How Losing Religion Saved Underoath

Let’s be real, the majority of criticisms to the new songs (especially Rapture) haven’t been about the change in religion to some of the members but the sound itself. Christianity isn’t a sound and if Spencer thinks a positive sound will reflect from a personal change to him then he has a big wall coming up that he won’t be satisfied with.

 

Hmm, that’s not the interpretation of what he said I took from the article.

 

It definitely doesn't seem like that's what he's saying though? He felt that there was a burden that was associated with the constraints of being "The Christian Post-hardcore/Metalcore Band, Underoath", rather than Underoath. There's definitely a "brand" aspect to the expectations of the band that is much more intense than similar acts that are "non-Christian", due to the smaller pool.

 

I’m comparing the band no longer being Christian to the “that’s not Underoath enough” quote. To many people, including myself, even though we related to the Christian image of the band, the sound is what we enjoyed and it’s what fans will ultimately want. Fans will complain about the sound of ‘Rapture’ even if Spencer was still Christian.

 

God is dead

 

I agree that there is a burden because there’s a specific group that follows Christian Metalcore bands and they expect a certain sound, but Metalcore is a part of that. Just because the band is no longer Christian doesn’t mean that people still won’t expect a similar sounding Underoath to what they heard 10 years ago. Ending the religious roots of the band doesn’t exterminate the overall sound expectations that people will have.

From the article I would agree that Spencer losing his religion helped him in his drug battle due to the extremely disappointing way the community treated him, but not Underoath itself. The quality and feedback of new material factors into that.

 

It terms of sound, yeah, "Rapture" isn't my cup of tea (couldn't get into Sleepwave), but "On My Teeth" is great. Hoping there's a little more of that on the record.
In regards to (myself) shaking off the "Christian" brand, I can see how that'd be more freeing. It gives them more freedom to say what they really feel without having to feel guilt or tip-toe around what their faith and fans with faith expect them to say. I doubt it's affected their own personal faith, but I think it's cool that they decided to separate from their music.

 

I know this narrative seems to be working well for them, but it's a little tiring for the people that actually stayed with them through 2008-2013 and through the reunion. (The Christianity part, not the drug part. Glad Spencer free of that and happy.) I would love to see an interview that talks more in depth about the music. Everything they've said in all these interviews is a complete regurgitation of the rocksound interview. I would be cool to hear someone else's perspective in the band in one of these interviews. I heard the AP article is gonna be pretty revealing, but I think it's still Spencer/Aaron if not just Spencer.

 

Their souls belong to Fat Mike now.

 

I find it interesting some of these bands find new life after battling their Christian beliefs. IE Underoath, Dustin Kensrue...

 

Pretty hype for this record either way.

 

Pretty sure Kensrue is still Christian. Just not Evangelical from what i understand

 

Am i missing something here?

 

referencing the time Spencer was blowing lines with Fat Mike on the bus during warped tour. At the time nobody could fathom a "christian" band member would be caught doing stuff like that. Then again we were all naive in those days about this music scene. Also on a completely unrelated note caught me off guard he said fuck in one of the new songs.

 

You know to be honest, from day one I knew that some member had to of believed in a god, but I never viewed Underoath as a Christian band… they never were the Relient K of Screamo to me. They were just Underoath who’s best album was “They’re Only Chasing Safety” but were still a good band.

Most of the people in the scene around here during those days just saw them as Screamo Underoath, not ChristianCore Underoath.

 

It’s surprising to have it come to light, yes. I think part of the problem is that the Christian Metal community forgot that Christians fall prey to addictionsike anyone else. Porn, cigarettes, drinking, gambling, etc.. It’s disheartening to hear that Spencer was not treated with compassion and was instead treated with hostility by the community he had put his faith into.

 

Exactly. As soon as Spencer joined the band Underoath became Christians in a band, not a band that is Christian. A lot of the songs covered personal issues. They were not the same as Devil Wears Prada or Impending Doom.

 

GOD. IS. DEEEAAAADDDD.

 

What drugs were Spenser addicted to?

 

Staying relevant.

 

Hmm. I actually had no idea about that. It was more in reference to this.

 

He actually wasn’t blowing lines with Fat Mike. According to Spencer and other people on the tour bus on the night in question. They talk about it on the Labeled podcast

 

The religion stuff never concerned me because that was never the reason I listened to Underoath. I've never been a religious person. I listened to them because they consistently put out great albums that I adored and could still relate to for the most part. Songs like Desperate Times, Desperate Measures and A Boy Brushed Red helped me through so much shit in my life, it's not even funny.

As far as the musical aspect goes, neither On My Teeth nor Rapture are really that different from the stuff they were doing before they originally split up. On My Teeth could definitely pass for a Disambiguation outtake and Rapture is not far removed from the song Unsound from their anthology album.

 

It sounds like Spencer got swept up in Christian celeb culture where you’re put on a pedestal of infallibility because you have “Christian” labeled on you. What a terrible thing to have to deal with while battling drug addiction. The best art is birthed out of brokenness and no artist should ever be pressured to have it all together. It’s stifling to both art and personal growth and ironically very un-Christian.

Glad he’s doing better. I do hope he has people around him and hasn’t given up on community in general.