Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Underoath - Ø (Disambiguation) (2010)
At the center of metalcore is the twilight zone between heavy metal and post-hardcore. It seemed like Underoath was going to take the post-hardcore direction, but add in a little sludge and both sides were in good balance. The Changing of Times was their last album with Dallas Taylor before Spencer Chamberlain took the band into commercial accessibility with their 4th album that wasn't really in a stellar stylistic direction. They were ultimately one of the most prominent mid-2000s emo acts, and it was a dreadful time in their history, both my thoughts on the album and their touring issues. Luckily, those problems were wiped away in Lost in the Sound of Separation, and the greatness was maintained in their last album before their two-year split, Ø (Disambiguation)! A clever way of self-titling but might confused for Wikipedia users.
It's highly likely that Underoath would never return to the black/death metal-inspired roots of the first two albums (now almost impossible because Corey Steger is gone from this world, RIP), but there's no point to compare these two different eras for different audiences. With that said, death metal purists might not find a lot redeeming in this album, but any hardcore punk fans looking for death metal-like aggression without actually heading to that genre are at the right place. There is a bit of post-hardcore around, while fortunately not in the same poppy level as Define the Great Line and closer to the perfection of Lost in the Sound of Separation.
"In Division" is a superb opener! Aaron Gillespie was absent for this album in both the drums and clean vocals, but Spencer's cleans that he uses with his usual screams keep the manliness factor going. No lie, I watched the music video for this song on TV long ago (at around the same time as "Writing on the Walls") during my earlier epic metal taste, but it was until in the center between then and now when I became fully interested in this band during my current modern heavier era. While I enjoy this exciting sound, I love the band in the albums where Aaron is around, though their older stuff. This album is brilliant killer face-blasting metalcore, though it hasn't reached the epic height of Lost in the Sound of Separation but it's very close. They should definitely have more success than Tool. Christian metalcore for the win! "Catch Myself Catching Myself" takes some composition inspiration from sludge metal acts such as Isis. "Paper Lung" sounds a little more alternative than the rest, but like those other two music videos, this one is also what ignited a slight spark of interest in Underoath that didn't fully began until when a different song from the band was used in a TheOdd1sOut video. This is closer to a sludgy metalcore mix a bit like early He is Legend, especially in the intense last minute. I ain't sorry when I say this is much better than their recent pop rock sh*t.
"Illuminator" comes some of the most extreme intensity since 10 years prior while in their current style. Then we have a one-minute experimental track "Driftwood". Then the guitar tone goes chaotic almost as much as Soilent Green in "A Divine Eradication". That song and "Who Will Guard the Guardians?" continue the post-metal passages of Isis.
"Reversal" is another one of Christopher Dudley's experimentations. It's the band's own Linkin Park "Session"! For the next song, "Vacant Mouth", clearly it sounds like a contributing factor to influencing Dir En Grey's chaotic alt-metal 2010s era. "My Deteriorating Incline" continues that kind of sound but with an acceptably accessible spin. This wild ride of an album ends with the post-metal closer, "In Completion" that almost works as a metaphor for the completion of the band's initial journey.
Ø (Disambiguation) is an album I would definitely return to any time, bringing back a bit of their underground intensity to spice up their current style that they've strictly stuck to. Surely it can please open-minded metalheads enough to forgive the band for their softer phase. It really stands tall as the band's then-final album, with the members taking it to new territories while restoring a bit of the heavier legacy they left behind without actually becoming like that. It's sad that they would split up afterwards for two years and their heaviness stagnated for their comeback album, but it was an interesting journey so far, and I'm grateful for this band. Don't break the Underoath!
Favorites: "In Division", "Paper Lung", "Illuminator", "Who Will Guard the Guardians?", "Vacant Mouth", "In Completion"