On Friday, October 13th, hard rock/metalcore heavyweights BEARTOOTH released their fifth
studio album, The Surface. The album gives listeners an in depth and deeply personal look into
frontman Caleb Shomo’s journey to improve his mental health which includes overcoming
alcohol addiction.
The record weaves themes of self love and acceptance into the reality of realizing mindsets
need to change and how much those changes affect the people around us. In true Beartooth
fashion the album opens with a blistering title track that sets the tone for the rest of the
record. “The Surface” is an unrelenting look at the darkness surrounding oneself as they realize
they’ve hit rock bottom. The next five tracks have been released as singles with “Riptide”
leading the charge with one of the biggest, catchiest choruses that Shomo has written. But
don’t let the undercurrent of the driving bass, ferocious guitar, and driving rhythm of the drums
fool you. The singles’ lyrical content are noticeably more positive in nature compared to
previous albums prompting fans to coin the term “positivity-core”. And for good reason. When
Shomo belts out, “I’m exactly who I wanna be,” during “Might Love Myself”, it’s difficult not to
believe him.
The next couple of tracks transition into more difficult topics such as loss and carrying the
burden of struggling alone and this where Shomo is at his most vulnerable lyrically. Written for
his wife, the raw emotion of “Look The Other Way” showcases his ability to balance vulnerable
vocals with powerful lyrics.
The album culminates in messages of hope for the future with “My New Reality” and in what
Shomo stated in a recent Spotify listening party is his favorite track, “I Was Alive”. He leans
heavily into his pop influences in the swells of the chorus of “My New Reality” while “I Was
Alive” urges listeners to live their lives to the fullest because life is short.
Which brings us to the runtime of the album. At just under 38 minutes Shomo and company
waste no time in making an impact with their messaging and every track packs a punch, not just
lyrically, but sonically. Easily transitioning from the growls Beartooth fans know and love to
emotional clean vocals, Shomo hits every note ushering in a new era not just for himself, but
for Beartooth and their fans.
Track Listing
The Surface
Riptide
Doubt Me
Better Me
Might Love Myself
Sunshine
What’s Killing You
Look The Other Way
What Are You Waiting For
My New Reality
I Was Alive
Beartooth recently announced a massive U.S. tour with The Plot In You, Invent Animate, and
Sleep Theory in support. Click here to see to see a list of dates:
great analysis that includes reasoning behind change in musical direction