Beartooth - The Surface

When Beartooth booted us in the face with the unapologetically heavy, arena-invading 'Below' during a pandemic, it was like the world was their oyster. Built on vocalist Caleb Shomo confronting his demons during his basement sessions, 'Below' was an introspective exorcism we all needed.

Its follow-up 'The Surface' shoots for stadiums, and while it's ready-for-the-radio synths and sing-along choruses are bigger than ever, it sounds like Beartooth are too afraid to swim out the shallow end.

'The Surface' starts strong, suggesting it's the WrestleMania 3 of 'Below': 'bigger, better, badder!', 'Riptide' and 'Doubt Me' are undeniable bangers, anthemic sing-alongs shifting effortlessly into crushing, crunching riffs that slam so hard, they might as well shout "finish them!" But the Hardy-featuring, country-core of 'The Better Me', and the sold-out, sun-soaked, radio-rock of 'Might Love Myself' drop the ball. Later on, closer 'I Was Alive' sounds like State Champs stole Caleb Shomo's car and took it for a ride.