Unearth: Watchers Of Rule

Boston’s metalcore stalwarts return to the top of the class

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Unearth have always been one of the most metal bands in the world of metalcore.

They’ve also always been one with the most noticeable DIY punk ethic… the most hardcore, if you like. And, after a couple of duffers, they’ve harnessed that power of old to create their best album since 2006’s III: In The Eyes Of Fire. This is brilliantly gruff and brutal stuff. Opener The Swarm rides in on a sea of blasting and blurred fingered fretwork that is far closer to Lamb Of God than Blessthefall, and sets the tone for a record that rarely takes its foot off the accelerator pedal. Ken Susi and Buz McGrath prove again that they are two of metal’s most underrated guitarists and Trevor Phipps never once strays into the ‘clean’ vocal style that is so depressingly prevalent in metalcore’s class of 2014. And, frankly, there isn’t a single band in that class who could deliver a grinding stomper like Never Cease. It’s not new, it’s becoming less and less fashionable, but it’s what Unearth do. And they do it better than the rest.

Via Century Media

Stephen joined the Louder team as a co-host of the Metal Hammer Podcast in late 2021, eventually becoming a regular contributor to the magazine. He has since written hundreds of articles for Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Louder, specialising in punk, hardcore and 90s metal. He also presents the Trve. Cvlt. Pop! podcast with Gaz Jones and makes regular appearances on the Bangers And Most podcast.