Underoath is a Christian Metalcore band from Florida founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton in 1997. They are currently signed with Solid State Records, a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records, and are the label's most popular group.
Due to several line-up changes, none of Underoath's original members remain with the group (last original member, drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie left in 2010). With original vocalist Dallas Taylor, they released three albums with a more Deathcore inspired sound. Following his departure, Spencer Chamberlain became lead vocalist. The band then released New Sound Album They're Only Chasing Safety and Define the Great Line. These two albums have given them more mainstream and commercial success.
They have received two Grammy nominations in 2007 and 2010 respectively, and are about the most commercially and critically successful Christian rock/metal band out there, garnering a fanbase even from non-religeous music fans.
Members:
- Spencer Chamberlain - Lead vocals (since 2003)
- Grant Brandell – bass guitar (since 2002)
- Daniel Davison – drums (since 2010)
- Christopher Dudley – keyboards, synthesizers, samplers, programming (since 2000)
- Timothy McTague – lead guitar, backing vocals (since 2001)
- James Smith – rhythm guitar (since 2003)
Former members:
- Rey Anasco – bass guitar (1997–1999)
- Matthew Clark – bass guitar (2000–2001)
- Octavio Fernandez – rhythm guitar (2000–2003), bass guitar (1999–2000)
- Aaron Gillespie – drums, clean vocals (1997–2010)
- Luke Morton – lead guitar (1997–1999)
- Billy Nottke – bass guitar (2001–2002)
- Kelly Scott Nunn – rhythm guitar (2002–2003)
- Corey Steger – rhythm guitar (1998–1999), lead guitar (2000–2001), backing vocals (1998–2001)
- Dallas Taylor – lead vocals (1997–2003)
Discography:
- Act of Depression (1999)
- Cries of the Past (2000)
- The Changing of Times (2002)
- They're Only Chasing Safety (2004)
- Define the Great Line (2006)
- Lost in the Sound of Separation (2008)
- Ø (Disambiguation) (2010)
Tropes associated with Underoath:[]
- Album Title Drop: "We Are the Involuntary" does this for Lost in the Sound of Separation.
- Animated Music Video: For the song "Too Bright to See, Too Loud to Hear."
- Buried Alive: Touched on in the chorus of "In Division."
- Celebrity Resemblance: Spencer and Tyler Smith of The Word Alive could practically be brothers. And when Tyler substituted for Spencer after the latter fell ill during a tour, their own vocal similarities became apparent as well.
- Christian Rock: Naturally, though they have been shifting away from the genre a bit as of Ø (Disambiguation).
- Concept Album: Lost In The Sound of Separation" has many shades of this, with many songs merging into each other and each song telling some kind of story.
- Deathcore: Their very early work had shades of this, but it quickly lightened up.
- Fiery Redhead: Aaron.
- Green Eyed Red Head: Aaron, again.
- Metal Scream: Both Aaron and Spencer have utilized this on occasions.
- Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness: Their first two albums were 8-9. The Changing of Times is a 7 with moments of 8 and 9. They're Only Chasing Safety is mostly a 6. Define the Great Line and Lost in the Sound of Seperation are 7, with occasionally bordering on 8. Ø (Disambiguation) is mostly 8 with moments of 6 or 5.
- Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly: Have been catagorized as Metalcore for the most part, but have also been labeled Post-hardcore, Emo, Pop Punk (in their lighter songs) and Screamo.
- Perishing Alt Rock Voice: Spencer Chamberlain's "clean" vocals.
- Revolving Door Band: And how!
- Soprano and Gravel: Aaron (soprano) and Spencer (gravel). After Aaron's departure, Spencer has been doing both roles.
- Super Not-Drowning Skills: Spencer seems to be lip synching underwater in the video for "In Division."