ALBUM REVIEW: Somewhere, In Between – UnityTX

Rap has a particular place in alternative music. After all, nu metal is a combination of rapping and heavy metal. Rules however, are made to be broken, and as with everything, music evolves. There are more and more bands who make a name for themselves by combining hip-hop with metalcore and even deathcore. This is where UNITYTX fit in. Not only does this band combine rap with brutal breakdowns and catchy chant-worthy choruses, they use autotune in a very clever way, as upon listening to how heavy guitars in rock and metal can be, you would not expect autotune to work. On Somewhere, In Between… though, the Dallas based outfit prove that these kind of vocals can work, as well as proving that hip-hop can still be heavy.

After a minute long opener which is practically a rap verse that leads into a breakdown, the proper first full track is Heinous. Right off the bat, the hip-hop influences really shine as the band combine their ferocious riffs with a an occasional drum machine led beat, as well as synths that play a turntable effect in the middle of the song. The chorus here is completely irresistible despite the fact that it is heavy, and that deserves to be credited.

Body Roc is an extremely catchy, simple rap track. This is a huge surprise as so far every song which has come before this one has been packed with riffs that are so brutal, they could destroy your eardrums. This time, there are no guitars or drums, instead the rapping is accompanied by a drum machine rhythm and a synth melody. The chorus, although spoken, is really well written, and it is bound to get stuck into your head as by the end of the track, it gets repeated to fully make sure that it is drilled into the mind of any listener who comes across this record.

The following song brings the heaviness back again. The drum beat here is relatively basic, but it works here as the guitar riff matches it perfectly. The rapping is loud, and the chorus seems as if it is chanted. The bridge features a reggaeton rhythm which could be a bad thing, but this is done to change the pace of Paranoia slightly to something slower, before the hook returns one final time.

In Between has the most creative chorus on this collection of songs. This track once again combines drum machines, synths, alongside the guitars and drums that are as ferocious as ever. The verses are half rapped, and half sung which creates an exciting element which has not yet been explored on this record up until this point. There is a breakdown here which serves as the bridge. This breakdown is longer than most on the album and is also heavier which as a result makes it much more impactful. The final chorus is heard after this breakdown to wrap the track up, creating the most fascinating three minutes of the entire record.

STFU features another overly catchy hook. Introduced instantly as the song opens, it gets stuck in your head straight away. The verses are rapped once more, and the first one has yet another brutal riff throughout. The second one starts off mellow but builds up before the chorus returns to close the song.

Overall, this album is consistently solid. The songs for the most part are catchy, and those that are not as hook driven, are still heavy. This is also helped as each track is shorter than four minutes long, which means that even with 14 songs on the album, it is still a relatively fast listen which will surely be appreciated. Where Somewhere, In Between… lacks though, is the features. There are a couple of songs that have features on them, with NÜ JAX and HOUSE OF PROTECTION appearing, but these do not add anything to the record, as both songs are too similar to the rest of the album.

With this in mind, fans of breakdowns, as well as hip-hop will have something to love upon listening to this album. It is this kind of hybrid of genres that make bands stand out, and with Somewhere, In Between…, UNITYTX made an album that will be a gateway for so many people who want to get into alternative music but fear the harsh vocals. That will always be a win for metal.

Rating: 7/10

Somewhere, In Between… is set for release on March 13th via Pure Noise Records. 

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