Underoath - Lost in the Sound Of Separation CDDVDVinyl (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Underoath's Most Expressive Albeit Least Mainstream Album

Media Lover | 09/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"LITSOS is, in my opinion, the album that has been hiding in the deepest chambers of Underoath's hearts since their formation as a band. Furious, tender, hideous, beautiful, Underoath explores the addictive, aggressive and sinful nature of man and how it relates to the beauty of our redemption. I'm not going to lie, sometimes (as is the case with "Emergency Broadcast") this album gets flat ugly. It pounds and yells and bashes right through every one of your comfort zones, but at the end of the album, as the final song drifts away, you see the true scope of this album. "I swear I found something good... I found God and the dreams of the believers."

And so, LITSOS, while not even half as poppy as "TOCS" or hard rock as "DGL" transcends each of them in it's own deeply soulful way. (Although, DGL may still be the best bet for the hard rock/metalcore fans.)"

Best one yet.

Mandy Karr | Port Royal, SC USA | 10/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me start off with saying that I've been a big fan of Underoath ever since they hit the music industry. Let me also say that if a band I really like doesn't live up to expectations, I'll say so.

This is the most well written (musically) album they have ever done. They just keep getting better and better. When I fist bought Define the Great Line, the album they did before, I was first surprised because, unlike alot of popular heavy metal bands, they got harder musically rather than softer. This is something I like, and also shows that the band is staying true to the beginning, to why they fell in love with playing heavy metal in the first place. Then I bought Lost in the Sound of Separation, and had preconceived notions that it would be mediocre at best. I left it in the case for a few days in my car, and then one the way to work one day I put it in my cd player. Not only was it better than mediocre, they had gotten even harder than the last one! It was refreshing to see a band really mature and develop without losing what I loved about them in the first place.

Lyrically, it's a little muddy and vague, but that's the style of alot of bands in this genre. I enjoyed the message that this album had to bring. It's about pain, hope, doubt, and all of the things that make us human.

I hope that Underoath keeps up with the amazing work."

An unrivaled masterwork.

Aaron Warlock | Chicago, IL | 09/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With their last two records, Underoath have consistently set new standards for melodic hardcore - standards which elevate them so far above their peers, the gap between them and the crop of scene bands occupying MySpace and filling the pages of Alternative Press could hold an ocean. Separation is an unequaled illustration of what can happen when a group of immensely talented and inventive minds transpose their brilliance onto musical instruments and marry ferocity and savagery with artistry and purpose. Behind the dizzying, distortion-heavy riffs, sudden tempo changes, bestial screaming, and moving instrumental refrains lies a heart of darkness. Separation is without a doubt, the blackest, most foreboding work the band have recorded in their current incarnation, exemplified by lyrics exploring drug abuse, waning faith, and self-loathing. Despite the dark themes prevalent on the album, there's something about it that sends a surge of adrenaline through the listener's veins and elicits a palpable sense of tension and release. The verbosely titled Anyone Can Dig A Hole, But It Takes A Real Man To Call It Home, one of the heaviest tracks on the album, precedes A Fault Line, A Fault Of Mine, a dramatic arrangement incorporating heaviness, melody, and shoe-gazing experimentation. It's the balance between brutality and subtlety that makes Underoath unique, the push and pull between frontman Spencer Chamberlain's ferocious roar and drummer/co-vocalist Aaron Gillespie's temperate singing. Separation culminates with the austere math metal barrage of Desperate Times, Desperate Measures, which segues into the grandiose two song closing suite of Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear and Desolate Earth: The End Is Near, commanding you to listen not just with your ears and heart, but with your very soul. The album's 11 tracks are alternately - and often simultaneously - cold and warm, poignant and inspiring, foreboding and inviting, creating an enigmatic complexity that makes Separation a brilliant achievement of not just post-hardcore, but heavy rock in general."

EXTREMELY solid album

Craig | Ca | 09/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since releasing TOCS, underoATH have refused to slow down. Each album gets progressively better. This album is their best work to date.

I feel that even though this album may be considered "heavier", it also feels more accessible. It all feels very cohesive and flows together nicely. This is one of those albums that is extremely easy to listen to from beginning to end without skipping a track.

The musicianship on this album is quite astonishing, these men have come a long way. Aarons drumming on this album is jaw dropping amazing. Chock full of pummeling kick drum and extremely fast, precise drum fills. His vocal parts are also nothing short of incredible. McTague also adds some beautiful ambient guitar work throughout the album. He has without a doubt, found his niche. However, as said in a previous review, this IS Spencers album. His amazing range is displayed here perfectly.

Last but not least, the production on this album is simply put, some of the best out there. Matt Goldman and Adam D have truly outdone themselves on this record. The effects, the tones, the ambience, the HUGE in your face sound, everything is incredible.

Most definitely in my top 3 for 2008, get it!"

Lost in the Sound of Separation

Ben Dugan | Flying Monkey Killer | 09/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a point of interest, I am usually not a very big fan of hardcore music, or metal music, or screamo music, or emo music, or whatever you want to call the type of music that Underoath play. But for some reason, I find myself drawn to this point, probably because of the more interesting song crafts and their interest and execution of dynamics.

Whatever the reason, Underoath's latest album, "Lost in the Sound of Separation" is one of the years best records, a well written, produced and put together album that at a brisk pace of 42 minutes and change is as close to perfect as anything I have heard this year.

"LITSOS" is the logical progression from the bands last record, 2006's "Define the Great Line", a terrific record itself, as it is heavier and more melodic in equal turns. What's most interesting about "LITSOS" is that it fixes any of the slight problems that there were with "Great Line", while maintaining the edge consistancy that were so readily found on that record.

In fact, everything is tighter this time around. The songs are all well written and change on a dime, but never feeling forced or too progressive. The sequencing of the record is a major plus, as it pushes the heavier, more brutal songs towards the beginning, and as the record continues it becomes darker and more claustrophobic, ending with the beautiful and harrowing "Desolate Earth", the near antithesis of the first track, the pounding "Breathing In A New Mentality". "LITSOS" has the feel of a good concept record, where it has a single-less feel to it, where every song fits into place and sounds bare without the one proceding it.

The biggest surprise of this record is lead singer Spencer Chamberlin, who continues to get stronger and stronger with each record. His lyrics here are interesting and conflicting, dark yet never depressing, and his delivery is getting better and better with each record, which makes sense as the band gets stronger and stronger musically with each record. But it's on this record where Chamberlin really becomes the star, with drummer/ second vocalist Aaron Gillespe still chiming in occasionally onn hooks, but even he sounds more energized than he has one previous studio albums.

Overall, I really have nothing to negative to say about this record at all. There are a few songs where the arrangement is similar to some of the others, and the production is occasionally a little flat, but these really are minor problems, and something the majority of listeners will have zero problems with.

"Lost in the Sound of Separation" is one of the years best records, and is proof that this is one of the rare bands that is actually getting better each time out.

Can't wait for their next record."

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