Act of Depression | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 4, 1999 [1] | |||
Recorded | March 1999 | |||
Studio | Audiolab Studios, Tampa, Florida | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 55:55 | |||
Label | Takehold | |||
Producer | James Paul Wisner | |||
Underoath chronology | ||||
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Act of Depression is the debut studio album by American rock band Underoath. Released July 4, 1999, through Takehold Records, the album was out of print for some time as there were only 2,000 copies originally released. [2] Solid State reissued this album alongside Cries of the Past on August 20, 2013. [3]
Underoath formed on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida by vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Luke Morton. [4] [5] Morton was the one who came up with the band's name. [6] The two would recruit guitarist Corey Steger, bassist Octavio Fernandez, and drummer Aaron Gillespie from Tampa. [7] [8] The members were all in high school at the time. [9]
After a year of touring throughout Florida, the band were signed to the Alabama-based label Takehold Records; around this time, Morton would leave the band. Underoath would record their debut album, Act of Depression, in March 1999. The album was produced by James Paul Wisner at Audiolab Studios in Tampa. [10] Act of Depression would be released four months later on July 4.
The style of this album has been described as metalcore with black and death metal influences. [3] [11] [12]
The hidden track in the original release, "Spirit of a Living God" begins with commentary by lead guitarist Corey Steger speaking about his description about God, talks about receiving Jesus Christ and that he dedicates the album to those that were victims to rape, suicide and depression. It features drummer Aaron Gillespie in the background of the commentary singing along with an acoustic guitar. After 15 seconds of silence (3:47 - 4:02), the song itself starts; it is an acoustic rock song that features singing vocals by Gillespie.[ citation needed ]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Alternative Press | [11] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [1] |
Act of Depression overall received mixed reviews.
Casey Boland of Alternative Press stated that the album sounds "hopelessly dated" by modern standards and that the songs are "complicated seemingly for the sake of being complicated." Boland wrote the album has "flashes of brilliance" but "doesn’t have the creative legs to stand the test of time." Boland concluded his review by saying "Despite its many flaws, Act Of Depression is a curious look at the humble beginnings of an influential band." [11]
Opening track, "Heart of Stone", would later appear on the band's 2012 compilation Anthology: 1999–2013 .
In 2023, Act of Depression was ranked last on Revolver's list of Underoath albums "From Worst to Best". The author said that while Underoath never released a bad album, they said Act of Depression was "severely underdeveloped." [13]
All tracks are written by Underoath
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Heart of Stone" | 5:50 |
2. | "A Love So Pure" | 10:39 |
3. | "Burden in Your Hands" | 6:28 |
4. | "Innocence Stolen" | 6:35 |
5. | "Act of Depression" | 10:23 |
6. | "Watch Me Die" | 6:56 |
17. | "Spirit of a Living God" (hidden track; sometimes credited as "Praise") | 9:08 |
Total length: | 55:55 |
Tracks 7 to 16 are silent. On the 2013 re-release, the silent tracks and "Spirit of a Living God" are removed, as well as the audio sample in the beginning of "Innocence Stolen".
Underoath is an American rock band from Tampa, Florida. It was founded by lead vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Luke Morton in 1997 in Ocala, Florida; subsequently, its additional members were from Tampa, including drummer, singer and last remaining original member Aaron Gillespie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, keyboardist Christopher Dudley, lead guitarist Timothy McTague, bassist Grant Brandell, and lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain. Originally, the band identified as a Christian group; they have since distanced themselves from Christianity.
They're Only Chasing Safety is the fourth studio album by American rock band Underoath. It was released on June 15, 2004, through Solid State Records. Following the release of their third studio effort The Changing of Times (2002), half of the band's members were replaced. After finalizing the line-up with vocalist Spencer Chamberlain, the band recorded their next release with producer James Paul Wisner at his home studio Wisner Productions in February 2004. The album has been tagged with various genres including screamo and melodic hardcore and features subtle references to Christianity. Drummer Aaron Gillespie had more of a vocal presence to contrast Chamberlain's screams.
The Changing of Times is the third studio album by American rock band Underoath. The album was released on February 26, 2002, through Solid State Records. It is the first album to include guitarist Timothy McTague and bassist William Nottke, the latter leaving the band afterwards along with vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Octavio Fernandez. The album is the best-selling Solid State debut.
Cries of the Past is the second studio album by American rock band Underoath, released on July 4, 2000, through Takehold Records. Only 3,000 copies of the album were pressed and, like Act of Depression, it was out of print for years. The album is the last to feature guitarist Corey Steger and the first to include keyboardist Christopher Dudley. Alongside their debut album, this album was reissued through Solid State Records on August 20, 2013.
Aaron Roderick Gillespie is an American musician, best known for being the original and current drummer and clean vocalist for the rock band Underoath and the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the alternative rock band the Almost. He has also worked with the band The Dangerous Summer. Gillespie also maintains his own solo project and released his debut full-length album, Anthem Song, in 2011. From 2013 to 2016, he was the touring drummer for Paramore.
Spencer Chamberlain is an American musician who is the lead vocalist for the rock band Underoath. Before fronting Underoath, Chamberlain was the vocalist for the band This Runs Through in which his brother, Phil, was the drummer.
TheAlmost is an American rock band from Clearwater, Florida, fronted by Underoath drummer and vocalist Aaron Gillespie. Formed in 2005 as a solo project by Gillespie, the band currently includes guitarist Jay Vilardi, bassist Jon Thompson, and drummer JJ Revell. They released three albums via Tooth & Nail Records: their debut Southern Weather (2007), Monster Monster (2009), and Fear Inside Our Bones (2013). Following a hiatus in 2015, Gillespie revived the project and released a fourth album, Fear Caller, in 2019 through Fearless Records.
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Southern Weather is the debut album by Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie's solo-project, the Almost.
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Beloved is an American post-hardcore band from Kernersville, North Carolina, United States.
Lost in the Sound of Separation is the sixth studio album by American rock band Underoath. It was released on September 2, 2008, through Solid State and Tooth & Nail Records. Following the release of their fifth studio album Define the Great Line (2006), relationships between members became strained to the point they almost broke up. They decided to go on a hiatus; Lost in the Sound of Separation was recorded at Glow in the Dark Studios in Atlanta, Georgia in March and April 2008. The band produced the album with Adam Dutkiewicz and Matt Goldman, both of whom worked on Define the Great Line. The album has been described as metalcore, post-hardcore and screamo, with elements of industrial, recalling the works of Refused, At the Drive-In, and Cult of Luna.
To Speak of Wolves is an American metalcore band from Greensboro, North Carolina, formed in 2007. The band has released three full-length studio albums, Myself < Letting Go, Find Your Worth, Come Home, and Dead in the Shadow. The band was founded by Phil Chamberlain, the brother of Underoath frontman and now the frontman for Sleepwave, Spencer Chamberlain, Aaron Shelton and Chris Shelton formerly of the Human Flight Committee, Drew Fulk, and Matthew Goldfarb.
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Hand of Fire is an American thrash metal band that originated in California. The project was initially formed in 2010 as a collaboration between Jim Settle and Corey Steger before evolving into a full band in 2015 under Settle's leadership. After signing with Rottweiler Records in 2016, they released their critically acclaimed debut album Nuclear Sunrise in 2017. The band has undergone several lineup changes throughout their career, notably including brief stints with former Testament bassist Greg Christian and Jungle Rot drummer Jason Borton. As of 2024, the band consists of Jim Settle (vocals), Tiago Souza, Forrest Nelson, Scotty McRib, and Gary Neff (drums). Their sound has been characterized as a modern take on thrash metal, drawing influences from both classic and contemporary metal styles.
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