Underoath released their record "The Changing of Times" on Solid State Records in 2002. This was with their former vocalist Dallas Taylor. Later he would leave and they would come to find new vocalist Spencer Chamberlain and record the album "They're Only Chasing Safty." You can tell a big difference in the music from Underoath's earlier stuff, to this album "The Changing of Times, and to the newest release. This album is better than the cd "They're Only Chasing Safty" even if the screamer isn't as good as the new one.
Another thing is everyone calls Underoath screamo but I wouldn't call them that. They use to be metal in the earlier years with the release of "Cries of the Past" but now the are just a mix of emo and hardcore or emocore. Also another thing is I never meant to put American Idiot as similar or recommended album. I just don't know how to get rid of it.
Underoath is:
Aaron Gillespie-drums, vocals
Tim McTaque-guitar
Chris Dudley-keyboards
Grant Brandell-bass
James Smith-guitar
Dallas Taylor-vocals
Tracklistings:
1. When the Sun Sleeps
2. Letting Go of Tonight
3. Message for Adrienne
4. Never Meant to Break Your Heart
5. Changing of Times
6. Angel Below
7. Best of Me
8. Short of Daybreak
9. Alone in December
10.814 Stops Today
Track One: When the Sun Sleeps
This was the single off of the album. The song starts off strong with the guitar playing this neat riff and the keyboards in the back. It heads into the verse with palm muting. One bad thing about this song is the screamer Dallas doesn't really fit in with the song but its okay. The drummer Aaron sings the chorus with Dallas screaming along. At the bridge it slows down a little bit with Aaron singing and then it leads into the chorus. Some people might not think of this as a really good song but I think its pretty good. 4/5
Track Two: Letting Go of Tonight
This is a very short but a pretty good song. You won't find any singing on this one. The whole song is basically octaves and power chords. Dallas fits in better on this song. 3/5
Track Three: A Message for Adrienne
The song starts of very heavy and hardcore. You hear some deep yelling going on nothing you have heard so far. There are alot of heavey guitar parts throughout the whole song. It all starts to slow down at about 3:55. 4/5
Track Four: Never Meant to Break Your Heart
This song starts off pretty basic you hear this kind of chugging effect coming from the guitars while playing palm mutes. What ranges alot on this song is the sound. At one point it's all heavy with distorted guitars and then all of a sudden it's slow with a clean guitar. The best part is the outro probably. 3/5
Track Five: Changing of Times
There is a little techno thing coming from the keyboard in beginning and then it goes into this soft part with backing vocals and everything. It all starts to pick up at about 1:15 which leads into this awsome breakdown and then the bass starts to play with the guitar coming in leading it to the end. 3/5
Track Six: Angel Below
This is an okay song but nothing great. The keyboards stand out alot of some of the parts of the song. Also there is some good guitar work too.
3/5
Track Seven: The Best of Me:
The drums are the first thing you hear and is soon followed by a clean guitar playing a few chords and then Dallas lets out a scream. The guitar work is good on this song its different rather than that chugging effect. One thing that I don't like is that Aaron really never sings on the songs but just talks along I'd rather he sang. A good thing about these songs is they don't all follow the same thing Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, and then Outro. This is a good song. 4/5
Track Eight: Short of Daybreak
This is not a bad song. The first half of the song is just distorted guitars playing those powerchords. At 1:55 the guitar plays this awsome riff which continues the rest of the way through until the end of the song. You don't hear that stuff much on their new album. 3.5/5
Track Nine: Alone In December
To start this song off is the drums. Like alot of the other songs it starts off soft and clean and then the distorted guitars come in and the screaming. This is probably one of the softest songs on the cd. Aaron also talks alot on this song but never sings. 2/5
Track Ten: 814 Stops Today
Well this isn't a song but just some weird noise that goes on for about 50 seconds not really the best way to end the album. 0.5/5
Not a bad album by Underoath. This one I think is better than their new one but other people would disagree. I would give this cd 3/5. Rate this review please.