Since their inception, Florida's Underoath have evolved from a run-of-the-mill
Christian metalcore band into a fluid, dynamic, and energized rock group that
adeptly blends emotive melody, charged punk rock rhythms, and a chunky,
engaging bottom end. Underoath formed in 1998 in vocalist Dallas Taylor's
bedroom.

Within a year, the group -- with guitarist Tim McTague, drummer Aaron Gillespie, and keyboardist Christopher
Dudley -- had inked a deal with Alabama's Takehold record label. In July 1999, Underoath released the
six-song Act of Depression CD, which sold over 2,000 copies. The five-song Cries of the Past followed a year
later, selling over 3,000 copies.

In 2002, Takehold licensed all of its bands and releases to Seattle's Tooth & Nail/Solid State label. Underoath
hit the studio and recorded the ten songs that would comprise their first album under the new partnership,
appropriately titled The Changing of Times. Taylor abruptly left the group in the middle of 2003's Warped
Tour, leaving distressed fans contemplating the band's uncertain future. Underoath -- which also included
bassist Grant Brandell and guitarist James Smith -- continued on, however, enlisting ex-This Runs Through
member Spencer Chamberlain as their new vocalist.

A year later, the new lineup released They're Only Chasing Safety and supported it on the road with bands
like Thrice, the Bled, Hopesfall, and Fear Before the March of Flames. A special edition of the album was next
released in fall 2005 that included four bonus tracks; touring continued with a spring 2006 headlining tour
alongside Poison the Well, As Cities Burn, and others. Deciding to stick with Tooth & Nail instead of jumping to
a major label, the sextet showcased substantial growth and maturity on its next effort, Define the Great Line,
issued in June 2006. A heavier, more emotional album than the breakout success of 2004's Chasing Safety,
the record sold close to 100,000 copies in just its first week of release and was certified gold by the year's
end. Embraced by fans and critics alike and considered the band's masterpiece by many, the group
supported it on Warped's main stage that summer.

But with a month of dates remaining, tensions within Underoath's ranks suddenly came to a head, causing
them to drop off the traveling festival. Rumors swirled of their impending breakup, but the guys remained
adamant that a much-needed break was merely due to sort things out. They proved themselves by returning
in 2006 with Define the Great Line. Climbing all the way to number two, the album became the
highest-charting Christian album on the Billboard 200 since 1997 when LeAnn Rimes took the number one
spot with You Light Up My Life. Underoath returned to the studio in 2008 for Lost in the Sound of Separation,
an 11-song behemoth of a record that saw the group adopt a darker, more experimental (yet still undeniably
heavy) sound. In 2009 drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie left the group, and was replaced by ex-Norma Jean
drummer Daniel Davison. Ø (Disambiguation), the group's seventh full-length recording, arrived the following
year.

Ryan J. Downey, Rovi

Courtesy
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