Fox Reviews Rock

Hailing from Ohio, Beartooth is a dynamic rock band that emerged from the creative mind of Caleb Shomo, a former member of Attack! Attack! Initially, Shomo took charge of recording all the instruments himself, but the band was expanded to perform live.

The band has always been recognized for sombre lyrics, drawing inspiration from the personal experiences and inner musings of their lead singer and songwriter, Shomo. Personally, I have appreciation for these kinds of songs as they possess authenticity and evoke raw emotions, allowing the listener to truly connect with the music. However, their latest track, Riptide from new album The Surface, introduces twist to their usual style. While still staying true to their signature sound, this song carries a much more uplifting tone, which could be a pleasant change for those not fond of their previous works’ gloomy lyrics. It’s a refreshing change of pace that might just resonate with you.

Shomo explained that Riptide represents a new chapter in his life, showcasing a more positive outlook. The lyrics reflect a shift away from the darker themes for example “Don’t wanna sing another hopeless song”. By choosing to stop drinking, he has infused the track with more energy, resulting in a more upbeat and joyful record overall.

The track starts off with powerful bass guitar (Oshie Bichar) setting the tone, complemented by the ever incredible vocals (Caleb Shomo). The guitar riffs (Zach Huston & Will Deely) shine throughout most of the song, particularly right after the breakdown. Although while the drums (Connor Denis) have their shining moments, they sometimes fade into the background, which is a bit disappointing.

Beartooth tracks always feature a belter of a chorus , Riptide is no different. I admire how it emphasizes Shomo’s journey of confronting his inner struggles in a new light, transforming what once felt like a burden into a source of strength.

“I’m done explaining my pain, this is way too much
I wanna feel euphoria, give me the rush
‘Cause it’s the last time that I romanticize
The riptide that’s trying to drown me
Full of excuses for way too long
Don’t wanna sing another hopeless song
‘Cause it’s the last time that I romanticize
The riptide, it’s a riptide”

It’s quite unfortunate that the breakdown in this song falls a bit short, as I believe it lacks the same levels compared to their other songs. Also the production of this track seems to be missing something, it had the potential to be remarkable and falls just short.

While I adore their earlier work, they tend to merge together due to similar themes and emotions. It’s heartwarming to see the Shomo in a happier place, making this Beartooth song/album stand out against the rest. Despite maintaining their signature heavy sound, this track doesn’t quite hit the same heights for me as some of their other songs like The Inbetween. However,rather poetically its nowhere near the bottom either.

8/10

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Review written by Fox Reviews Rock

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