Underneath // Code Orange
Released: March 13
The cancellation of touring hardly aided anyone in the music industry, but it came at precisely the wrong time for Pittsburgh’s Code Orange. After the breakout success of Forever in 2017 and years of blistering live shows, the loosely dubbed hardcore quintet were building up a furious amount of momentum heading into Underneath, leaving the whole scene on tenterhooks as they eagerly awaited to see where one the scenes most exciting bands would go next. Sadly, the circumstances have meant that despite rave reviews from fans and critics, who praised the record for its challenging musical landscape and ambitious scope, Code Orange’s journey towards conquering the metal scene is temporarily halted.
None of that takes away from the sheer class of the record itself though. While potentially daunting on a first run-through, listener persistence is rewarded as the complexity and abrasiveness starts to come together as you learn its steps. What separates Code Orange from their peers is the way they masterfully balance the brutality with memorable hooks. Nowhere is this more evident on ‘Sulphur Surrounding’, a perfect combination of Reba Meyers’ clean melodies and Jami Morgan’s guttural screams.