Search - Unearth :: March (W/Dvd) (Spec)

Glorious!

Brian A. Krol | Chicago, IL | 10/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just as the subject of this review, this is a glorious return to form for the Boston metallers UNEARTH. ADAM D is back behind the scenes producing for this band. If anyone fully understand Unearth's sound it is Adam D. His production on the ONCOMING STORM helped propel the band into the metal mainstream helping them become the most success full and arguably the best metalcore band of all time!



I won't do a song to song breakdown (no pun intended), but I will reveal what elements of their sound made this album great. The infamous 7-Stingers Buz McGrath and Ken Susi deliver their best outing with blazing solos and sweeps to make any guitar guru's face melt off. I know Adam had a lot to do with pushing Ken + BUZ to their full potential.



Next, the Vocals. Trevor Phipps is at his best here! The lyrics are as always, in my opinion, some of the most thought out ideas in the metal scene today. The production of the vocals on this record are the best to date for an Unearth album. Once again Adam D at his finest, knowing Unearth's sound and the importance Trevor's voice contributes to it. I did not like how the vocals sounded in III: IN the Eyes of Fire, so I am glad it was done right here. His voice sounds more commanding and powerful then ever before. His voice is always one of the best parts of Unearth's live shows. His deliverance and enthusiasm always ensues chaos out on the dance floor!



Slo's provides his best bass lines to date on this release. If you watched the band's recent DVD, you will know Slo is a very smart man. He is a poker genius and has an IQ through the roof! It is unfortunate that he does not get the credit he deserves for his work, of course having to take a backseat to the fury of Ken & Buz's guitar work! Let me say, well done SLO!



Over the last year Unearth lost a great drummer, arguably one of the best in today's metal scene. Mike Justian was a gigantic reason for Unearth's might! That being said, they could not have found a better replacement. Seemless's Derek Kerswill, delivers one hell of a performance on this effort, filling gigantic shoes behind the kit for the band. Derek is a much better member for this band; he is a long time friend of the band, unlike Mike who was brought in from the Red Chord after their previous drummer quit to quickly learn the songs for THE ONCOMING STORM. He adds a dynamic to this band's chemistry that can only help to play out to Unearth's advantage in future offerings to come.



In closing: This record is amazing ladies and gentlemen! Do not read this review and go download it! Scroll up now and add this to your cart. 10 dollars is nothing for this amazing piece of work! Support this band and go see them live. Unearth is simply the greatest live act in today's metal scene. Buying this record is only 1/2 the full Unearth experience. Go to their myspace and find out when they are coming to your town. Thank you, *horns*!"

UNEARTH'S BEST RELEASE SINCE THE ONCOMING STORM!

M. Smith | 10/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before I discuss The March, lets discuss In The Eyes of Fire first. In the Eyes of Fire was a boring cd that sacrificed everything that made them good in order to become more heavy. What ended up as the result was a long boring album that was slow in too many places, ditched melody for heaviness, and had way too many breakdowns. Many feared that The March would end up just like In The Eyes of Fire, and well, today is judgement day for Unearth.



Did Unearth redeem themselves with The March? Will The March bring all of their old fans back from the days of The Oncoming Storm?



....



As you probably guessed, YES!!! YES!!! As soon as you hit play, you will be greeted by a scorching guitar solo that will instantly destroy any doubts or things you held against this band after listening to III. Trevor has returned to his old style of vocals from their second album The Oncoming Storm, which is a good thing in my opinion because there is far more conviction in his delivery on this record. Their new drummer Derek Kerswill is decent but their return to their former sound makes up for any of the flaws in Derek's playing.



1. MY WILL BE DONE sets the mood for the entire album because it not only displays their amazingly catchy harmonies (think the riff in the intro to Zombie Autopilot), but it marks the returns of Unearth's wicked guitar solos and their original sound which is something all of us Unearth fans have been waiting years for.

2. HAIL THE SHRINE is another great song with a brutal guitar riff during the verses, a really catchy chorus, and ends in a killer breakdown. The lyrics are really good as well, during the chorus, Trevor declares "Believe my every word/Believe and I will protect you/So criticize/Bow down you might meet your maker." This is easily one of the best songs off of this album simply because the lyrics work so well with the guitars.

3. CROW KILLER is another song that features an incredibly catchy and technical riff that lasts through the entire song. The only problem with the main riff is that it makes the solo look lackluster because it is so complex.

4. GRAVE OF OPPORTUNITY begins with a slow melodic introduction, then immediately kicks off to a really fast riff. The bridge consists of clean guitar backed up by a distorted guitar, and leads into a short solo which goes right back into the incredible main riff. An amazing song which will be even better live in the pits.

5. WE ARE NOT ANONYMOUS leads off with an insanely complex lead on the guitars before leading into a Gothenburg-esque melody which starts and stops throughout the song. The song constantly becomes more complex as it moves on, giving it a fresh feel and never lets the riff get old or boring. The solo after the breakdown is really good and leads back into the complex lead established in the beginning of the song. Yet another great song, I would not be surprised if this was put into Rock Band or something---it is that catchy and technical.

6. THE MARCH has a dark feel to it set by the the bass and the guitars and slow-paced drumming. While it does not come off as a good song on the first listen, it will grow on you as you listen to the album a couple more times. Good song.

7. CUTMAN is easily the best song on this entire album. It opens with a STUNNING lead, which builds up into a very fast and heavy riff backed up by Derek on the kit. This will most definitely be a crowd pleaser at future Unearth shows, the main riff SCREAMS circle pits to me. Trevor's voice just plain sells this song to you the second it begins. This is easily up there as one of their best songs to date, although it does not match This Lying World or Black Hearts Now Reign.

8. THE CHOSEN stands out as one of the most unique songs Unearth has written to date. It's heavy, but it sounds more anthemic than their other songs on this album let alone their entire catalog of music. The song is perfect to listen to before a game to get fired up.

9. LETTING GO is a display of both Unearth's melodic side and their heavy side. While it is a huge change in pace from the other songs on this cd because it is the slowest song on the album, it is much reminiscent of The Oncoming Storm in the sense that it fits perfectly in between THE CHOSEN and TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE on the album just how ARIES did between ENDLESS and PREDETERMINED SKY.

10. TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE closes the album on a dark note. It begins with a soaring melody in the beginning, and goes into a riff that sounds ominous. The melody of the song fades out and ends the record.



BEST SONGS: Cutman, Hail the Shrine, We Are Not Anonymous, My Will Be Done, The Chosen, Grave of Opportunity, The March





Unearth has redeemed itself in my book with The March, I think it even surpasses The Oncoming Storm because it is produced and written so well. The skill of all of the musicians in this band is simply undeniable. Their catchy melodies, scorching guitar riffs, and aggressiveness keep the music fresh and interesting. While some listeners may think that Trevor's voice is bad(I personally don't), the band just simply wouldn't sound good without him. He shows an exceptional amount of passion and delivery in his voice, which I haven't seen in many other bands.



The March may alienate people who got turned onto Unearth by In The Eyes of Fire simply because it sounds less heavy guitar-wise and utilizes more melodies than any of the songs on III did. It may also come off as just another Unearth album at first, but I can guarantee you it will grow on you after a couple of listens if you let it.



This is easily the best metal album of 2008 (yes this may be subjective to some, but I loved this far more than the new albums by All Shall Perish and The Haunted), and I highly recommend buying this. I also recommend seeing this band live because the music sounds far better and they put on an incredibly good show.



EDIT: Didn't realize the bonus track was on most American copies of this album as well. The copy I have somehow does not have the hidden track on it. My bad. It's still really good though, highly recommend it."

Great Album

Edward Tillman | CS. CO | 01/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Uneath keeps getting better with time and they discover what a great band they really are with each new release! This album is great and the band puts a little more Metalcore into it then they're pervious release! solid recommendation!"