Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety - Release Date: June 15, 2004 - Tooth and Nail Records
Prior to picking up this cd, I had only heard of Underoath, but had never heard their music; I just knew that they were hardcore. Upon listening to "They're Only Chasing Safety," I was completely floored. This cd is loosely categorized as screamo just becuase of the many elements represented in it: hardcore, emo, melody, breakdowns, hardmony, fast dance parts, etc. This cd has it all. This cd really breaks the mold of the standard screamo sound, pop punk with emo vocals and screams during the chorus. This cd is predominantly a hardcore cd with fantastic screams and brutal breakdowns. Some songs have catchier guitar parts and melody, but every song is packed with a very tough feel for screamo. The first single, "Reinventing Your Exit" is as catchy as SARS, with a very easy sing along section.
All of the songs fit together beautifully, splitting hardcore and screamo, but not fitting the common mold. "Down Set Go" features the quintessential dance beat with half sing/half screamed vocals, and another classic sing along. My favorite tracks on the album are the opening track "Young and Aspiring" which is almost primarily a hardcore song, a perfect track to start the cd and set the tone that follows. "They're only chasing safety" has one "emo" song if you will, "Some Will Seek Forgiveness," another personal favorite, complete with acoustic guitars and digital drums before exploding with a driving beat and the deepest sound of true emotion in the singer's voice. My only criticisms of this cd are mild, 1.) it is too short. I wish i could hear more and 2.) I have 1 peev with song placement: i dont think that "The Blue Note" is much of a song at all, but rather just an intro track which should lead into the cd, as opposed to just being in the middle of the disc, stretching it out to a deceptive 10 tracks.
OVERALL: 5 out of 5 stars. Unbeleivably easy to listen to; fits every mood it's needed for; a top to bottom complete cd.
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