Music Review: Underoath - Disambiguation

Review by Alex Bridgeforth

Underoath has released its seventh album, “Ø (Disambiguation).” It has been 11 years since Underoath’s debut and the band has grown into one of the premier Christian metalcore bands today. This is one of the more lyrically and musically consistent albums for them thus far.

Buy Disambiguation by Underoath on CD!

The band’s songs have metaphoric lyrics. “In Division,” the first track on the album, is about arguing with yourself. The chorus talks about wanting to reset and rewind, as if the songwriter regrets a decision or choice. It sounds close to what Paul said in Romans 7:15. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

The album mellows with “Paper Lung.” The song is about giving in after trying to fight back. The writer explains that there is no point to fight the current, so just breathe in and give up. The final line goes, “I watch it take you, then I walk away.” It is like watching someone struggle after refusing to listen to guidance.

After “Paper Lung,” the band turns up the volume with “Illuminator.” The character here is lost and does not remember where he is. An interesting phrase here is, “Alone in a room filled with the darkness of light.” Underoath often uses such incongruent lyrics. As the song continues, the character begins to remember that he is caught. He is some type of psycho and is locked up.

“Driftwood” is a short song at just two minutes and 59 seconds. It is another song about falling away for a belief. It is a depressing song.  “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32).

“A Divine Eradication” and “Who Will Guard the Guardians” pick the album back up. The lyrics of “Who Will” speak of the morally barren culture of American youth today. It speaks from a group’s perspective of how they are done dragging through the mud. They cry out for God because they realize that they are lost and helpless and feel forgotten. They are preaching of revolt. “We stood by defeat for so long,” the group cries. The song is passionate about turning against false beliefs.

“Reversal” is a short interlude into “Vacant Mouth.” It is another song about turning against a power. But it leads to the self-reflection of “My Deteriorating Incline.” The final lyrics of the song give the picture, “I’ll change for the better. It cannot get much worse. I’ll swallow my own pride and then accept defeat.” We cannot get away from the fact that every decision we make has consequences whether intended or not. This song is all about accepting the consequences of choices.

The album ends with a great ballad, “In Completion.” The writer speaks to the audience about the journey throughout the album. “We can watch the city descend behind the skyline. On our backs, we float away. Now forget about the way you used to be.” It is a piece that provokes the listener to reflect on the previous 10 tracks. The song is a terrific finish to a story-filled album.