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.
