Underoath - Survive, Kaleidoscope [CD/DVD]

Underoath - Survive, Kaleidoscope [CD/DVD]
Record Label: Tooth & Nail / Solid State
Release Date: May 27, 2008

Live albums can be quite the tricky thing for bands (especially popular ones). In undergoing such an endeavor, they risk irritating and alienating fans by using a seemingly money-grabbing gesture or, in the case of many bands, sounding dramatically worse outside of the studio setting. For any who have been scarred by such experiences, fear not: Survive, Kaleidoscope will have you doubting every bad thing you’ve come to expect from a live album/video.

The true value of this package lies in the DVD, so that’s where I’ll start. Shot in 16:9 widescreen, the video quality is absolutely superb, and that, coupled with the fantastic lighting scheme and physical layout of the actual venue (The Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA), provides a feeling of immediate presence. While watching, I couldn’t help but appreciate the warm embrace of intimacy this DVD affords. Every detail is captured; no hand movement, head-whip, or fleck of sweat is left un-accounted for in this 84-minute blast to the senses.

To make things even better, the camerawork is breathtaking. The wealth of expansive moving pans and wide-shots reveals both the dynamic between different members of the band and the band with the audience. At the same time, the multitude of close-ups reveals both the subtle (guitarist James Smith) and the not-so-subtle (keyboardist Chris Dudley) movements and intricacies of each individual. When cut and inter-mingled, these shots create an experience that simultaneously captures the atmosphere of the concert and provides something entirely new and exciting.

Beyond the viewable content, the auditory experience is incredible. A big gripe with live shows is the poor audio quality, which results from some mix of distortion, feedback, audience noise, and temporary hearing loss. Fortunately, this DVD allows viewers the unique experience of hearing and seeing the band perform in a live setting without the loss in quality. Each scream pierces, each drum beat punches, each guitar riff soars. So even if you think you can pass on this because you’ve been to one of their live shows, trust me, you can’t.

The CD, while being the lesser of the two discs, is still awesome in its own right. Some may complain that each track was recorded in different locations along the band’s tour (as opposed to the single-set performance in the DVD), but in truth, this makes the tracks all the more engaging. Not only can viewers hear what is presumably the finest recording of each song, but they can also hear something that is a little different than what’s on the DVD.

I know it’s common for even moderately-obsessed fans to pass on live albums, which, given the live content that’s typically offered, is generally understandable, but not this time. Survive, Kaleidoscope is the sum of everything that makes Underoath one of the best metalcore bands of this generation. For anyone who has been to an Underoath concert, watching this DVD and listening to the CD will undoubtedly rekindle memories (I can distinctly remember crowd-surfing for the first time in my life at one of their shows). For those who haven’t, this package is about the closest you could ever hope to get to the real thing. My only complaint is that now I’m about to explode with anticipation for Lost in the Sound of Separation.

Recommended if You LikeNorma Jean; Alexisonfire; Chasing Victory

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