Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety
Record Label: Tooth & Nail
Release Date: June 15, 2004
Throughout Underoath’s existence, they have exhausted many members, and with each new member came a slightly new sound. In their 2004 album They’re Only Chasing Safety, you get more of a poppy feel than you get from their most recent album Disambiguation, which lacks the clean vocals provided by Gillespie that many identify the band by.
From “Young and Aspiring” - a powerful start to the album - to “Some Will Seek Forgiveness,” which ends on a calm note (but not lacking the properly placed build up); there is never a boring minute. In the beginning of “A Boy Brushed Red - Living in Black and White,” the sound of the guitar mimics the tone of the lyrics: “Do you feel your heart beat racing/Do you taste the fear in her sweat.” The rest of the song’s subject matter is somewhat cryptic; with lines like “In this moment we both ignore the truth/ it’s all over,” one can gather that the song is about making a mistake that changes everything. Thankfully, Underoath also lacks the common use of “get down” or “oh” before going into a breakdown- rather they use phrases such as “Don’t shake, I’d hate to see you tremble,” which has a lot more meaning.
The Blue Note fades in with melancholy and reverb-filled instrumental that made me think of what the beautifully ominous choir vocals confirmed: “drowning in my sleep, I’m drowning in my sleep” - another clever break-down beginning.
In other songs, the meaning is more clear than A Boy Brushed Red. “Down, Set, Go” starts off with “I had the whole world in my hands but I gave it away,” which is a reference to the children’s song about God having the world in His hands - inferring that he had accepted God but turned away. This song demonstrates the tone of the lyrics with the ominous sounding guitar notes and heavier sound than the previous songs; thus necessitating Chamberlain to take the wheel with vocals.
But just because the band has religious lyrics does not mean you have to be religious to listen. The musical technicality shown in every song through the bass and guitars, complex timing in songs such as “Impact of Reason,” plus the tasteful use of electronics (see “Reinventing Your Exit” especially) , Chamberlain’s skillful screams, and Gillespie’s intricate and hard hitting drums, it’s enough to get anyone’s ear.
still trying to get into their older stuff, i havn't been able to get into much besides their newest album, which i thought was awesome. i really dug the darker, moodier, and even southern influenced sound it had.
oh, to be 16 again. i don't listen to underoath much at all anymore (or much heavy music in general), but this album will always be nostalgic for me. i remember everyone flipping out about it when it first came out. i could easily go on about how many memories are attached to this album.
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