when allowed to swirl in the imagination, so it's almost inevitable that expectations will not be met. With that in mind, we'll get this right off our collective chest. This album is not as heavy as you've been led to believe, neither is it one giant leap for music-kind.
What "Lost in the Sound of Separation" is, is a bizarre hybrid of all of their earlier incarnations. For those unfamiliar with the band's back catalogue think Isis meets Fear Before the March of Flames. Forever gone are the catchy pop-hooks of "They're Only Chasing Safety" which drew in the crowds, but at the expense of some serious scene points. What is left is a more ambient beast, wherein songs often venture into extensive chill-out breakdowns courtesy of keyboardist Christopher Dudley.
When the mood isn't being set, it's all frantic hardcore-bordering-on-metal. With his third album as front-man for the band Spencer Chamberlain has gradually improved the depth and range of his anguished screams whilst still retaining a measure of decipherability to his words, meaning it won't be immediately necessary to sample the album whilst simultaneously typing 'Underoath lyrics' into your friendly neighbourhood search-engine.
The album kicks off with a Team America-style false start, which begs the consideration that maybe they have hired the worst producer in the world to turn their knobs. Happily, they haven't been giving Bernard Butler extra work, and the full sonic impact smashes down soon after the album's initiation.
Actual producer Adam Dutkiewicz (of Killswitch Engage) has captured the rawness and live-esque intensity of the band well. Several subtle touches litter the album, such as the mix retaining guitar static when they lie dormant, background shouts of count-ins and numerous other things, all designed to keep the album from sounding too 'clean'.
If there are to be charges levied at the album, it would be the band's inability to carry a mood and/or atmosphere throughout an entire song. All too often songs end up a thousand miles away from where they started with no real musical need for the change. Whilst this point would be a large check in the 'pro' column for most bands, Underoath seem to always pick the same changes. Your average track will start off with some heavy hitting and kinetic screams; continue for a while interrupted by a few by-and-large generic metalcore breakdowns before dropping the pace and degenerating into somewhat stifled ambience before the screams are reintroduced.
Largely eschewing this mould are the two closing tracks. "Too Bright to See, Too Loud to Hear" does it completely the wrong way whereas finale "Desolate Earth :: The End is Here" does everything completely to perfection.
Depending on your predisposition to bad news or good news first, you can either read the next paragraph first or the following one to start.
Bad news: "Too Bright to See, Too Loud to Hear" is to all intents and purposes "Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape" part two. This time though, the cheesy ballad switches the lyric "Jesus, I'm ready to come home" for "Good God, can you still get us home", even going so far as to again kick the song up on a sustained 'home'. Will the next album feature "Dear Buddha, I'm prepared to return home"? Only time will tell.
Good news: Album finale "Desolate Earth :: The End is Here" may well be the finest song the band have ever composed. Switching for minimalistic tone, conveyed through scattered and digitised drums, yearning violin bows, touching guitar tremolos and the centrepiece of piano chords and Chamberlain's subdued and resonating screams the closer truly shows what the band's potential is when they choose to follow a theme through to its natural conclusion.
As it is, the rest of "Lost in the Sound of Separation" is on the cusp of proving the album title a self-fulfilling prophecy. Enjoyable, but eminently forgettable metal stylings in a hardcore box.
6 / 10
Pingas is right.
you're not very intelligent
how come your review is the only one that slammed
"Too Bright to See Too Loud to Hear"?
everyone else thought it was "beautiful"
6 out of 10? Are you kidding me? How can you talk bad about too Bright To See? That is definelty one of the albums highlights and best songs. This is the first time ive ever seen anyone say anything bad about it.
I'll just let you all in on a little secret here... The reviewer is actually an Underoath fan, so before you go ahead and tear his head off, just know that he does know what he's talking about, has all their records and has been to see them with me and were going again this tour (B-ham academy anyone?)... I have to say, when they played Angel Below last time, the way Christopher Dudley plays had me in stitches!
Just thought I'd fill you in on that before you go and tell him he doesn't know anything and should go review Nickleback, or any other abuse you chose to throw around!
You have to admit, the lyrical comparison to 'Some will Seek...' is pretty uncanny!
At the end of the day, honesty's the best policy kids!
This cd is flawless. 6 out of 10 is just crazy.
...and you're the same guy who reviewed Hawthorne Heights Fragile Future, and even that review was horrible.
I give YOUR review a 1/10. This is the worst review I've ever read.
No, let me rephrase that. Your review was not poorly written. I just can't believe you could write this. How can you say this album isn't heavier than DTGL? Sure parts of it aren't as heavy as parts of DTGL, but the only way to accomplish that would be to have them be screaming the ENTIRE time. Yes, this album has similarities to their previous album. But what did you expect? It's the same band. That album has a completely different feel than any of their previous albums. It feels darker and heavier, but it doesn't feel "dark".
This album is unforgettable.
DTGL was heavier though?!
I really like Underoath, but their fan base sucks. The only reason all you people have never heard anything bad said about the album is likely because you look on Underoath's fan site. It's never going to be a 10/10, it's no way a perfect album. I'd have given it a 7 myself or 8 feeling generous.
I've just taken the VERY FIRST message I found posted up on Underoath's site and it read like this...
"Im just gonna say it...Aaron...Your Dead Sexy...Spencer...yur flippin hot....James...You rock...Chris...Your Sweet....Tim....I love your eyes. But Underoath...I love yur music!!!!!!!!!!!"
I need say no more.
Hahaha 6 out of 10. If the reveiwer trully is a fan of Underoath I feel sorry for him. Waiting for this album for so long only to have it turn out so mediocre.
Hey here's a trick, the next time you review an album, don't judge it in light of the hype that surrounded it. Review it for what it is, not what you expected it to be. Regardless of whether its "heavier" or not, I think the album is exceptional, and on par with if not greater than dtgl.
But you're entitled to your own opinion. It just so happens that your opinion is part of the vast minority.
6 is quite a good score in my book. I'm not hugely impressed with this album. I don't think the reviewer should worry about people criticizing the score, the context of the review is spot on in my book.
im in ur comentz,
insulting ur reviewerz.
And I'm in your house,
watching you whilst you sleep
Whats up with you Underoath fans? Do you really have to finish every sentence with a z?
Lets face it the only Underoath LP even remotely worth owning is 'They're Only Chasing Safety'.
ok, this album is amazing, the Too Brigh Too See.. may resemble Some Will Seek.. but its waaay better and i agree with eveyrone as its a highlight. Heavier doesnt have to mean music, it could mean with emotion, lyrics, deeper, personal, religous any of those can be referred to as heavy, not just screaming. This album struck a chord in me that none of the others have. i give it a 10/10. These boys worked super hard on this and they deserve nothing but the best.
You're an idiot, and you don't know music. This band has pushed themselves to the creative limit, and I think you're just scared to accept a little variety in your metalcore.
even if LITSOS is not to your liking, you have to give it mad, mad props for being probably one of the most unique albums ever. Name 2 bands that sound anything like Underoath does on LITSOS......nothing. Can't do it, it is unlike anything I have ever heard without a doubt. Not only that but the lyrics to you might be cheesy, but to me they are very good, and really strike a chord. every single song I am in love with and I listen to the album at least once every day since I got it the day it came out. Just my opinion.
/rant
Hey Aidan Williamson,
Jesus loves you but none of us do -.-,
to bright to see is in my opinion (but not only) the best work Underoath has produced, and keep your comments about Underoath being a Christian band out of this, a good reviewer wouldn't be bias according to a bands faith. "Will the next album feature "Dear Buddha, I'm prepared to return home"? Only time will tell."- Clueless Aidan Williamson
This review has to be one of the worst review i have ever read.
First of all you dont have a CLUE what your on about. You ramble on about worthless crap nobody wants to hear.
Second of all, reviews are meant to be unbiased. Mocking Underoath's beliefs is low. I personally have given my life to god. If i were a reviewer and i was reviewing a Muslim band's song i wouldnt be biased at all.
Third of all, Too Bright To See Too Loud To Hear is possibly the best Underoath song ever written, next to Anyone can dig a hole and Its Dangerous buisness. It hits the spot completley and after the "Good God, Can you Still Get us Home" part when it gets heavy is possibly the greatest moment in all underoath's musical hisory.
This album is worth at least a 9/10.
AT LEAST
www.michaelbeck.justownedaiden.com
Lolz.
And now, because of that guy commenting on how I ended my sentences with z, I'm gonna do that from now on, whether it makes sense or not at allz.
Lolz.
I too was a little disappointed at first with this cd but then after 3-4 runs through I can safely say it is right up there but just lacking behind Define the Great Line.
I would have to agree that the style/mood of nearly every song manages to morph to the opposite at some point which can get frustrating & confusing. But at the same time its done pretty well to the point that I don't notice until 30 secs afterwards. "Desolate Earth :: The End is Here" is an awesome track but I feel it ends just as I'm getting into it.
It's a shame (and simultaneously impressive) that the "bad news" paragraph manages to instantly lose all the reviewers credibility. I'm not sure why cheesy springs to your mind, is it the lyrics or the melody? If it is really the religious content then take a another look at how it can easily be about whatever you want it to be. OK it's a little more in your face here but see past that and you have a truly fantastic song. As Michael points out it does make you look biased/prejudice and ruins some otherwise fair points in this review.
Did anyone else buy the cd from a shop who put the bloody price sticker on the artwork sticker? When I took it off I lost half the front! Why is the artwork even a sticker, seems weird...
/(beyond) epic fail
Much heavier than DtGL, much more solid. Probably my favorite album by them, and DtGL & TOCS are two of my favorite albums of all time...
On paper, it's hard... Read on
Genre hybrids are nothing... Read on
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PINGAS
commented 3 months ago
You have no idea what you're talking about.