Chaos On The Coast

If you’re looking for hard-hitting metalcore, look no further than the great state of Massachusetts. Bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, and All That Remains have been delivering technically dazzling, melodic heavy metal for years. And rising above the ranks once again is Unearth, returning to melt some faces with their fifth full-length, Darkness In The Light.

Opening with majestic harmonized guitars, “Watch It Burn” sets the pace perfectly with the raging vocals of Trevor Phipps effortlessly supported by pinch drummer Justin Foley of Killswitch Engage. “Shadows In The Light” channels the best of old-school In Flames, and showcases the clean vocals of Ken Susi, and the agile guitar work of Susi and Buz McGrath. On “Arise The War Cry,” the band achieves face-melting nirvana with a perfect blend of blistering guitar solos and crushing breakdowns, before segueing into the closest thing to a ballad this record has to offer in “Equinox,” bookended by melancholy pianos and mournful guitars. “Disillusion” brings the album to a close, ably pairing demonic sludge with breakneck percussion and breathtaking neoclassical guitars, anchored by the throat-ripping screams of Phipps.

Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage, the sounds fit the music wonderfully. Everything is bright and clean, the low end punches through during the breakdowns, and the instrumentals balance well with the vocals. Dutkiewicz has further proven that if you need stellar metalcore production, he’s your first call.

Fans of the band, as well as the Massachusetts scene (Killswitch, Shadows Fall) will not want to miss this. As well, fans of guitar pyrotechnics must hear the twin dynamos of Susi and McGrath. It’s yet another perfect slice of New England metal.