Underoath Define the Great Line
Solid State Records TND66384 June 20th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Two years ago UltimateMetal reviewed Theyre Only Chasing Safety, which by now has sold over 350,000 copies. The fifth Underoath effort Define the Great Line is poised for commercial success, but not only is it poised, its expected to do well. Perhaps thats the problem. The most pertinent issue at hand, however, is that Theyre Only Chasing Safety displayed a band settling into screamo while simultaneously lacing their approach with uniqueness every step of the way, whereas this 11-track disc is essentially an exercise in the mundane.
Though they had more time to work on it overall, Define the Great Line isnt nearly as rewarding as any other entry in their discography. The presentation tries to atone for the musical inadequacies, but fails in the end. At 45 minutes total, the time passes smoothly because each song is relatively well-crafted, yet numbers such as In Regards to Myself, A Moment Suspended in Time, and There Could Be Nothing After This are average. Underoath wrote from scratch, presumably, but the first three sound like B-list songs that didnt appear on TOCS, or were constructed from the leftover scraps salvaged during those recording sessions. Still somewhat catchy, everything on tap feels slightly impenetrable and difficult to latch onto, which only hinders the ability to recall. In other words, even the bouncy Returning Empty Handed, the post-rock instrumental portions of Casting Such a Thin Shadow, and the sentimental To Whom It May Concern just dont make a lasting impression. Certainly the poppy Moving for the Sake of Motion and Writing on the Walls will satisfy those who fancy innocuous, radio-friendly singles Everyone Looks So Good from Here will appease those who favor a bit more crunch in their diet.
The things that havent changed include the balance between screaming and clean vocalizing, the above par instrumentation, and the exquisite production values. The limited edition houses stunning artwork, in addition to a DVD that encompasses the making of Define the Great Line, the Death Valley photography sessions for the packaging, and a bizarre interview about Area 51. Unfortunately, the primary reason that people buy CDs is for the music itself, and Underoath have not held up their end of the bargain this time around. The bonus content is nice, but fans should stick to prior releases for fulfillment.
5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Underoath Website
Official Solid State Records Website
Solid State Records TND66384 June 20th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Two years ago UltimateMetal reviewed Theyre Only Chasing Safety, which by now has sold over 350,000 copies. The fifth Underoath effort Define the Great Line is poised for commercial success, but not only is it poised, its expected to do well. Perhaps thats the problem. The most pertinent issue at hand, however, is that Theyre Only Chasing Safety displayed a band settling into screamo while simultaneously lacing their approach with uniqueness every step of the way, whereas this 11-track disc is essentially an exercise in the mundane.
Though they had more time to work on it overall, Define the Great Line isnt nearly as rewarding as any other entry in their discography. The presentation tries to atone for the musical inadequacies, but fails in the end. At 45 minutes total, the time passes smoothly because each song is relatively well-crafted, yet numbers such as In Regards to Myself, A Moment Suspended in Time, and There Could Be Nothing After This are average. Underoath wrote from scratch, presumably, but the first three sound like B-list songs that didnt appear on TOCS, or were constructed from the leftover scraps salvaged during those recording sessions. Still somewhat catchy, everything on tap feels slightly impenetrable and difficult to latch onto, which only hinders the ability to recall. In other words, even the bouncy Returning Empty Handed, the post-rock instrumental portions of Casting Such a Thin Shadow, and the sentimental To Whom It May Concern just dont make a lasting impression. Certainly the poppy Moving for the Sake of Motion and Writing on the Walls will satisfy those who fancy innocuous, radio-friendly singles Everyone Looks So Good from Here will appease those who favor a bit more crunch in their diet.
The things that havent changed include the balance between screaming and clean vocalizing, the above par instrumentation, and the exquisite production values. The limited edition houses stunning artwork, in addition to a DVD that encompasses the making of Define the Great Line, the Death Valley photography sessions for the packaging, and a bizarre interview about Area 51. Unfortunately, the primary reason that people buy CDs is for the music itself, and Underoath have not held up their end of the bargain this time around. The bonus content is nice, but fans should stick to prior releases for fulfillment.
5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Underoath Website
Official Solid State Records Website
