UNEARTH

www.unearth.tv

Unearth III: In The Eyes Of Fire

Metal Blade (2006)

 www.metalblade.com

reviewed by Sully Payton
 

When Unearth unleashed Unearth III: In the Eyes of Fire (Metal Blade), message boards started lighting up with debates about how this record compared to what is seen as the standard-bearer for this band, The Oncoming Storm. Fans were clearly torn. Could this new album be even better? Was it too over-produced? Was Unearth trying too hard? Quite frankly, there's been too much damn hair splitting about this record. Let's just cut to the chase- In the Eyes of Fire is at least as good as The Oncoming Storm. Do we feel better now?

Unearth are clearly kicking all of the metalcore posers to the curb and bringing credibility back to the genre on III. The guitar combination of Ken Susi and Buzz McGrath is one of the most formidable in metal and they don't pull any punches here. Susi and McGrath issue hardcore beatdowns on songs like "March of the Mutes", swirling thrash riffs on "The Devil Has Risen"and "This Time Was Mine"and Swedish noodlings on "So It Goes". There is more air guitar fun on this record for the listener than probably any other record around this year. Lyrically, Trevor Phipps continues to the deliver the goods with his screaming/growling delivery working his way through an album full of songs detailing personal battles and the demons of others. Yet somehow, when the final song, the instrumental "Big Bear And The Hour Of Chaos" hits, the listener feels strangely uplifted. Singing about the dark side of life doesn't mean you have to walk away depressed.

Whether Unearth III: In The Eyes Of Fire is the best record in Unearth's catalog is irrelevant. Whether III is among the best metal records of the year is a better debate. Metalcore was clearly beginning to wear out its welcome until this record hit the shelves.