of leaving and go to another party where they
don’t have cold Miller Lite.” McGrath just
smirks. Even though Unearth has been a band
for nearly a decade now they still can’t get
venues in Boston to change their regulations. A
scene that McGrath and company literally grew
up in.” When I grew up I use to go to all ages
shows in Boston all the time.” Unfortunately, like
every other scene it turned violent with fan
elitism. We have all seen it happen. Even in our
own backyard where a fan ended up getting
stabbed at a Slayer show at The Masquerade in
Ybor City. It ultimately led to the shutting down
of the club. The violence in Boston led to the
same result as the Masquerade, “A lot of clubs
got shut down.” McGrath adds.
Through the past decade there have been a few
rumors that have popped up, like how Unearth
was never meant to involve McGrath (which
most everyone and their brother knows is a
fallacy), or the one about how Unearth is the
same Grunge rock band from Seattle that
released one EP in 1993. “Unless Mike has a
secret life we’re unaware about I’d say that one
is a rumor.” McGrath informs us. Then this one
is my favorite: McGrath was picked up by police
for shoplifting in Wal-Mart. When asked about
don’t have cold Miller Lite.” McGrath just
smirks. Even though Unearth has been a band
for nearly a decade now they still can’t get
venues in Boston to change their regulations. A
scene that McGrath and company literally grew
up in.” When I grew up I use to go to all ages
shows in Boston all the time.” Unfortunately, like
every other scene it turned violent with fan
elitism. We have all seen it happen. Even in our
own backyard where a fan ended up getting
stabbed at a Slayer show at The Masquerade in
Ybor City. It ultimately led to the shutting down
of the club. The violence in Boston led to the
same result as the Masquerade, “A lot of clubs
got shut down.” McGrath adds.
Through the past decade there have been a few
rumors that have popped up, like how Unearth
was never meant to involve McGrath (which
most everyone and their brother knows is a
fallacy), or the one about how Unearth is the
same Grunge rock band from Seattle that
released one EP in 1993. “Unless Mike has a
secret life we’re unaware about I’d say that one
is a rumor.” McGrath informs us. Then this one
is my favorite: McGrath was picked up by police
for shoplifting in Wal-Mart. When asked about
the incident McGrath can do nothing except laugh, “Alright, alright, so I wanted to buy a
coat, but first I grabbed a carton of Orange Juice and I was drinking it, because when ever
I’m home and at the grocery store I’ll grab chocolate milk and I’ll drink some and pay for it
[when I check out]. So I put down the Orange Juice, while I check out the coats. This cop,
at Wal-Mart picks up the half full orange juice, and says ‘Sir this isn’t a buffet’ and I was
like ‘I was just checking out the coats’ so he says ‘let’s go.’ He takes me to this little police
station that they have inside the Wal-Mart. The guy was so rude, I told him I was going to
pay for it, needless to say he didn’t believe me, he had to search my “person” I was being
cool I was respectful saying yes sir, no sir, and he grabs my one hand and says ‘you move
I’ll break your fingers!’ then he starts throwing my property out of my pockets all over the
place. He puts me in handcuffs while he goes and talks to the manager, and I talked to the
manager and they let me go as long as I paid for the 94 cent carton of orange juice.” He
says with a smirk. Well did he get a coat “I think I went to another Wal-Mart the next day.”
He adds.
Formed in 1998 in what some may call the hardcore and metal capital of the United States,
Unearth quickly came up through the ranks of the Massachusetts scene through
unpredictable breakdowns and provoking lyrics; two things that seem to be missing from
the current metal scene. “We decided to go another direction than the other bands that are
metal or are being called metal, that were adding the clean style and pretty vocals about
their girlfriends.” McGrath says of some other bands sound. “I mean, either you’re metal or
you’re not. Metal isn’t broad enough to have all of these sub genre’s, either it’s metal or it’
s not end of story, and we’re metal.” McGrath says.
Metal indeed, on their latest release III: In The Eyes of Fire, a record that is now over a
year old, McGrath and company pulled out all the stops. In The Eyes of Fire was recorded
in a very obtuse way, in every sense of the word. Recording was done very organic,
without the use of a click track. A click track helps artist stay in rhythm, to make the sound
polished. Well maybe polished isn’t the best word to use when referring to Unearth.
coat, but first I grabbed a carton of Orange Juice and I was drinking it, because when ever
I’m home and at the grocery store I’ll grab chocolate milk and I’ll drink some and pay for it
[when I check out]. So I put down the Orange Juice, while I check out the coats. This cop,
at Wal-Mart picks up the half full orange juice, and says ‘Sir this isn’t a buffet’ and I was
like ‘I was just checking out the coats’ so he says ‘let’s go.’ He takes me to this little police
station that they have inside the Wal-Mart. The guy was so rude, I told him I was going to
pay for it, needless to say he didn’t believe me, he had to search my “person” I was being
cool I was respectful saying yes sir, no sir, and he grabs my one hand and says ‘you move
I’ll break your fingers!’ then he starts throwing my property out of my pockets all over the
place. He puts me in handcuffs while he goes and talks to the manager, and I talked to the
manager and they let me go as long as I paid for the 94 cent carton of orange juice.” He
says with a smirk. Well did he get a coat “I think I went to another Wal-Mart the next day.”
He adds.
Formed in 1998 in what some may call the hardcore and metal capital of the United States,
Unearth quickly came up through the ranks of the Massachusetts scene through
unpredictable breakdowns and provoking lyrics; two things that seem to be missing from
the current metal scene. “We decided to go another direction than the other bands that are
metal or are being called metal, that were adding the clean style and pretty vocals about
their girlfriends.” McGrath says of some other bands sound. “I mean, either you’re metal or
you’re not. Metal isn’t broad enough to have all of these sub genre’s, either it’s metal or it’
s not end of story, and we’re metal.” McGrath says.
Metal indeed, on their latest release III: In The Eyes of Fire, a record that is now over a
year old, McGrath and company pulled out all the stops. In The Eyes of Fire was recorded
in a very obtuse way, in every sense of the word. Recording was done very organic,
without the use of a click track. A click track helps artist stay in rhythm, to make the sound
polished. Well maybe polished isn’t the best word to use when referring to Unearth.
- “We wanted things to sound natural.” Phipps comments. “We
wanted a live feel, we wanted to capture that.” McGrath adds on the
subject. For one of the first times in their career Unearth recorded
out of the state of Massachusetts, deciding to record in Seattle
instead. “We wanted to go out there so we could really get our
heads into the record.” Phipps explains, “We just wanted to change
things up.” He adds. They even managed to change up producers,
from their usual order of Adam D of Killswitch Engage, to Terry
Dates who has worked with Soundgarden, Deftones and Pantera
just to name a few. “We just wanted to do something different. A lot
of bands are working with the same producers, and we wanted to
take a chance on something else.” McGrath says with a nod. When
asked, whether or not they would work with Dates again they are a
bit reluctant to answer. “Maybe, we’ll see what happens.” is
McGrath’s delayed response. What McGrath will say though is that
for the next record, they will be on their own, recording in their
studio back in home and “With a few more Solos.” McGrath assures
us. From the sounds of it, they will be producing it themselves as
well. “We did a lot of producing work ourselves [on III: In The Eyes
of Fire]. He [Dates] did a lot of twisting the knobs, and kept an ear
on performance.” McGrath says. “Just letting the band be the
band.” Phipps adds, “And who can do that better than the band?”
McGrath asks.
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