Unearth - The March
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Record Label: Metal Blade
Whenever I think or listen to Unearth, I always think of a certain professional wrestler, the one, the only Hunter Hearst Helmsley. It probably doesn’t hurt either that lead vocalist Trevor Phipps remotely resembles Triple H (well, at least to me). Also, it probably isn’t a coincidence that whenever I listen to the Massachusetts quintet’s new album, The March, I feel like I’ve been pulverized by the Pedigree over and over again.
With their fourth studio album (third for Metal Blade Records), Unearth developed a minor concept to the album, as the content of the album represent the good/hopeful and evil/greed sides of humanity. To help the process, the band brought along Adam Dutkiewicz to produce, and with Adam D you better believe you’re getting airtight, powerful guitar riffs that will leave you in a daze. And album opener, the ass-kicking “My Will Be Done,” definitely does not disappoint. With riffs that weave in and out of your ear canal, Phipps booming scream grabs you by the spine and never lets go. Buz McGrath and Ken Susi just absolutely terrorize this album with their unforgiving guitar duels in each track.
Some critics have voiced an opinion in the past about Unearth becoming stale and repetitive, but the first four tracks of The March shatter that idea. “Hail The Shrine” begins with tantalizing riffs and impressive drumming from Derek Kerswill and infuses melody in with the brutality. “Grave of Opportunity” begins with a little more melody than the previous tracks but quickly transitions into shotgun breakdowns.
“We Are Not Anonymous” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, as it just reverberates between your ears and features some sweet gang vocals. “The Cutman” has fine chemistry between the rhythm section and riffs, creating a nice fusion of sounds. “Letting Go” has a slight Southern vibe to it, while closer “Truth or Consequence” is two tracks in one and completes The March with a celebration of riffing and crunching.
It’s safe to say that Unearth will never top 2004’s The Oncoming Storm, but The March is no slouch. It continues the trend of pulverizing guitar riffs while infusing melody throughout. My only gripes with the album is that it loses steam in the middle, some of the lyrics are subpar, and, while the album is still intense, it is missing that “it” factor that the previous albums had. Overall though, if you’re a fan of Unearth and riffs so mean they’ll kick your balls up to your throat., The March is the road you want to take.
i would say the oncoming storm is my fav record by them because of the breakdowns and what not, their last record was good, but it had to grow on me. this i need to give more time but musicanship is AMAZING. blazing sweeping guitars and dirty drumming. def a solid release that i need to listen to more.
Great record but the lyrics lack on some of the songs. Trevor could of really let it all out about the good vs bad and this just seems kinda lacking in the lyrics department.
True, Unearth has the tendency to be monotonous, but honestly I think they've perfected what they do and are just building on that with every album. I don't see any similarities between Unearth now and Strings of Consciousness Unearth, but instead I see them branching off from The Oncoming Storm and trying out a few new things while remaining heavy as hell and following the same formula at TOS. Of course now they are really incorporating some extremely nice shredding to it instead of typical, fist pumping breakdown riffs. I, for one, am impressed with what they are doing, but do not disagree with this review at all. Solid job.
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