On their fourth full-length,
Below, Ohio metalcore outfit
Beartooth expand upon their aggressive, gnashing sound by incorporating old-school inspiration -- classic guitar noodling and arena-friendly gang choruses -- from the likes of
Metallica,
Pantera, and other heavy metal greats into the mix. Brutality is still the name of the game, but frontman
Caleb Shomo injects a good deal of melody, especially on the surprisingly poppy highlights "The Past Is Dead" and the churning "Fed Up," which manages to stuff a great singalong amongst crushing riffs and throat-shredding screams. Longtime fans need not fear that
Shomo has gone too mainstream, as evidenced by ragers like "Dominate," "Phantom Pain," and "Hell of It," which pack enough of a punch to keep the mosh pits bruised and bloody. Combining those catchy flourishes with the band's trademark heaviness creates a great balance, and
Below winds up being one of
Beartooth's most enjoyable and immediate releases to date. ~ Neil Z. Yeung