Unearth - III: In The Eyes Of Fire

by Adam Anonymous

Very little separates the likes of American crunchers Unearth from the dreaded nu-metal tag

""The New Wave Of American Heavy Metal might be flourishing, but it’s doubtful it’ll leave a legacy to rival the British equivalent born a quarter of a century previously.""

Now don’t take this the wrong way, righteous metalcore kids, but in reality very little separates the likes of American crunchers Unearth from the dreaded nu-metal tag. No-nonsense down-tuned riffs that dispense with frivolities, plus a fondness for Pantera, won’t differentiate you greatly. But then there’s not that much wrong with the cream of supposed nu-metal anyhow: Slipknot are genius; hell, even early Limp Bizkit had its moments.

If music reflects society, then Boston is one narked city right now. Converge, Isis and Unearth, to name just three, make for a fearsome combination of alumni. ‘III: In The Eyes Of Fire’ lacks the subtly of an ‘Oceanic’ or all out immensity of a ‘You Fail Me’, however.

To their credit, Unearth have gone unrepentantly on record to claim how they’re deliberately pushing against the crossover ambitions so many of their teenage girl-appeasing contemporaries pander to.

Yet over 11 unrelenting tracks, guitar attacks that begin as blistering soon sound hackneyed within their own context, merging into one muddy mess of chugging, near-tuneless dirge. It all starts promisingly, ‘This Glorious Nightmare’ speeding through an abrasive opening four minutes with the energy of a hyperactive toddler. Past midway though and ‘Unstoppable’ could become more threat than song title.

The New Wave Of American Heavy Metal – eat that one Iron Maiden – might be flourishing, but on this evidence it’s doubtful it’ll leave a legacy to rival the British equivalent born a quarter of a century previously.

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