UnderOath - Define The Great Line Review

Whoa, what a huge change. That was basically my first impression when listening to UnderOath’s latest debut, Define The Great Line. This certainly wasn’t the same UnderOath that wrote songs like “A Boy Brushed Red...” or “Reinventing Your Exit”, oh no, everything about Define The Great Line screams more metal, more meaning, and more art. From the creepy interludes in songs like “A Moment Suspended in Time” and “Writing on the Walls”, the band has completely redefined themselves.

After my first few listens of this album, I still wasn’t sure where I stood. There were songs I loved, there were songs I couldn’t stand, and there were those in between. So, to give the band a fair justice (which they whole-heartedly deserve, as TOCS is one of my favorite hardcore-emo albums around) and after a while, it hit me. Define The Great Line is light-years ahead of what TOCS was, instead of those melodic hooks and pop-influenced tracks, the band was pushing an invisible line, one they set for themselves to be the best they could be. This wasn’t an album to impress people like myself, it was an album for the band. Define The Great Line is not just a piece of music, it’s an outlet for UnderOath to express their emotions, towards everything. Once I reached that realization, the album started to sink in. All the little segments from the keyboards to the shredding guitars and the angelic voices in songs like “Writings on the Walls” really stuck to me. So yeah, while this isn’t nearly as accessible as They’re Only Chasing Safety Was, this album is one that is going to revolutionize the genre.

Everything in this album is perfect, and I don’t say that too often. The lyrics are fitting, and they’re full of hope, existence, and everything that UnderOath stands for. Never once did their Christian influence get in the way of the music, so I won’t even delve there. All you need to know is that this album is as uplifting as it is intense and full of shredding. The guitars work perfectly, the drumming is quick and merciless, and the screams shake through your spine. UnderOath, why has it taken you so long to reach this peak? I can truly see this band being the kind of band that people look back on ten years from now an calling them a huge influence, because this album is that stellar. Everyone should by this album, whether it’s for the amazing artwork, the incredible music, or the meaning behind it all, I haven’t seen or heard such a complete package in a long time.

"Define The Great Line" is on sale November 30, -0001 from Tooth & Nail / Solid State.