Underoath: Discography Ranking

Underoath. A controversial yet well loved band that has one of the most expansive catalogs with a wide variety of genres. From the deathcore days, to the screamo/scene days, to now; Underoath are a well loved band that deserves to be celebrated so with that we will be exploring their discography and ranking it from worst to best just like with all of our discography rankings. This will be a tough voyage and we're willing to take on this task of ranking the discography for the rock band Underoath.

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Num. 8: "Act Of Depression" (1999)

The 90's underground christian rock scene was a game changing time for some bands getting their big breaks. Enter the early era of Underoath in their deathcore/grindcore phase with one of the most disappointing debut's to grace the late 90's. "Act Of Depression" simply put is a poorly produced, lazily crafted, and awkwardly paced effort that trails on senses of cringe when it comes to 90's deathcore; the overtly christian undertones are fine enough but they tend to border on overtly preachy making them seem out of place, the production from James Paul Wisner is rather dull, the vocals from Dallas Taylor are borderline unlistenable, and the music behind the tracks sound unfinished. To put it simply "Act Of Depression" is a bad record and an even worse record of it's time.

Num. 7: "Cries Of The Past" (2000)

The follow up to the band's first record is yet another instance where a follow up rides on the coattails of a previous release without expanding upon what was crafted previously. With "Cries Of The Past" the record feels like more of the same without much exploring in the genre; What this record does have however that the previous did not is cohesion, when listening to "Cries Of The Past" it feels more like a cohesive product than the previous release and some of the tracks on the record are strong compared to the previous release. While the love for this project is strong the ultimate product just seems to out of place in the world of deathcore despite the record's cohesion.

Num. 6: "The Changing Of Times" (2002)

"The Changing Of Times" is a pinnacle record in a lot of ways. It was a record that in a lot of ways started a new era for the band as the record feels like a predecessor to what the band would later craft down the road and what the band's sound would later become. For a screamo record of it's time it is a tough one to come back too but with the nostalgic factors coming into play it seems harsh to come at this record without finding positives. When The Sun Sleeps is a track that was big for the band and it's such a sign of what Underoath would later become, The Changing Of Times which is the title track is a massively underrated track that feels like it would've fit "They're Only Chasing Victory", and Angel Below is a thrashing tune with some of the best screaming vocals from Dallas Taylor. This record is not perfect but with the nostalgic factor and the fact that this record feels like the catalyst to future releases "The Changing Of Times" is a record that should be remembered as the starting point for what Underoath would become.

Num. 5: "Erase Me" (2018)

The band's comeback record "Erase Me" was a divisive release amongst the fanbase. While some fans loved the more industrial and hard rock vibe of the record others found the record to be unlistenable and a major sell out moment to the mainstream world. This record is flawed but there are a few tracks that hold the record up; It Has To Start Somewhere is a killer moment that opens up the record in traditional fashion, On My Teeth is a bombastic moment that throttles with some sludge metal attitude, Rapture is a fantastic alt rock track that sees Spencer Chamberlain's clean vocals take center stage, Hold Your Breath hits hard with some punk rock energy, No Frame gives off some Nine Inch Nails and Red vibes and it hits hard with industrial rock emotion, and I Gave Up is a phenomenal album closer that sends off the record with a heavy weight. "Erase Me" is not a perfect record but the record does hold some strong intensifying moments that holds with a emotional grudge with raw rock n' roll and electrifying industrial rock.

Num. 4: "They're Only Chasing Safety" (2004)

"They're Only Chasing Safety" saw the band taking on a whole new identity for themselves as they moved away from their era of deathcore and into an era of screamo. "Chasing Safety" is a prime example of screamo done right and the new found chemistry to then new vocalist Spencer Chamberlain and drummer Aaron Gillespie was much needed and found a new since of revitalizing for the band as a whole. The record's more "cleaned up" sound compared to early releases could seem jarring but the factors that come into play are so strong that this record should be held in a high regard; Young And Aspiring kicks off the record with a punch to the face, A Boy Brushed Red will hit some nostalgic nerves that will send you back to your emo days, Reinventing Your Exit is a sucker punch of a rock track that is still well loved by fans today, It's Dangerous Business is another moment that will satisfy nostalgia, and Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape which features Aaron Marsh of the band Copeland is a beautiful closing moment that sends the record out with a blaze of praise and worship. While some may see this record as a misstep and too much of a shake up in sound when it comes to previous releases; "They're Only Chasing Safety" has been holding it's own 16 years later and should still be regarded as one of screamo's best records that the genre has to offer.

Num. 3: "Lost In The Sound Of Separation" (2008)

As the years go on "Lost In The Sound Of Separation" always feels like the black sheep that doesn't get enough recognition in today's modern music scene as this record truly holds some of the band's best moments. "Sound" to put it lightly is a record filled with aggression and heartache as the band was filled with hatred during the recording of this record. While the record feels rough around the edges the record truly does hold some of the band's best heavy moments in their discography; Breathing In A New Mentality is a bombastic opener with some filthy riffs, A Fault Line, A Fault Of Mine is a ripper of a track filled with self inflicted aggression, Emergency Broadcast feels like some what of a catalyst to their material, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures is a track that feels very timely as we currently live in desperate times, and Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear is one of the band's best tracks for a reason as it's slow build comes with a satisfying payoff of loud guitars and the forceful chant of "Good God, can you still get us home?" sending the track off in a big way. While this record does indeed carry a similar weight to DTGL, the record feels like a forgotten masterpiece that deserves to be revisited.

Num. 2: "Define The Great Line" (2006)

Let's start off by saying this; "Define The Great Line" is a near perfect record and a perfect turn around from the early screamo and deathcore days of old while breathing in new life into a band that almost broke up by the time of the record's release. The record is filled with so much tension you can almost feel the tension soaring through the moment you hit play, which is something very few albums can do especially in today's modern music scene. In Regards To Myself is the perfect opener for this record as it's beginning warning of "Wake Up! Wake Up! My God!, This is not a test!" sets the tone for a memorable experience, A Moment Suspended In Time is a fantastic moment that gets the heart racing, You're Ever So Inviting is another moment that hits you with tenacity, Returning Empty Handed hits hard with a punishing wall of sound, and Writing On The Walls is a staple track for a reason as it's hooks are instantly catchy and gets engraved in your head as well as it's insane riffs and the dynamic between Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie's vocal chemistry works insanely well here. "Define The Great Line" is a fan favorite for a reason and it's love in the community is to be respected, simply put DTGL is a classic and is one of the best metalcore albums to come out in it's decade and it should be celebrated as such.

Num. 1: "Ø (Disambiguation)" (2010)

"Ø (Disambiguation)" is an achievement in music as a whole. Given the circumstances that they were dealt and the departure of Aaron Gillespie, DISAM was on the verge of being something different and out of the ordinary for Underoath as the band entered a new life while introducing new elements never before seen on an Underoath album. The textual dive that this record takes is almost shockingly different than any other Underoath album before it as this record tackles drug abuse head on with some of the most aggressive music that the band has put to tape; the music is very reminiscent of bands like Deftones & Norma Jean as the dark tones mixing with sludgy guitars and impeccable drumming from then new drummer Daniel Davison gives the record a sense of darkness and given the subject matter of the record then that darkness is welcomed. In Division is a phenomenal opener that hits hard with an energy of biblical proportions, Paper Lungs is a beautiful slow burner of a track that gives off so much Deftones energy, Illuminator is a throttling sense of purpose that sends the track off into a space of fast paced punk and hardcore riffage, Driftwood is another moment that gives off some Deftones vibes but also a more synth oriented sound given by keyboardist Chris Dudley, and the companion pieces Sunburnt and Unsound should be considered as the closing chapter of the book that is DISAM, and a perfect way to tie the knot on the end of an era. To put it simply "Ø (Disambiguation)" is their masterpiece; It's a record that before the reformation of the group was the perfect way to end off the band's career and it should regarded as the band's greatest achievement ever put to tape as it is the best record that the band has ever released.