BEARTOOTH | Disease | Album Review

Hardcore punk is a mainstay of rock music right now. That's nothing to scoff at or say isn't true because several bands from the genre have gotten big either through word of mouth, promotion, or radio play, but in 2018, it is safe to say that hardcore bands and even metalcore bands in general are just as prevalent as they've ever been. In the case of Beartooth, that popularity additionally had a little bit to do with their background. Beartooth's lead vocalist, Caleb Shomo, was the replacement vocalist of the highly reviled Attack Attack after one of many departures of Austin Carlile from bands. After Attack Attack's breakup in 2013, it felt natural for there to be a side project, with Beartooth being just that for him. It is similar to the Of Mice And Men story only it is not even close to being as jam packed with changes in the lineup over the years. Beartooth has been more consistent in that department. They're also consistent in their style and songwriting as many of their songs speak about the protagonist feeling miserable and longing for a hug. It's a quirk that could draw away listeners due to it being everywhere in this kind of music, but in some instances they know how to make it work. On the band's junior album "Disease", this seems like the perfect moment to show fans and non-fans what they're all about as far as their music is concerned. But, the question is whether it pans out well for them or not. 

The album opens up with direct focus on kinesis with "Greatness Or Death" and the title track, both of which showcase the band's overall style in different ways. "Greatness Of Death" is the logical aggressive opening track featuring some very strong riffs and an angry vocal performance from Caleb Shomo who shouts his way through this song's three or so minutes. The breakdown of the cut is noteworthy to bring up as it is one of the best breakdowns you'll find on this album. "Disease", the record's second single, is a little bit more toned down taking its form as a more hook-centered track, and to give it credit, it does its job well. The hook in the chorus is very strong backed up against the start-and-stop guitar work and the decent drumwork supporting it. Lyrically, these tracks are pretty much what you'd expect out of Beartooth, with more references to not feeling happy mentally and hoping that "clarity will be the cure for the disease". That's not a knock against the two opening tracks though because as far as they're concerned, the elements behind the lyricism make it pop out much more. It's similar to a fast food restaurant one day deciding to offer a side order that a professional chef would make along with your meal. Yes, the lyricism is pretty much more of the same throughout the album, but I guarantee you there are still good moments throughout this 12-track affair.

As for a majority of this record, however, you do get some typical fare from it that doesn't resonate as well. "Afterall" sounds like every other song of its style with the only difference being Caleb Shomo's vocals and the lyrics constructed in a different way that still sounds familiar, and it's a miss. "Used And Abused", probably my least favorite song on the album, starts off with a sorta cheesy metalcore riff that feels like it was lifted from one of the bad metalcore bands, and while it's not a bad track in any way it just isn't the album's strong point. "Believe" has some millennial whoops featured and it feels like a cookie-cutter inspirational track along with some cliched writing. But once you get past tracks like those, there are definitely good tracks that have a decent flow and prove that there's talent in this group. "Bad Listener" is a very relentless track in the same fashion as "Greatness Or Death" and features a strong hook that can really get stuck in your head and resonate and "You Never Know", the track preceding it is another solid track like the titular cut that is perfect for radio play. But, the real curveball is the final track "Clever", which features such a strong instrumental that is put up so well against Shomo's vocals, and lyrics that are actually well thought out and constructed. There is legitimate time put into this cut and it's probably one of my favorite songs of 2018. It proves so well that Beartooth has the capability to deliver a great song and it can be construed as quality work. 

Beartooth is a band that has grown on me quite a bit over time. When I first heard their debut album, "Disgusting", in 2014, I really didn't care for it at the time. To me, it just felt like everything else that was coming out at the time. I could tell that there were an amalgamation of elements that could work, but it didn't hit me that hard. Hearing the followup album "Aggressive" in 2016, I started to notice that Beartooth were trying to do something that wasn't exactly original or mindblowing, but could make music that had a good vibe to it. It wasn't until this album though that I began to really appreciate that about this band. I'm not saying that this is the album of the year or the most thought-provoking set of tracks of all time because there are tracks on this album that feel like they blend in with the crowd a little too much. However, with tracks like "Clever" and "You Never Know" on this album there is a foundation to what this band can accomplish. You can tell that they are trying to make something that goes around the same carousel but still presents to a listeners some gems. Is this Top 10 material? No, but for someone who went into this album with middle-of-the-road expectations, I'm a little bit surprised at the outcome. Overall, Beartooth's third offering is good punk/metalcore for fans of the genre and it will definitely cater to people who are on board with this band and have been since their first album. 

RATING: 7/10 

Leave your thoughts about this album in the comments section below. Was this album good or bad? Was it a surprise or a disappointment? All you have to do is type it in. Everybody's opinions matter even if they are different than mine. Scamp4553 will be back with more reviews and content coming your way soon.