AXL ROSENBERG’S COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED REVIEW OF UNEARTH’S THE MARCH
Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 3:00pm by Axl Rosenberg
I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts on the latest Unearth album, The March, for a couple of weeks now, and I’m finally waving the white flag of surrender. I have a lot to say about this album, some of it good, some of it bad, and I’m just gonna let it all hang out now in a little bit of a brain fart. So bear with me here…
- As an Unearth fan, I generally felt kind of disappointed with the band’s last album, III: In the Eyes of Fire. Some of the blame may have lay with producer Terry Date; although I’ve generally admired Date’s work in the past, I just didn’t think the album sounded monstrous enough. But mostly, I think the band was at fault; simply put, the songs just weren’t as good as the ones on their 2004 breakout album, The Oncoming Storm. I know the band made a conscious attempt to sound less metalcore-y on Fire than they did on Storm, and while we could debate the band’s success in that regard all day, I wonder if just setting such a goal for themselves (instead of just going with the flow and writing what they know) ended up dampening the material. In any case, The March corrects whatever the problem was; there isn’t a single song here that doesn’t have something to recommend it.
- ADAM D. IS BACK! ADAM D. IS BACK! ADAM D. IS BACK!
- I’ve never, ever heard Unearth make an album that truly captures the intensity (and fun) of their live performance. Unearth in a concert setting is truly a sight to behold – it inspires Slayer-like bouts of rabid violence amongst the band’s fans, and with good reason. The March doesn’t really get at the heart of what makes the band so fucking good live, either, but maybe nothing ever will, save for an actual live album (or the band’s recent concert DVD).
- Even though I think The March is pretty terrific overall, I do wonder with bands like Unearth how much longer they can rely on their trademarks (hardcore barks, chugga-chug riffs, blistering British New Wave leads, lead pipe to the skull breakdowns, etc.) without it all just sounding tired and clichéd. To the band’s credit, I don’t think they’ve quite reached that point yet, and maybe they’ll turn out to be metalcore’s answer to Slayer and never have to change their sound. But just as the Crowbarish “Desperate Times” was a welcome respite from the same old same old on Killswitch Engage’s As Daylight Dies, so the slower-than-usual “Letting Go” on The March will probably perk up a lot of ears, because it doesn’t just blend in with the rest of the album. This is a band that doesn’t indulge in Metallica-like melodic intros or clean vocals or semi-ballads or whatever other b.s. the rest of the metalcore pack is so fond of, but I do wonder if they have something a little more varied in them somewhere.
- It’s too hard for me to bitch about any aspect of The March too much, because the album is just too damn fun.
(3 ½ out of 5 horns)
-AR
great music.
horrid vocals.
frog in a blender.
fuck yeah love the album .
this band will remain a monster in this industry. i love these guys. their fukn brutal! anyone who doesn’t recognize the talent is just naive and should probably take a step back and look how pathetic your own life is. beneath all the mediocre metal bullshit, this band can still bring the slow hardcore beatdowns and heartfelt lyrics. suk it you corporate monkeys!
Love these dudes to death. Just did an interview with Trevor that’s going to show up in next month’s Terrorizer. He’s a super nice dude. But yeah, the album is great.
Unearth: One of the few reasons for metalcore’s continued existence.
I’m pretty sure I downloaded/checked this out a couple weeks ago. It sounded like “The Oncoming Storm” re-hashed, from what I recall. But don’t get me wrong, that’s not such a bad thing. Unearth is one of the few “metalcore” (hate the misuse of the genre label – see Modern Life is War to an extent, Earth Crisis, Shai Hulud, etc.) bands who can keep my attention throughout an entire album, even if I listen to them only once every 6 months.
Fun stuff to listen to, nothing worth getting excited about.
Unearth is the only band I know of that a)Truly IS metalcore and b)Can actually make that classification a GOOD thing.
I hate some hardcore with an absolute passion. Mostly the stuff that strays away from what actual hardcore(i.e. Crowbar, Hatebreed, Full Blown Chaos) is. Most of that other shit is that same god forsaken riff(you know what I’m talking about) redone over and over again with a few breakdowns and spoken lyrics here and there.
To me, Unearth throws hardcore and metal together as to not dumb down their music but still keep a hardcore touch to it. They’re damn good at it too. This album will be mine tomorrow and I can’t fucking wait.
I do have to agree that their time is coming where that same sound will grow old and they’ll get left in the dust. I’ll enjoy them while they last though.
Love this album and a great review. I agree with most parts except that i think ‘In The Eyes Of Fire’ was awesome, and a good point about the ‘Desperate Times’ song and ‘Letting Go’ which are both awesome. And I would have given this album a slightly higher rating cause it’s just a really fun listen and i’ve been listening to it ever since it leaked. Definitely one of 2008’s finest moments.
What shred4life said.
Great band, i’ll be giving this a listen ASAP. I know the person that runs the Unearth street team!
shred4life and princess like evanescence and disturbed- guaranteed.
hah…
bands you secretly love?
i wouldnt even wipe my ass with either of those bands.
mebbe fuck the chick from evan… but thats about it ;)
While I really like The March, the album is them taking a step back and basically just recording the Oncoming Storm 2. In the eyes of Fire was a great album that really pushed the band. I was really hoping they’d make another album in that vein and keep evolving, rather than stepping back. I was afraid this was gonna happen when they announced that Adam D was going to produce the album.
I fucking loved the oncoming storm and in the eyes of fire, but for some reason i can’t get into this album. Maybe i haven’t listened to it enough to get into it.
…but for fucks sake, and everyone’s sake for that matter, stop calling unearth “metalcore” you fucking idiots.
Can we quit it with the fucking subgenres please? They’re almost as tired as Killswitch Engage.
From what I’ve heard so far, I thinks it’s great.
A definite step up after III – there seems to be more melody here compared to that album. this sounds more in line with TOS. The guitar playing makes this album for me – a lesson in how to use technical prowess to benefit the song and not showboat for the sake of it. Excellent players.
I’m not really interested in getting into the metalcore wars – if it’s good, it’s good regardless. This band prove that.
But I very much agree with the point about Letting Go – I’d like to see some more of that variation from them in the future because that song really stands out in a good way.
I definitely have huge respect for Unearth. This was a terrific review; fuck organization in the future! This told me everything I could have wanted to know, clearly. After being thoroughly disappointed by Fire (with the exception of that sickass riff in “Sanctity Of Brothers”!), I had no drive to check this disc out. I doubt I will, actually.
But I agree that Unearth live is something every metalhead must experience.
you are absolutely right about unearth live!
each time i’m seeing them i’am looking forward for it. they are simply one of the best live acts out there
why is being labeled metalcore bad? what is the goddamm difference and why do people get mad about this subgenre bullshit. its fucking music. its metal. its hardcore what the fuk. get a grip on reality u dumb fuks.
I have to agree with Axl here. I havnt stopped listening to it yet but at the same time I know where he is coming from. Its a fun fucking record and is basically “The Oncoming Storm PT Deuce” I know it wont win album of the year but I will be listening to it for a long time to come.
wow! all these years surfing the interweb and i have never once read a review that i agreed with word for word, line for line, such as this one.
fucking great review. stream of consciousness – yes. but still clear, concise and cogent.
i’d close with an opinion regarding this album or unearth themselves, but i’d only be repeating something axl wrote in the review. well done son.
Second (or third) the live recommendation. I saw these guys open up for Dimmu last year and I have never seen a band work so hard to kill themselves on stage: climbing up on things, flailing around, jumping into the photographers well…absolutely insanely awesome.
el heffe probably doesn’t have much knowledge on generes, or music as a whole.
go crawl back to your linkin park cubby and kill yourself
its ok gregdout no one cares that ur a fan of limp biscuit and mudvayne and dimmu. just keep your musical opinions to yourself and go back to work behind that FYE counter youve been working behind for the past decade you skinny pasty 35 year old virgin in a black trenchcoat peice of anal fissure biting fag. UNEARTH will kill u if i dont do it first.
ps dont ever show up at a mass show- i know where you live too.
lolumad?!
looks like i hit a soft spot
(insert wall of text here)
el heffe
The internetz is serious business!!!
That is all.
i agree with the review 100%
but i really like the new album. its great has some fast riffs and good breakdowns.
unearth is truly the best metalcore band.
i saw them live 2 nights ago. one of the best fucking live bands i have seen. full of energy,passion,excitement,and over all just having fun on stage. they bring the fucking brutalness and unleash it on the crowd. if you havent seen them, go see them. you wont be dissapointed.
Im pumped to see them perform with testament, its just, the vocals are too much like triviums … never liked triviums vocals