UNEARTH „“Alive From the Apocalypse” DVD”

Music: Metalcore
Country: U.S.A.
Web site: www.unearth.tv
Cool Parts: All of it

Four years have passed since the highly popular band released their Metal Blade debut “The Oncoming Storm.” That album proved to be an explosive release, thrusting the band smack dab in the middle of America’s mainstream metal culture. Besides the hardcore and metalcore underground, most metal heads were not introduced to UNEARTH until 2004. “Alive From the Apocalypse,” UNEARTH’s first DVD, chronicles the years before their entrance into stardom to the present. In addition to providing an inside look into one of today’s most popular metal bands, the DVD offers a smorgasbord of visual entertainment.

Metal Blade compiled tons of footage in the completion on this two-disc DVD. The first disc includes a sold out, live performance from the Glass House in Pomona, California. The second contains an over-ninety-minute documentary covering the band’s hardcore roots to its present star
status. Other features include all the band’s videos, additional live footage taken from the Full Force Festival in Germany and Loud Park Festival in Japan.

The live set captures the band’s energetic performance, which transferred into the packed crowd. Tracks like “Endless,” “The Great Dividers” and “This Glorious Nightmare” combine angry mantras with neck snapping riffs and plenty of metallic breakdowns, which ensured maximum crowd participation. Guitarists Ken Susi and Buzz McGrath tried to outdo each other with a variety of guitar tricks such as flinging the guitar around on its strap, jumping off stacks during break down moments and good ole’ fashion shredding. The band performed highlights from all three full lengths, making sure to include Head bangers Ball hits such as “This Glorious Nightmare” and “Sanctity of Brothers.” Their sound was loud and heavy with a great mix, but as in many live performances, the group tweaked a few parts. The only other down point of this performance is the brief, forty-five-minute set.

Disc two presents substantially more material than the first disc. The documentary portion contains footage running throughout the band’s entire career, some of which most have never seen. A large cast of friends, bands, promoters, and the band itself provide colorful insight into the band’s character. Segments even profile individual band members. On and off stage footage backs up each commentator’s claim. UNEARTH has become known as one of the biggest drinking bands in the biz. This claim is hard to dispute after taking in visual evidence of countless drunken shenanigans such as public ball sack weighing and Trevor Phips’ drunken, alter ego.

Other portions consist of additional live footage taken from Japan and Germany. Each, sole live song is better than the live set in production and sound quality. There is something about playing in front of a massive audience that can prove magical for a band or disastrous. In both these shows, it definitely brought out something special in UNEARTH.

“Alive From the Apocalypse” is a spectacular release. It is great not only for a historical performance, but for an overall visual perspective of the band. Some DVDs are sparse in features, containing only one aspect such as a live show or videos. “Alive From the Apocalypse” covers just about every angle. It should be on any UNEARTH fan’s wish list.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

Disc 1: Live from The Glasshouse

1. Giles
2. This Lying World
3. The Glorious Nightmare
4. Zombie Autopilot
5. Endless
6. March of the Mutes
7. Only the People
8. Sanctity of Brothers
9. The Great Dividers
10. Black Hearts Now Reign
11. One Step Away
Total playing time 45:17

Disc 2:
90 Minute Documentary

Additional Live Footage:
“Sanctity of Brothers” Loud Park Japan, 2006
“Zombie Autopilot” With Full Force Festival Germany, 2007

Videos:
“This Glorious Nightmare”
Sancitity of Brothers”
“Giles”
“Zombie Autopilot”
“Endless”
“The Great Dividers”
“Black Hearts Now Reign”
“One Step Away”

Line-up

Trevor Phipps – Vocals
Buzz McGrath – Guitar
Ken Susi – Guitar
John “Slo” Maggard – Bass
Derek Kerswill – Live Drums

Former/past member(s)
Chris “Rover” Rybicki – Bass
Mike Rudberg – Drums
Mike Justain – Drums

Live Members:
Gene Hoglan – Drums
Paulie Antignai – Drums
Peter Layman – Guitar
Kia Eshghi – Guitar