Beartooth – The Surface (Album Review)
Beartooth – The Surface
Released: October 13, 2023
Lineup
Caleb Shomo // Vocals, Instrumentals, Producer, Mixer and Masterer
Online
For the past ten years, we’ve witnessed Caleb Shomo‘s return from rock bottom through his expressive outlet, affectionately known as Beartooth. During that time, he maintained control of the band (and his own personal life) and released five albums that detailed the struggles he faced during his 20s. We all came along for that journey, whether it be from the depths of hell with albums like Disgusting and Aggressive, through to learning to understand and accept his Disease that lurks Below…
And now, the “final” chapter of that difficult journey arrives with the fifth album The Surface, which gear shifts in a new direction, one full of positivity, optimism and encouragement to not dwell on the past, but celebrate the future and new life that’s ahead of you.
Commencing with the electric title track ‘The Surface‘, we’re met with a cheeky Shomo telling us to “turn it up” before screaming the words ‘Living reckless living fast don’t have time for regret / might have pushed it to the limit but I’m not dead yet’ before an ominous display of backing instrumentals draw us in for another signature Beartooth banger. It’s got all the trademarks we’ve grown to love, including the chunky riffs, melodic highs, a rock and roll worthy breakdown and plenty of inspiring lyrics about overcoming struggles. As he sings ‘All my worries were a waste of time / made the world so blurry I was going blind’, Caleb acknowledges that drawing attention to negatives (like he has throughout Beartooth‘s journey) has been part of the reason why he’s struggled to move on, and as he stated in the release of ‘Riptide‘ we’re seeing a departure from the depressive themes in favour of motivational anthems and songs of encouragement to help listener’s move forward and not dwell on the past… but for those of you who still need to relate to something heavy and hard-hitting, there’s still a few neck-snappers floating around for you… more on that soon.
We’ve been sitting on ‘Riptide‘ since July 2022 and after all this time, the anthem still packs a huge punch. Caleb shines in the first track he released that focuses on moving on from the negatives and encouraging a healthier way of living – with some sick riffs and that tasty breakdown ‘wooo’. It was the song that signalled a venture away from the self-loathing Caleb, in favour of a new approach in which he’s leading us out of the darkness he once created with his music. ‘Doubt Me‘ is fantastic for two reasons: One is that it’s the first Beartooth song to ever feature the word “fuck” on it, and secondly, it’s a newfound jam that not only encourages self-worth, but holds a BIG middle finger up to those who got in his way.
Having witnessed Caleb grow from the 15-year-old in Attack Attack to the empowered 30-year-old ready to take on the world in Beartooth, it’s hard to believe it’s the same person, but that’s what you get when you knuckle down and work on making yourself better, rather than always focusing on the negatives. It’s heavy in a hard rock sense – rather than like the metalcore roots that made the band a household name – but the musical progression and state of mind shift need to be commended. How is this the same person who once sang songs such as ‘The Lines‘, ‘I Have A Problem‘, ‘Hated‘ and ‘King Of Anything‘? Now he’s screaming the following and making sure everyone hears him.
‘Remember every time you DOUBT ME / it makes me stronger than before when you DOUBT ME / it fuels the fire even more / so give me all you got, I can’t wait to watch you rot / if there’s one thing you should learn about me / don’t ever FUCKING DOUBT ME’
Next up, we take a sharp turn away from pre-conceived expectations and come face to face with brand new ground on ‘The Better Me‘. To say I was blindsided when I first heard this country rock-esque hit would be an understatement, but after sitting on the song for a few weeks, the intentions have been better understood and it’s grown to be one of my favs from The Surface. We’re also met with the first-ever collaboration on a Beartooth song, with US country rock superstar HARDY laying down vocals alongside Shomo in one of the most surprising team-ups since Parkway Drive hooked up with Jenna McDougall (Tonight Alive/Hevenshe) on the waltz-worthy ‘A Deathless Song‘. The empowerment and self-loving themes are back in full force as both singers touch on the past, but shift focus to bettering one’s self for the future. I’ll be the first to admit this, I usually HATE country music. I just never found a way to connect to the farm-emo vibes that most songs have in them, but this hybrid of country meets hard rock is just catchy as fuck and I cannot stop myself from listening to it. Both HARDY and Caleb complement each other’s vocal range with those soaring guitars behind them. I can without a doubt foresee this being the bridge track for both genres to come together (akin to that of metalcore and EDM in recent years) and if it opens a world of opportunity for Beartooth to be seen by more potential fans, then what’s not to love about that?
Now before you get started metalcore purists, stop. This isn’t about you and what YOU want, so if you don’t vibe with the track, just hit skip because we get straight back into regularly scheduled heaviness with the sing-a-long jam ‘Sunshine‘. Another hybrid of sorts, this one combines screams, heavy riffs, and that infamous tempo change that’s now become a staple moment during Beartooth shows. With all the trademarks of this band’s signature sound (continuing on from previous album Below), but with plenty of motivational lyrics to get you back up on the horse.
The final five tracks on the album are all new, unheard material, so let’s hook in and see where they sit amongst the rest – starting with ‘What’s Killing You‘. Do you like screams, nasty riffs and thumping drums? You’re gonna enjoy the fuck out of this one which is sung from two perspectives – one of someone struggling with relapsing, and the other of a helpless loved one witnessing it first-hand. It’s got those hard-hitting relatable lyrics that draw you in, and Shomo’s ebb and flow between melody and screaming sections are done with precision and efficiency. For the ‘woah ohhh’ fans, you’ve got plenty of those throughout to learn, so strap yourself in and get ready for a new moshpit inducing anthem. Things then slow down dramatically as the acoustic guitar is whipped out for ‘Look The Other Way‘. The feels are full on with this ballad as Caleb sings about sharing his pain and struggles with others in order to stay relevant with his audience. You’ll be holding back the tears as he sings ‘I go off the rails every chance that I’m given / Is it worth my life if it means I might fit in?’ and this may just make you think twice about expecting more from a man who has put the darkest moments of his personal life on display for the majority of his career. But for those who have found themselves on a similar path as Caleb, you may just use this as a new theme song to take control of your own narrative.
It has the signature sounds of a climax track – picturing the sparklers and confetti going off as the band prepare to leave the stage – so if they get to the point of dropping ‘The Last Riff‘ from the setlist, I hope they consider adding this in its place.
‘What Are You Waiting For‘ is a fast-paced radio rock jam that’s full of chuggy guitar parts, and action-packed drum fills. The ‘woah ohhhs’ return, the singing parts are inviting and there’s a slick AC/DC-esque guitar solo that introduces us to the third act and it’s thicc breakdown. Despite the solo, it borders on similar terrain for Beartooth and I found myself not connecting to it like the previous tracks on the album. ‘My New Reality’ on the other hand, is another balladesque track focusing on Caleb’s newfound lease on life. It’s not the same old copy-paste from previous releases though, this one adds new sounds and elements to it, creating an alluring piece not quite heard before in Tooth’s catalogue (that is until the breakdown hits). As he belts out the words ‘I got fucking everything in front of me / turned into the person I was born to be / trying to make these memories and legacies / living on for centuries / I think my wildest dream is my new reality’ we get a clear understanding of his intentions with making music and motivating the masses, instead of falling back on old habits and focusing on the negatives of the past. He’s stepped up to the plate to be the leader he was born to be and instead of dragging us back a few years, he’s leading the charge into the future, and it’s absolutely awe-inspiring.
The closing track ‘I Was Alive‘ brings back some of those country/radio rock influences, whilst still retaining that new hard rock edge. Self-reflection emotions can be felt from start to end on this number and instead of leaving us with an overbearing feeling of remorse (like on closing tracks on previous releases) this one embraces the light and invokes a sense of hope and understanding of your purpose in life. Shomo’s infectious reflection on his own struggles and profound rebirth are present throughout and you can’t help but feel the positive energy in his delivery. Gone are the days of wallowing and focusing on the negative aspects he’s encountered, instead he’s leading strugglers to salvation and reminding them that life is a journey that you’re not just living, but you’re alive for – feeling and enduring everything she throws at you in the process.
As someone who has personally connected with Caleb’s journey, I find myself on a very similar trajectory as the man behind the music and know there will be countless others who are on the same path, utilising his music and messaging as a means to understand and take control of the chokehold of mental health that plagues society. Not only has Beartooth become a platform for Caleb to express his deepest darkest moments with the disease that’s plagued his life, but he’s come out on top and proven that no matter how hard life gets, you will overcome your bouts if you put in the work and focus on the positives life throws at you. That’s the overall story arch I picked up from this guitar-driven release – and it’s exactly what the man stated upon first announcing The Surface to us.
I go further into the subject matter with Caleb Shomo in an upcoming interview (which will be revealed in due course), but the innovation this man has made through the storytelling of this Disgusting Aggressive Disease Below The Surface needs to be commended. The way he’s taken us on an adventure of highs, and plenty of dark and twisted lows is nothing short of inspirational. By capping it all off with this closing chapter, we see a role model in the making hellbent on encouraging positive change in the world and the way we look at ourselves in the mirror.
Beartooth – The Surface tracklisting
1. The Surface
2. Riptide
3. Doubt Me
4. The Better Me (ft. Hardy)
5. Might Love Myself
6. Sunshine
7. What’s Killing You
8. Look The Other Way
9. What Are You Waiting For
10. My New Reality
11. I Was Alive
Rating: 9/10
The Surface is out on October 13th via Red Bull Records. Pre-order here
Review by Paul ‘Browny’ Brown @brownypaul
