Extinction(s)

Last updated

Extinction(s)
Unearth Extinction(s) cover art.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 23, 2018 (2018-11-23)
RecordedMarch – May 2018
StudioGraphic Nature Studios (Belleville, New Jersey)
The Brick HitHouse (Hyannis, Massachusetts)
Genre Metalcore
Length37:55
Label Century Media
Producer Will Putney
Unearth chronology
Watchers of Rule
(2014)
Extinction(s)
(2018)
The Wretched; the Ruinous
(2023)
Singles from Extinction(s)
  1. "Incinerate"
    Released: July 2, 2018 [1]
  2. "Survivalist"
    Released: September 28, 2018 [2]
  3. "One with the Sun"
    Released: November 15, 2018 [3]

Extinction(s) is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Unearth, released on November 23, 2018, via Century Media. [2] [4] This is their first album to feature bassist Chris O'Toole and the last to feature rhythm guitarist Ken Susi.

Contents

Background and recording

Initial information about the follow-up to Watchers of Rule surfaced in early 2018 when Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, ex-guitarist of The Acacia Strain, revealed that he had been helping out with the new Unearth album by bouncing riff ideas with Unearth guitarists Buz McGrath and Ken Susi. [5] In a February 2018 interview, McGrath stated that the band "got probably twenty songs written" for the new album. [6] On March 16, 2018, the band officially signed worldwide deal with Century Media Records and revealed that recording of the new album would be started soon, scheduled for a tentative late summer or early fall 2018 release. [7]

On March 26, 2018, the band entered Graphic Nature Studio with Will Putney to begin recording their new album. [8] Drums were recorded by Adam Dutkiewicz, guitarist of Killswitch Engage. [8] Bass guitar, guitar solo and vocals were tracked at the Brick HitHouse, and strings and piano were done by Randy Slaugh. [1]

Release

On July 2, 2018, the band announced that the new album will be entitled Extinction(s), and released "Incinerate", the first single of Extinction(s). [1] On September 18, 2018, the band revealed the release date, tracklist and artwork for Extinction(s), which would be released on November 23, 2018, through Century Media. [4] A lyric video of the second single "Survivalist" was available for streaming on September 28, 2018. [9] A music video of the song "One with the Sun" was released on November 15, 2018. [3]

The band commented on Extinction(s):

Extinction(s) is full of venom toward the wrongs of the world, fighting back against the precarious position civilization is in, determined to effect some kind of change. The inevitability of death, loss, and tragedy is a persistent theme throughout Extinction(s), deep within the band's most profound and hard-hitting lyrics thus far. [4]

The band also elaborated on the song "Incinerate":

"Incinerate" brings the raw aggression and heaviness of our early material while also showcasing elements of where we've gone as a band since. Lyrically, it is meant to be a song of unity in a time of great polarization around the world. We are constantly being told to not like our neighbor because they might have different views. The theme is a faith in humanity to come together and combat and rid the world of those that are intentionally dividing us. [4]

Critical reception

The album was met with positive reception, with New Noise Magazine writing “The band presents a vast and engaging metallic sound while at the same time maintaining an important edge that never really lets up.” Metal Injection wrote “Metalcore haters will quickly dismiss this album, trotting out the usual lines about creative stagnation and so on. Extinction(s) is clearly an album with an agenda, a series of songs intended to fire up live shows rather than break the mold and change the course of history, but turn it up until your ears bleed and you won’t give more than half a fuck.” [10]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Metal Injection Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Angry Metal GuyStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Cryptic RockStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [13]
New Noise MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [14]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Trevor Phipps; all music is composed by Unearth, except where noted.

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Incinerate"
  • Unearth
  • Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz
3:59
2."Dust"
  • Unearth
  • Laskiewicz
3:53
3."Survivalist" 4:14
4."Cultivation of Infection" 3:54
5."The Hunt Begins" 3:55
6."Hard Lined Downfall" 3:11
7."King of the Arctic"
  • Unearth
  • Laskiewicz
4:00
8."Sidewinder" 2:51
9."No Reprisal"
  • Unearth
  • Laskiewicz
3:21
10."One with the Sun"
  • Unearth
  • Laskiewicz
4:37
Total length:37:55

Personnel

Unearth

Additional musician

Production

References

  1. 1 2 3 Divita, Joe (July 2, 2018). "Unearth Unveil First 'Extinction(s)' Track 'Incinerate'". Loudwire . Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "UNEARTH: STREAMING NEW LYRIC VIDEO FOR 'SURVIVALIST'!". Century Media. September 28, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. 1 2 wookubus (November 15, 2018). "Unearth Premiere 'One With The Sun' Music Video". Theprp. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "UNEARTH To Release 'Extinction(s)' Album In November". Blabbermouth.net . September 18, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. Kennelty, Greg (January 7, 2018). "Ex-THE ACACIA STRAIN Guitarist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz Is Writing With UNEARTH For A New Album". Metal Injection. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. wookubus (February 7, 2018). "Unearth To Hit The Studio Soon For New Album, Confirmed For "Popular Summer Festival Tour"". Theprp. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. "UNEARTH: - SIGN WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS; ENTER STUDIO FOR LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL RELEASE". Century Media. March 16, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Mike (March 26, 2018). "Unearth Officially Recording New Album". The Circie Pit. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  9. "Unearth premieres new song 'Survivalist'". Lambgoat. September 28, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. "Album Review: UNEARTH Extinction(s)". Metal Injection. November 21, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  11. https://metalinjection.net/reviews/unearth-extinctions
  12. https://www.angrymetalguy.com/unearth-exctinctions-review/
  13. https://crypticrock.com/unearth-extinctions-album-review/
  14. https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/review-unearth-extinctions-2/