Code Orange “Underneath” Album Review

To call Code Orange one of the most ambitious bands in hardcore and metal right now would be an understatement; Yet, this ambition has nothing to do with their invasion of the mainstream, winning a Grammy or getting booked for Coachella – All their ambition is for the art itself, and breaking boundaries that will leave lasting effects on their listeners. While they have already been well-known as their own eccentric breed of hardcore, their fourth album Underneath is more psychotic and experimental than anything they’ve done before.

Underneath is (as drummer/vocalist Jami Morgan described it) a psychological experience that fuses elements of hardcore, nu metal, industrial rock, goth rock and electronic, and creates conversations between the sudden changes in energy with glitchy effects, blaring guitars and mutinous screams. It’s a symphony of mayhem that is calculated yet chaotic. In regards to the album’s message, Morgan explained in his interview with Kerrang!, “It’s about peeling back the reasons why we create barriers and defenses for ourselves. Going inside, going underneath your own skin to see what makes you do what you do and why.” This also ties into technology and how it has affected the evolution of society. “It’s about being trapped by technology and how that affects your mindset, living as an eternal passenger and having to watch life from that perspective instead of actually doing something.” The industrial sound effects used to accent parts of guitar riffs and drum beats bring that message to life, and with so many different things coming at you from different angles, it creates a multi-dimensional world around you. When listened to with headphones, it feels like you’re inside of a sci-fi horror film.

The intro track “(deeperthanbefore)” sucks you right into the superficially infested dystopia where humans are controlled by technology – the harsh truth of the world right now that hides “underneath” the way our day-to-day lives are presented online. The ominous “Swallowing the Rabbit Whole” rips the bandage right off, compelling you to acknowledge and confront the side of yourself that’s trapped in the digital world.         

Now we need to talk about the substantial vocal performance of guitarist Reba Meyers. Her distinctive and memorable cleans on the title track (and first single) left a promising first impression for the album, and that impression held up well. The soaring melodies of “Sulfur Surrounding” are the closest Code Orange have ever come to making a ballad, showcasing her vigorous belts. With songs like “Autumn and Carbine” and “A Sliver”, they have proven they can experiment with more melodic and versatile sounds without losing any of their edge or cutting any of their roots. The haunting resonance of Meyers’ voice makes lines like “It’s hard to see anything when you can see everything” echo on in your head so you don’t forget them.

The gloomy “Who I Am” is about the normalization of our obsession with stalking and studying each other’s lives and behaviors through a screen. The music mirrors the deceiving nature of online presentation, giving false impressions of the direction the song is going. The “dreamy” ambience gradually dissipates, revealing the eerie and shadowy core lurking underneath. The agitated feel then immediately returns with the erratic guitars, squealing pinch harmonics and thundering dissonance of “Cold.Metal.Place”. The experimental elements don’t take away from the heaviness at all, and only add to the freakiness.

Even with more electronic and experimental elements than ever before, Code Orange still manage to maintain their raw and gruesome tone without sounding overproduced. The most electronic-based song on the record, “The Easy Way”, confirms that on its own, and includes Morgan’s strongest clean vocals yet. The grit and boldness in his delivery of the chorus is only one of the many surprises this track has to offer. He also kills it on “Back Inside the Glass” with his vehement screams accompanied by screeching guitars, pounding drums, glitchy audio skips, and unwavering hardcore punk energy.

Underneath is a strong concept album that does more than simply tell a story. This album is an intense, immersive experience that paints vivid pictures all around you, making you think more deeply about the normalized programming of humanity. It has many moods that undergo turbulent changes, but each mood is cleverly connected in a way that maintains a solid, cohesive flow. With their pioneering creativity, there is no doubt Code Orange deserves all the attention they are getting, mainstream or not.

Favorite tracks: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole, Who I Am, Sulfur Surrounding