Unearth - The Oncoming Storm
2004 Metal Blade
by Skin Splitter

Quick Summary:
Considered to be the most anticipated release of the summer, Unearth comes to the plate with a new record label, new production, and one hell of an arsenal.  If you have never heard of Unearth before, you will.  Hailing from Massachusetts, (with the drummer from Dover, NH and formally from Backstabbers Inc), where hardcore is a common theme, these guys bring a little something different to the table.  You get to hear a combination of European-style metal (scales, progressions, IRON MAIDEN!), hardcore (some consider them to be the "kings" of breakdowns), polyrythms, harmonics, solos, tempo changes, all mashed together like 14 people in a Pinto.  The only element it is missing is "The Chaos Factor" (Cannibal Corpse chaos).  However, none of the different aspects of this album are overbearing.  Each element compliments the other beautifully.  If that wasn't enough fun, each song is different from the predecessor.  If you don't believe me, just listen to the first 30 seconds of each song.  This one kept old skins here entertained throughout.  With the exception of Aries, each song is a solid piece of work.  No filler here.  When they said this was the best thing they ever wrote, they meant every word of it.  The vocals may be a little rough for the ears, and they lost a slight amount of their hardcore riffs since "The Strings Of Consciousness", but the music quality is incredible.

I can't say enough about this album.  It amazes me that although Unearth was good before, the production on this album is far above anything on "The String Of Consciousness" and the "Endless" EP.  This album is better than I anticipated.  The only thing that could have made this better is if they added the songs "My Heart Bleeds No Longer" and "Internal War".  This one lives up to it's hype.  If they don't get famous, there is something wrong with the metal world.  If you like the Mass. music scene, THIS IS A MUST.  If you like Killswitch Engage, Chimaira, Arch Enemy, that type of genre, get this album.  You'll be proud you did.  The only release that may beat this one this year could POSSIBLY be the new Lamb Of God or Slayer (please come out with a new album this year...)

Website:  www.unearth.tv

Song Summaries:

1. The Great Dividers - Kick my ass and call me captain.  This one defines their style of music to a "T".  A political song, but the words mean nothing to me.  The beats, the music... THE BREAKDOWN at 2:09 is wonderful.  A+
2. Failure - A little arpeggio for an intro and then some good old European style metal.  After the first minute, the mesh of hardcore and European metal becomes evident.  Nice harmonics.  B+
3. This Lying World - The intro brings forth the PIT MARCH.  This is when you see everyone just walking straight into punches and ask for more...  Then the intro changes into the meat of the song, which sounds not unlike Arch Enemy.  A (intro gets A+)
4. Black Hearts Now Reign - Makes me almost feel like dancing in a 50's style.  Swing the arms around and snap your fingers to that beat.  Oh, and then it changes...at 1:47 on, it gets GOOD.  Bring the pit.  A+
5. Zombie Autopilot - Total European style.  I consider this to be the weakest song on the album.  Too much Killswitch Engage/Arch Enemy style for me.  Gets a little weak at the end, but everything can't kick ass all the time...  B
6. Bloodlust Of The Human Condition - Polyrythms and hardcore, we struck a love nerve for me on this one.  I DREAM of bands doing this.  Hatebreed meets Meshuggah.  Enough said.  A+
7. Lie To Purify - It's the European metal style first, and then at 1:55, the song takes a complete 180 into breakdowns and hardcore.  Then at 2:20 flips back into European style.  The last part of the song gets a little weak but that's the only flaw.  A-
8. Endless - I heard this one on the "Endless" EP.  This is why I know production quality went way up.  Adam Dutkiewicz influenced here.  Good on the EP, better with the added production.  B
9. Aries - It's a piano interlude with some guitar work and screaming over it.  Good song to space out to, but then again, it's really not a song at all.  Un-gradable.
10. Predetermined Sky - Just pure good old downright nasty riff.  The middle at this point sounds like typical Unearth, but at 3:36 the hardcore from within had to be released.  B+
11. False Idols - Wanna know what I think about all the time?  THIS IS IT.  A little speed, transitions that make me cry.  Lurching.  It is all I dreamed.  A+

Average Song Rating:  A-
Overall Album Rating:  A