Review Summary: Unearths crowning glory.
Unearth have been an important band for me. Looking back to when the metalcore scene was beginning to blow up, apart from the typical obsessional admiration I had for Killswitch Engages ‘Alive Or Just Breathing’, its was Unearths debut ‘The Stings Of Conscience’ that captured my attention. The combination of Maiden-esque, harmonized flair, the crushing hardcore aggression and rapid fire Gothenburg riffing was an exciting and arresting sound which for me opened a lot of doors into a whole range of incredible and important music.
Released in 2004, I believe ‘The Oncoming Storm’ to be one of the definitive and archetypal metalcore releases. The band manage to take meld their influences seamlessly into a sound that avoids a clumsy middle ground and remains characteristically and assuredly Unearth. A reason for this success I would argue is the employment of seven string guitars, which means that the band retain a sonic brutality throughout, even when accompanied by the sugary dual harmony leads that pepper the songs liberally. An example of this is album highlight ‘Black Hearts Now Reign’, which opens with a fierce thrash section before galloping along into a twin lead line which, although it inserts a welcome melodious element into the track, does not let up in speed or intensity.
Indeed, the guitar work on a whole is excellent. Ken Susi and Buzz McGrath offer up a plethora of stunning riffs, such as the blistering intro to ‘The Great Dividers’, which impresses not just in its technicality and speed, but additionally its surprising infectiousness. Moreover, the breakdowns present on ‘The Oncoming Storm’, are some of the best in the genre, as the band prove themselves to have mastered the art of executing a well placed, significant portion of monstrous chug. We need look no further than the first minute of ‘Bloodlust Of The Human Condition’ or the devastating ‘Endless’ as proof of this, as the breakdowns remind how, when used effectively and not relied upon as a the groundwork for an entire song, they can be truly affecting.
Although, there is also no lack of mellow on this release either, with the band adding some pensive and brooding instrumental sections, such as the piano led ‘Arise’ or the outro to ‘Black Hearts Now Reign’, which are appreciated for their provision of tranquillity and serenity in an album for the most part built upon speed, heaviness and rage.
The drum work is fantastic, with an unrelenting series of lightning fills and breaks complimenting the merciless nature of the guitars impeccably. Mike Justian proves himself more than proficient. Vocalist Trevor Phipps also turns in a competent performance, although it has to be said that he is the least remarkable member of the group. His powerful roar is certainly commanding, and at the albums heaviest moments he is capable of an authoritative presence and plays an important role in generating the intense atmosphere de rigueur in the genre. Yet, as with most singers that rely solely on a harsh vocal style, it can grow tiresome to listen too, which means that the occasional cleanly delivered line by Sushi is embraced.
Unearth have never quite matched ‘The Oncoming Storm’, and it is not surprising, as with this set of songs they created an album in which they realized all that the band could hope to accomplish with their sound, initiating a metalcore style which emphasised equally their peers whilst retaining an originality and innovation which is a enormous struggle to achieve.
