Band: Underneath The Gun
Album: Forfeit Misfortunes
Genre: Death Metal laced Hardcore
Label: Ferret

Tracks:
1. Cutting Ties, Breathing Lies
2. Reflection of the Commonwealth
3. Looking Deep in Shallow Water
4. Pentinence
5.A Sharp Definition of Dull
6. Shawshank Absolution
7. No Place For Pardon
8. Crescendo
9. Rising Words
10.  Breathing New Lungs

It seems only fitting from UTG to work with…Well, UTG, but I promise there is no leniency taken on this review just because we share a name. Hailing from California, Underneath The Gun exploded onto the map with a self released EP that simply dominated nationwide and on January 20th, they’ll get a real shot at fame with Ferret Records releasing the band’s debut full length, Forfeit Misfortunes. 

Let me start by saying, this album will make you say, “whoa.” I’m constantly buried in run of the mill hardcore and breakdown laced metal, so it takes a lot for me to raise an eyebrow, but this album starts like a gunshot to the heart. “Cutting Ties, Breathing Lies,” gets the ball rolling with a near grindcore drum structure that is met with chugs and growls that take you into a whirlwind of sound. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, as, “Reflection Of The Commonwealth,” continues as a part 2 of sorts with more brutality. This is pit inducing hardcore if there ever was such a thing.

For those of you not swayed by brutal hardcore, there is a lot of technicality here to be enjoyed, “A Sharp Definition of Dull,” for instance, has time signatures up the wazoo and they’re executed beautifully. Other tracks, like, “Rising Words,” have musical parts that can’t be denied in terms of pure skill.

I found myself having to affix my jaw in order to keep it from dropping multiple times during this release. Underneath The Gun have taken the brutal that was their debut EP and refined it into excalibur. Forfeit Misfortunes takes a lot of time to discuss giving up on the grudges and trials of the past which is a message so many need to hear these days. Especially a lot of the kids in this particular scene. You can be heavy and vicious without being violent towards one another. This isn’t your Hot Topic. Underoath loving friend’s kind of music, this is brutal metal with a solid message. Buy it.

*Written By: James Shotwell*
Grade: 8/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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