Underoath About To Explode Again

Photo credit: Travis Shinn.

As UNDEROATH prepare for the release of their much-anticipated fifth album Ø (DISAMBIGUATION)–out November 9 on Solid State/Tooth & Nail–early reviews are beginning to appear. Alternative Press magazine gave the full length disc 4.5-out-of-5 stars in the forthcoming December issue (see below).

In video news, the group will shoot the video for their new single “In Division” in Florida over the weekend. Fans can now get a sneak peek of the song on the band’s Facebook page here: http://zip2.it/transmission. The full audio for “In Division” will post Monday, October 18.

Look for UNDEROATH—whose last three albums have combined sales of well over 1.5 million copies–to preview new songs for fans out of the road this fall. Beginning November 2, the group will hit the road for a short trek with A Day To Remember, The Word Alive and Close Your Eyes. Confirmed dates listed are below, and expect a major tour in early 2011.

UNDEROATH–TIM MCTAGUE (guitar), SPENCER CHAMBERLAIN (vocals), GRANT BRANDELL (bass), CHRIS DUDLEY (keyboards), JAMES SMITH (guitar) and new drummer DANIEL DAVISON–have evolved and thrived during a decade-long progression that has elevated them into one of heavy music’s biggest successes. For Ø (DISAMBIGUATION—UNDEROATH’s new creative high watermark–the group teamed with the Matt Goldman and Jeremy SH Griffith to produce the highly anticipated follow-up to Define The Great Line (2006) and Lost In The Sound of Separation (2008) which debuted at #2 and #8 respectively on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart.

In interactive news, UNDEROATH want fans to remix their blistering new single “Illuminator.” This full-on metal track has great stems for fans to build on; listen here: http://www.underoath777.com/disambiguation/. One Grand Prize winner—selected by the judges (the band, their management and label)—will receive $1000.00, in addition, their remix will be streamed on the group’s MySpace page (with over 38,157,368 views). The Grand Prize winner will receive an UNDEROATH prize pack including an autographed copy of the album Ø (Disambiguation), a signature hoodie, T-Shirt, posters, stickers and other surprises. Two Runners-up (chosen by the judges) will receive the UNDEROATH prize pack above and have their remix track featured on UNDEROATH’s MySpace page. Fifteen honorable mentions (chosen by public voting) will receive a 3 month pro-membership to Indaba Music. To enter, click here to begin the remix recording process:

http://www.indabamusic.com/#!/featured_programs/show/underoath-remix-contest.

Here’s the early critical praise from Alternative Press, with writer Aaron Burgess noting:

“Yes, Underoath have a new drummer (Norma Jean alum Daniel Davison). And, yep, lead screamer Spencer Chamberlain has stepped into ex-skinsman Aaron Gillespie’s role as ‘clean’ singer. Compared to the big picture that is Ø (Disambiguation), however, these changes in the Florida sextet’s lineup seem incidental. For all the noisy, atmospheric experiments Underoath’s past two albums showed, Ø (Disambiguation) finds the band returning to the far more challenging process of simply writing great songs. Electronics still burble beneath the surface (the Deftones-gorgeous ‘Paper Lung’), and dissonant guitars still carve huge swaths (the Botch-in-a-blender ‘Illuminator’), but these touches serve the music, rather than dominating it. Ø (Disambiguation) is the first Underoath album in years that you’ll walk away humming–even as you pick the shrapnel out of your ears.”

Alex DiStefano of the LA WEEKLY.COM described the album as follows:

“…a roller coaster of emotional songs that conveyed melody and angst. Spencer Chamberlain’s vocals succeeded in relaying to listeners a balanced duality between a heavy hitting aggro style, and melodic interludes of clear harmony through an assortment of distorted guitar riffs. This is for fans of Glassjaw, As I Lay Dying, Zao, Deftones and Killswitch Engage.” (September 16, 2010).

Following is the complete track list for Ø (DISAMBIGUATION):

1. In Division
2. Catch Myself Catching Myself
3. Paper Lung
4. Illuminator
5. Driftwood
6. A Divine Eradication
7. Who Will Guard the Guardians
8. Reversal
9. Vacant Mouth
10. My Deteriorating Incline
11. In Completion