Underneath (Code Orange album)

Last updated

Underneath
Code Orange Underneath.jpg
Studio album by
Code Orange
ReleasedMarch 13, 2020 (2020-03-13)
Genre
Length47:33
Label Roadrunner
Producer
Code Orange chronology
Forever
(2017)		Underneath
(2020)		 Under the Skin
(2020)
Singles from Underneath
  1. "Underneath"
    Released: January 10, 2020
  2. "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole"
    Released: February 7, 2020
  3. "Sulfur Surrounding"
    Released: March 9, 2020

Underneath is the fourth studio album by American hardcore punk band Code Orange, released on March 13, 2020 through Roadrunner Records. It is their first album to be produced by Nick Raskulinecz. The album was also produced by Jami Morgan and Will Yip. It was preceded by three singles: "Underneath", "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole", and "Sulfur Surrounding". The album continues the band's metalcore and hardcore punk sound with a heavier emphasis on industrial and electronic elements. The album received critical acclaim with critics praising the use of glitches, electronics, and overall production.

Contents

Background and recording

Frontman Jami Morgan said that the album "was a 24-hour-a-day obsession for us for about two years". [1] This led Code Orange to cancel a European tour cycle in 2019, including an appearance at England's Bloodstock Open Air, in order to focus solely on writing and recording. [1] The band reached out to prolific producer and musician Chris Vrenna through the album's producer Nick Raskulinecz, who helped Eric Balderose in the electronics, the arrangement of the many layers of production and the use of white noise. [1] [2] [3] The album was also produced by Jami Morgan and co-produced by Will Yip. [3] Yip also helped produce the band's previous album. [3] Reba Meyers had to readapt her guitar work to imitate electronic instruments, and she also recorded many unusual sounds which they mixed with samples, making a "bank of" them used in different songs. [1] [2] Morgan further commented that writing Underneath "was like a factory… everyone [was] working towards this goal." [1]

While making the album, Morgan regularly talked to and sent material of Underneath to his friend Greg Puciato of the Dillinger Escape Plan and the Black Queen, who gave him feedback on it. The singer was one of the first people to hear the record, and Morgan called him a "mentor". [4]

Composition

Musically, Underneath has been described as metalcore, [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] hardcore punk, [6] [7] [8] industrial, [6] [8] industrial metal, [10] [11] alternative rock, [7] [8] alternative metal, [9] [11] grunge, [6] [7] nu metal, [6] [8] industrial hardcore, [12] metallic hardcore, [9] screamo, [6] thrash metal, [6] sludge metal, [6] math rock, [6] and classic rock. [6] The album utilizes pauses, glitches, distorted screams, and static. [5] [6]

Release

On December 19, 2019, Code Orange launched whatisreallyunderneath.com, a website that presented visitors with an interactive panoramic photo. [13] The band released music videos directed by Max Moore for the title song "Underneath" on January 10, 2020 [14] and for the song "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole" on February 7, 2020. [15] The third single, "Sulfur Surrounding", with a video animated and directed by the band's Eric Balderose, was released on March 9. [16] [17] The album was released on March 13, 2020. [14] [18] On March 14, 2020, Code Orange performed a live streamed album release concert in an empty venue on Twitch due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [19] [20] The performance took place at the Roxian Theatre and was called "Last Ones Left: In Fear of the End". [19] The performance was later officially released on YouTube. [19]

On June 7, they performed "Underneath" at NXT TakeOver: In Your House as it was the official theme song. [21] On January 23, 2021, an animated motion-capture video for the song "Autumn and Carbine" was premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami. [22] [23] [3] The video was directed by Eric Balderose and Jami Morgan and utilized motion-capture to create 3D models of the band members themselves. [22] [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10 [24]
Metacritic 84/100 [25]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 9/10 [26]
Consequence A [27]
Exclaim! 7/10 [5]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [28]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [29]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [30]
MetalSucks Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [31]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [32]
Pitchfork 4.5/10 [33]

Underneath was met with critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 11 reviews. [25] The record also received an average score of 8.0 from AnyDecentMusic?, normalized rating out of 9. [24]

Clash critic John Gray described the record as "practically a horror movie in audio form", stating that the "sheer, clear-eyed ambition they exhibit in pursuing the impossible is compelling enough to make Underneath an absolute must-hear for anyone who dares to dream differently." [26] Consequence of Sound 's Joseph Schafer thought that the record "delivers on every promise in a sleek, incredibly catchy package and does it all in under 50 minutes." [27] Reviewing for Exclaim! , Connor Atkinson noted: "Code Orange usher in a new era with Underneath that will alienate sections of their audience, and bring their us-against-you might to places no Pittsburgh band have gone before." [5] Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian wrote: "In rock, technical brilliance can sometimes impede immediacy, but Code Orange use it to achieve total and thrilling omnipotence. They are a reminder that visionary music never wears a genre tag." [6]

The Independent 's Roisin O'Connor described the album as "a glitchy, industrial wasteland". [28] Nick Ruskell of Kerrang! called the album "one of the most powerful, cathartic, creatively satisfying and bruisingly heavy records of its age." [29]

The album received a rare perfect score from Metal Hammer . [30] In the review Stephen Hill stated, "It's not always easy to define a 'perfect' record, but you have to ask yourself what you want from a heavy band in 2020. Innovation? Ambition? Power? Something anthemic? Something that stops heavy music from chasing its tail and genuinely moves it forward?" [30] Axl Rosenberg of MetalSucks called Underneath "the band's most satisfying release to date". [31] Dannii Leivers of NME was positive about the album "You never know quite what's about to happen, but no matter which sonic mask the band slip on, they sound terrifyingly comfortable wearing it. This unpredictability is what makes Code Orange and 'Underneath' such a thrilling listen." [32]

Grayson Haver Currin of Pitchfork was less positive and called Underneath "an overstuffed album of weak modern-rock imitations." [33]

Accolades

Accolades for Underneath
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Metal Hammer The 50 Best Metal Albums of 20203 [34]
NPR The 50 Best Albums of 2020
18
Rolling Stone Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2020 – Mid-Year—
Stereogum Stereogum's 50 Best Albums of 2020 – Mid-Year
40
Awards and nominations
YearAwardWorkCategoryResultRef.
2021 Grammy Awards "Underneath" Best Metal Performance Nominated

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."(deeperthanbefore)"1:13
2."Swallowing the Rabbit Whole"3:47
3."In Fear"3:21
4."You and You Alone"3:06
5."Who I Am"3:46
6."Cold.Metal.Place"3:04
7."Sulfur Surrounding"3:47
8."The Easy Way"4:25
9."Erasure Scan"2:32
10."Last Ones Left"3:08
11."Autumn and Carbine"3:27
12."Back Inside the Glass"2:34
13."A Sliver"4:37
14."Underneath"4:41
Total length:47:26
Japan bonus track [40]
No.TitleLength
15."The Cutter"3:23
Total length:50:58

Personnel

Credits for Underneath [41] [42]

Code Orange

Additional musicians

Production

Visual art

Charts

Chart performance for Underneath
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [43] 161
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [44] 80
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [45] 27
Scottish Albums (OCC) [46] 18
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [47] 56
UK Albums (OCC) [48] 90
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [49] 1
US Billboard 200 [50] 155
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [51] 2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [52] 6

Related Research Articles

Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming; more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However, the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.

Groove metal, sometimes also called neo-thrash or post-thrash, is a subgenre of heavy metal music that began in the early 1990s. The genre is primarily derived from thrash metal, but played in slower tempos, and making use of rhythmic guitar parts. It was pioneered in the late 1980s by groups like Exhorder, Prong and the Bad Brains, and then popularized by the commercial success of Pantera, White Zombie, Machine Head and Sepultura. The genre went on to be influential in the development of the new wave of American heavy metal, nu metal and metalcore, and continued to gain traction in the 2000s with Lamb of God, DevilDriver and Five Finger Death Punch, and 2010s with Killer Be Killed and Bad Wolves.

Nick Raskulinecz is an American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mouth for War</span> 1992 single by Pantera

"Mouth for War" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. It was first released on the band's sixth album Vulgar Display of Power and was the first single off that album. It was later released on the band's compilation album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!

<i>Shogun</i> (Trivium album) 2008 studio album by Trivium

Shogun is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. The album was released worldwide on various dates between September 23, 2008, and October 1, 2008, through Roadrunner Records. It is their last release to feature original drummer Travis Smith. Work on the album is noted to have begun with producer Nick Raskulinecz in October 2007, with the band stating that they chose not to work with Jason Suecof again as they wanted to explore new ideas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice Nine Kills</span> American heavy metal band

Ice Nine Kills is an American heavy metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, who are signed to Fearless Records. Best known for its horror-inspired lyrics, Ice Nine Kills formed in its earliest incarnation in 2000 by high school friends Spencer Charnas and Jeremy Schwartz. Charnas is currently the only remaining founding member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Code Orange (band)</span> American metalcore band

Code Orange is an American metalcore band that formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2008, while the members of the band were still in high school.

<i>Love Is Love/Return to Dust</i> 2012 studio album by Code Orange Kids

Love Is Love // Return to Dust is the debut album by the American hardcore punk band Code Orange Kids. The album was released on November 20, 2012 through Deathwish Inc. A music video for the song "Flowermouth " was released in October 2012.

<i>I Am King</i> 2014 studio album by Code Orange

I Am King is the second studio album by American hardcore punk band Code Orange and first to be released under this moniker after previously being referred to as "Code Orange Kids". The Kurt Ballou-produced album was released on September 2, 2014 through Deathwish Inc. To promote the album, Code Orange released music videos for the tracks "I Am King" and "Dreams in Inertia", in addition to an online stream for "My World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turnstile (band)</span> American hardcore punk band

Turnstile is an American hardcore punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2010. They have released five EPs and three studio albums. The band's third album Glow On was released in 2021 to critical and commercial success; the songs "Holiday" and "Blackout" earned the band three nominations at the 65th Grammy Awards.

<i>Madness</i> (Sleeping with Sirens album) 2015 studio album by Sleeping with Sirens

Madness is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sleeping with Sirens. The album was released on March 17, 2015 through Epitaph Records. The album was self-produced by the band and John Feldmann. The album is the band's first release following their departure from Rise Records in 2014. It is their first album record to feature guitarist Nick Martin of D.R.U.G.S. and Underminded who replaced former guitarist Jesse Lawson. Madness was preceded by lead single "Kick Me" as well as a string of digital singles. The album continues the band's progression to a more pop rock–style sound, but retains some post-hardcore influences on tracks.

<i>Forever</i> (Code Orange album) 2017 studio album by Code Orange

Forever is the third studio album by the American hardcore punk band Code Orange and its first on a major label, Roadrunner Records, following a stint on the indie label Deathwish Inc. It was released on January 13, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movements (band)</span> American post-hardcore band

Movements are a post-hardcore band from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, formed in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vein.fm</span> American metalcore band

Vein.fm is an American metalcore band from Boston that formed in 2013. They are known for their frequent tours and have performed shows with groups such as Code Orange and Twitching Tongues while in Europe. In 2017 the band was signed onto Closed Casket Activities, who would issue their first full-length work Errorzone to positive reception among critics, even appearing on Revolver's early "Best Albums of 2018" list. The album also managed to peak at number 21 on Billboard's Hard Rock album chart. In July 2020, after the release of their remix album, the band announced it changed its name to Vein.fm.

"Uncomfortable" is a song by American hard rock band Halestorm from their fourth studio album, Vicious. The song was written by Lzzy and Arejay Hale, alongside Josh Smith and Joe Hottinger. It was recorded at Rock Falcon Studios in Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz. The song was released on May 30, 2018 as the album's lead single, through Atlantic Records.

<i>The Bitter Truth</i> 2021 studio album by Evanescence

The Bitter Truth is the fifth studio album by American rock band Evanescence. After pandemic delays, it was released on March 26, 2021, through BMG Rights Management. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, it is the band's first album of all-new material since their 2011 self-titled third album. The Bitter Truth received a generally positive critical reception. It reached number 11 on the US Billboard 200, top five on the Billboard Independent, Alternative, Hard Rock, and Rock Albums charts, and the top 10 of multiple international album charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Game Is Over (song)</span> 2020 song by Evanescence

"The Game Is Over" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. The song was released as a digital download on July 1, 2020 by BMG as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, The Bitter Truth. The song was written by the band and produced by Nick Raskulinecz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Code Orange discography</span>

American hardcore punk band Code Orange has released five studio albums, three EPs, eight singles, one live album, one remix album, six other albums, and fifteen music videos.

<i>The Above</i> 2023 studio album by Code Orange

The Above is the fifth studio album by American hardcore punk band Code Orange, released on September 29, 2023, through Blue Grape Music. It is their first album to be entirely self-produced, their first with the label Blue Grape Music, and their first to feature drummer Max Portnoy. It was preceded by three singles: "Grooming My Replacement / The Game", "Take Shape", and "Mirror".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hill, Stephen (May 8, 2020). "Code Orange: an audience with the future of metal, hardcore and everything else". Metal Hammer . Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Sharma, Amit (March 13, 2020). ""It's the new style of heavy!" – Code Orange break down their landmark new album Underneath". MusicRadar . Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Code Orange Drops 'Autumn And Carbine' Animated Video". Blabbermouth.net . January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ Spajic, Petar (March 9, 2020). "Code Orange Drummer/Vocalist Jami Morgan on The MetalSucks Podcast #328". MetalSucks (podcast). Event occurs at 32:22-32:37. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Schafer, Joseph (March 11, 2020). "Code Orange Underneath". Exclaim! . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (March 13, 2020). "Code Orange: Underneath review – a thrilling new form of molten metal". The Guardian . Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Sievers, Alex (March 9, 2020). "Code Orange – Underneath". Kill Your Stereo. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Sacher, Andrew (July 30, 2020). "Code Orange cover Alice In Chains, channel MTV Unplugged & Headbangers Ball on very '90s stream". BrooklynVegan . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Von Bader, David (April 30, 2020). "Code Orange: Attack of the Sonic Cyborgs" . Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ Frisk, Andy (March 25, 2020). "Code Orange Underneath". Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Code Orange Indulge in Industrial Grime and Sheen with Underneath". The PRP. March 12, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ Howison, Kaydan (March 12, 2020). "Code Orange – Underneath (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  13. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn (December 19, 2019). "Code Orange Launch Mysterious Interactive Blue Website". Loudwire . Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Code Orange To Release 'Underneath' Album In March". Blabbermouth.net . January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Code Orange Releases Music Video For New Song 'Swallowing The Rabbit Whole'". Blabbermouth.net . February 7, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Watch Code Orange's Insane Animated Video for New Song "Sulfur Surrounding"". Revolver . March 9, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  17. ↑ Slingerland, Calum (March 9, 2020). "Code Orange Share Animated Video for "Sulfur Surrounding"". Exclaim! . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  18. ↑ Minsker, Evan (January 10, 2020). "Code Orange Announce New Album Umderneath, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 "Code Orange's 'Underneath' Release Show: See Badass Photos Of "Last Ones Left" Event". Revolver . March 18, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ Grow, Kory (March 13, 2020). "Code Orange to Livestream Record Release Show Without Audience". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ Pasbani, Robert (June 7, 2020). "Confirmed: Code Orange To Perform Tonight at WWE NXT Takeover: In Your House". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  22. 1 2 Shaffer, Claire (January 23, 2021). "Code Orange Debut Dystopian Video for 'Autumn and Carbine'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ Rodgers, Jack (January 25, 2021). "Code Orange Have Released An Incredible Animated Video For 'Autumn and Carbine'". Rock Sound . Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Underneath by Code Orange reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Reviews for Underneath by Code Orange". Metacritic . Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  26. 1 2 Gray, Josh (March 10, 2022). "Code Orange - Underneath". Clash . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  27. 1 2 Schafer, Joseph (March 13, 2020). "Code Orange Deliver on Every Promise with Underneath". Consequence . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  28. 1 2 O'Connor, Roisin (March 13, 2020). "Album reviews: Porridge Radio – Every Bad, and Code Orange – Underneath". The Independent . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  29. 1 2 Ruskell, Nick (March 11, 2020). "Album Review: Code Orange – Underneath". Kerrang! . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  30. 1 2 3 Hill, Stephen (March 12, 2020). "Code Orange's Underneath is the greatest metal record in a generation - read our 10/10 review". Metal Hammer . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  31. 1 2 Rosenberg, Axl (March 10, 2020). "Album Review: Code Orange Get Industrial on Underneath". MetalSucks . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  32. 1 2 Leivers, Dannii (March 9, 2020). "Code Orange – 'Underneath' review: game-changing, forward-thinking hardcore that will draw blood and raise bruises". NME . Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  33. 1 2 Currin, Grayson Haver (March 17, 2020). "Code Orange: 'Underneath' Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  34. ↑ Hobson, Rich (January 8, 2020). "The 50 best metal albums of 2020". Metal Hammer . Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  35. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020". NPR . December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  36. ↑ Schwartz, Danny (June 17, 2020). "50 Best Albums of 2020 – So Far". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Best Albums of 2020 So Far". Stereogum . June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Code Orange". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy . Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  39. ↑ Carter, Emily (March 15, 2021). "Body Count win 2021 GRAMMY for Best Metal Performance". Kerrang! . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Code Orange / コード・オレンジ「Underneath / アンダーニース」 | Warner Music Japan". ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン | Warner Music Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  41. ↑ Underneath (liner notes). Code Orange. RoadRunner. 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ "Code Orange Underneath Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Code Orange – Underneath" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Code Orange – Underneath" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Code Orange – Underneath". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 12: del 13.3.2020 al 19.3.2020" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company . March 20, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  50. ↑ "Code Orange Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  51. ↑ "Code Orange Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  52. ↑ "Code Orange Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.