Below

On their fourth full-length, Below, Ohio metalcore outfit Beartooth expand upon their aggressive, gnashing sound by incorporating old-school inspiration -- classic guitar noodling and arena-friendly gang choruses -- from the likes of Metallica, Pantera, and other heavy metal greats into the mix. Brutality is still the name of the game, but frontman Caleb Shomo injects a good deal of melody, especially on the surprisingly poppy highlights The Past Is Dead and the churning Fed Up, which manages to stuff a great singalong amongst crushing riffs and throat-shredding screams. Longtime fans need not fear that Shomo has gone too mainstream, as evidenced by ragers like Dominate, Phantom Pain, and Hell of It, which pack enough of a punch to keep the mosh pits bruised and bloody. Combining those catchy flourishes with the bands trademark heaviness creates a great balance, and Below winds up being one of Beartooths most enjoyable and immediate releases to date. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Crossfaithとも親交が深い米オハイオ産メタルコア・バンドの4作目は、史上もっとも攻撃性を重視した弾丸作だ。ダークな歌詞も相まって、心の奥底まで吐露したエモーションの濃度は過去最高レヴェルと言える。破壊力に長けたリフも強烈だけれど、ギターの音色はさまざまなチャレンジを試み、楽曲を華やかに彩っている。シンガロングを誘発する"The Past Is Dead"などスタジアム映えしそうなロック・アンセムも収録。
bounce (C)荒金良介