Unearth - III: In the Eyes of Fire (2006)Release ID: 4173
After the superb The Oncoming Storm, Unearth gained huge mainstream fame in the hardcore and metal communities for releasing what melodic metalcore really sounds like; no sung choruses or pig squeals, just sweet shouting for the vocals, and guitars playing clean technical riffing and a few tapping solos. The breakdowns in almost every song aren't so wonderful, but they are when you get used to enjoying the experience. They're true metalcore ninjas!
One notable thing different in III: In The Eyes of Fire is the production. The previous album triggered incredible production done well by professional producer Adam Dutkiewicz who plays in Killswitch Engage and produced many other metalcore albums. For this album, the producer is the older and more experienced Terry Date, and the band wrote and played lots of songs in the studio. You might hate the different production, but you just need to let it grow on you to enjoy it. The quality is more organic and natural. Although this album doesn't pack a punch as big as the previous album and the vocals are fuzzier, the band still feels like one you are destined to listen to.
"This Glorious Nightmare" is the aptly-named opener that's almost weaker than the other songs and should've been placed later in the album. With that, you know this album is gonna be more collective than concerted. "Giles" is based on Giles Corey, a 17th century farmer who was accused of witchcraft and was crushed to death by stones. That song should've been the album's opener, all fun and metal with enjoyable guitar leads and drum fills. On second thought, "March of the Mutes" (based on the Great Fire of Rome) should've really been the album opener followed by "Giles" and then "This Glorious Nightmare", starting with a dramatic guitar intro before really kicking in killer metalcore action. "Sanctity of Brothers" is another killer metalcore song, this time more thrashy.
"The Devil Has Risen" sounds closer to technical melodeath with impressive intensity. Same with "This Time Was Mine", starting with Nevermore-like riffing. The technical intensity comes in yet again on "Unstoppable", one of only a few Unearth songs to surpass the 5-minute mark, and they're unstoppable throughout that length. Incredible!
"So It Goes" is another song to surpass the 5-minute mark, and it sounds like a sequel to the previous album's "Zombie Autopilot", especially in the lead. Sadly, that "sequel" attempt is just pathetic. The dueling solo is still excellent, though. I definitely prefer "Zombie Autopilot" over that song any day. "Impostors Kingdom" has some killer tech-death power. "Bled Dry" is a little too excessive in the breakdowns, and the last breakdown with the screams of "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!" sounds a bit like one of the more aggressive songs by Linkin Park in the older Hybrid Theory (EP and album)-era. The only track that's kinda bad and one of the many reasons why this album can never get a perfect 5-star rating is the 3-minute outro "Big Bear and the Hour of Chaos". You might be listening to that track and thinking, "Were those guys drunk?!?" Yes, they actually were drunk off a liquor brand called "Big Bear", and it took a full hour of chaos to record it, hence that track title.
III: In the Eyes of Fire is not terribly bad at all, but it's not really different from The Oncoming Storm. But at least after this album, they would never go the alt-metal "sung choruses" route taken by All That Remains. This album might not be different, but their next album would be in the concept. But for now, enjoy the 44 minutes of chaos!
Favorites: Giles, March of the Mutes, Sanctity of Brothers, Unstoppable, Impostors Kingdom
