Beartooth - The Surface
Caleb Shomo, the brainchild of Beartooth, has been in that band longer than he was in his first band, Attack Attack. They were around from 2007 through 2012, give or take, but Shomo was the primary songwriter of the band. Their brand of metalcore meets electronica was revolutionary in the mid-00s with their debut, Someday Came Suddenly. The band is also known for having former Of Mice & Men vocalist Austin Carlile in the band, and that was his start in the metalcore scene, but after he was kicked out before their second record was written and released (that was one of the biggest band beefs of that time), Shomo took over vocals and showed that he was actually quite talented. I just never got into his new band, Beartooth, at least until 2018’s Disease.
Personally, I always felt as though Beartooth leaned way too hard into cliched metalcore tropes, and the lyrics weren’t very good, ultimately trying too hard to be edgy and intense when they didn’t need to be. Disease was the first album that clicked for me, but I went back to to their earlier albums and they’re a lot better to me now, although I can’t say I love them, really. Disease introduced a catchier and more hard-rock sound to the band, and it was a lot more accessible, including some better lyrical choices and ideas. I did listen to 2021’s Below a few times, and that record was fine, but I was really excited for The Surface. I loved the first two singles from it, one of which came out last year, entitled “Riptide” and the other that came out earlier this year, “Sunshine.” They came out before the album was announced, and I was hoping that a record would be announced, because these are two of my favorite songs of the year.
The Surface has been out for a few weeks now, and this is easily one of the best albums of the year. This is everything I not only want with this band, but with rock and metal in general. It’s catchy, fun, uplifting, and best of all, memorable. This record is short, only 38 minutes, but it has a lot to do and say in that time. A lot of this record is about positivity and rising up from the depths of depression and being in a bad place when it comes to mental health. Shomo has talked about how that’s where the inspiration came from, and how this album is supposed to be happier and brighter, not sour and pessimistic.
The music itself reflects that, being very, very catchy and leaning more into rock and alternative territories, not just metalcore and hard rock. This is some of their “poppiest” stuff yet, but it isn’t a pop album, it’s a rock record with an emphasis on hooks and melody, although some breakdowns and heavier moments are here. They work quite well to counteract the lighter moments, but they feel more earned. Of Mice & Men’s new album was similar, but the difference is that the hooks on their new album didn’t hit as hard. That record is good, too, but this one is just better, because of how catchier and more energetic it is.
There’s only one guest spot, and it’s country artist Hardy. I didn’t know what to make of that at first, when I saw the track listing, but I did enjoy his last album from earlier this year, although the song he’s on, “The Better Me,” sounds like nothing on his last album. His last LP, The Mockingbird & The Crow, was a double album that was half a country album in the vein of what he’s known for, and the other half was a hard rock album with huge riffs, some breakdowns, and a few screams here and there. This song just doesn’t sound like that, although it does have a solid riff, but the lyrics are much more positive and not as obnoxious. Hardy sounds great, and mixes very well with Shomo, but it makes me wonder why his last album didn’t sound like this, and it’s also one of my favorite songs on the whole album.
Oh well, The Surface is one hell of a record, and it’s one of the best of the year, hands down. It’s nothing special, necessarily, but I don’t care about that when the album is this good and this fun. There’s a lot of energy here, and because of its positivity, I can’t help get sucked into it. If you enjoy hard rock, metalcore, or anything like that, you’ll love this. I’ll be shocked if a hard rock fan hasn’t gotten hooked on Beartooth yet, but this is the best time to become a fan. This is easily their best album, hands down, there’s no question to it. They’ve really come into their own here, but they’ve also entered in a new era with this one. It’s a lot brighter and catchier, but this whole record is so much fun. I can’t recommend it enough, folks. You gotta hear this one.
6 notes
·
View notes
Why didn’t I discover Attack Attack sooner omfg they’re so good they’re every genre I love everything all at once
4 notes
·
View notes