The follow up to Underoath's break into mainstream, and my 2005 record of the year They're Only Chasing Safety comes their third SolidState records release Define the Great Line.
What was said to be their "defining record" (no puns intended), Underoath has assembled possibly one of the best production teams in our generation. Producer Adam D. (August Burns Red, Acacia Strain, He Is Legend), who has made a name for making crisp, heavy onslaught records, almost building bands popularity with his production quality, as well as Atlanta Georgia's Matt Goldman (The Chariot, Copeland) who is known for vintage sounds, as well as picture perfect drums, and Chris Lord Alge at the helms of mixing and mastering the record.
With such an arsenal of production at their disposal, this record is possibly one of the best produced records I have ever heard. The ambiance, and the levels of everything are superb, and as I can see now (it being many months since this record came out), this is a record producers will copy for years to come.
Passing from the production, onto the music, listening to the record as far quality goes, is a pleasure, however, the songs on the record are less than stellar. Basically the songs are just unoriginal on a good 90% of all cylinders. Besides the progression into a heavier band, slightly more technical, and the departure of choruses, the songs show little to no originality, which is quite sad considering this is supposed to be the bands DEFINING record.
Instead, the band incorporated singing, and screaming, which isn't even the unoriginal part. They instead incorporate Botch/Coalesce/Spitfire influenced noise parts, to what im sure THEY consider to be technical, into sing songy catchy screamo, despite the fact that Every Time I Die did this last year and succeeded (due to the fact that they kind of pioneered the catchy noise song anyways), as well as the fact that label mates Norma Jean already carbon copied Botch on their album Oh God, The Aftermath.
Vocally, drummer/singer Aaron Gillespie creates great melodies, and frontman Spencer Chamberlain's vocal range is intimidating and impressive, however, extremely unthoughtful. While he can hit screaming notes, from high, to low in mere measures, they don't make since. It is simply tasteless to go from range to range with no transition, leaving the song to sound almost sloppy. I guess that's what sets screamo vocalist apart from incredible metal vocalists.
Bottom line, this record will be well received, copied off of, and talked about for quite sometime. However, the band in the eyes of a music conniesuer, and someone that views records on all forms, the band just did not live up to their hype of this record being THEIR record, or the record that people will remember. Those records change the course of music, and inspire.
Sorry guys, maybe next round.
FINAL GRADE: B-
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