Underoath - Lost In The Sound Of Separation
 

This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I have ever had to write. I am a massive fan of Underoath and have been since their first album although their second album is when I became a TRUE fan. What I loved about Underoath is their ability with each album to improve on their sound and almost re-invent themselves. Obviously it's still the same band but through this sound progression it kept me VERY interested in Underoath and I always found myself coming back for more. That is until the release of their new album "Lost in The Sound of Separation" - Underoath's fourth studio full length effort. On the first listen through the album I find that it sounds identical in approach to their 2006 smash album "Define The Great Line" - except maybe slightly heavier and with less melody present. For a band that I fell in love with due to their musical progression a very stagnant next album instantly hit me hard.

I am a music producer and when "Define The Great Line" was released loads of the bands coming through the studio would be playing it, singing it or mentioning it. Since the release of their new effort "Lost in the Sound of Separation" I haven't heard a peek from anyone. No one is recommending this album to me and, in fact, weirdly many people don't even seem to know that it is even out.

What makes this review hard to write is the fact that this album is very good as a standalone album. Excellent in fact. It has the perfect harmony of aggression and softness rolled into one nice big sounding package. If you hadn't heard any previous Underoath efforts this would definitely get you into this band, the beauty of the things they do, and the sounds they make. However, if you have heard "Define The Great Line" there will be moments in this that will remind you of that album so much you might even forget you are listening to a new Underoath album. That's the problem. The songs at times just sound like identical copies of previous Underoath songs.

In the weeks I have had this CD I find myself coming back to it over and over again because I really enjoy it and want to love it. With each complete listen I enjoy it more but I also hate it more. As my love for the album grows so does my disappointment in it. Even a slight musical direction change would have worked for me. Maybe an experimentation with different keys or different vocal melodies. Less screaming, or more screaming. More brutal or less brutal. It really honestly wouldn't matter but in reality "Lost in the Sound of Separation" is as close to a carbon copy of "Define The Great Line" that you could get on a record.

Not sure if Underoath were being forced to record another album either by their label or by the need for money but I would really suggest that these guys hold off from making another album until they are ready and have another amazing album to make because ultimately the single most important thing for any good album is the songs. I would say that this album dropped too close to their last and paled in comparison due to it's blatant lack of originality where it's predecessor did the exact opposite and crossed new boundaries. HOWEVER, if you never have checked out Underoath before then do so because this album will blow you away!

www.myspace.com/underoath