Unearth — The Oncoming Storm

intothewellsabyss
Jun 29, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On June 29, 2004, Unearth released their second full-length studio album “The Oncoming Storm” via Metal Blade Records.

This was Unearth’s first album with drummer Mike Justian and bassist John "Slo" Maggard, replacing Mike Rudberg and Chris "Rover" Rybicki respectively.

Background:

After touring and performing at festivals like the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, Mike Rudberg departed from Unearth days after their performance at The SXSW in 2003, having performed the show in the nude. Also Buz McGrath left for personal problems but came back shortly after. Unearth would then recruit Tim Mycek of Sworn Enemy as temporary replacement drummer and Kia Eshghi of Rumi on guitar. Before Buz returned, Mike Martin from All That Remains also filled in for him. After Buz's return, Adam D from Killswitch Engage also filled in on drums for the last two months of the year.

With Buz McGrath and new permanent drummer Mike Justian, of The Red Chord (and previously Post-Hardcore band Hassan I Sabbah), Unearth released “The Oncoming Storm”. The album was produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, and was their first major release through Metal Blade Records.

Touring:

That summer (2004), Unearth played at Ozzfest and would later begin touring with Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, and Lamb of God for the MTV Headbangers Ball Tour throughout the United States. They would also tour with Slipknot the following year. In 2005, Unearth performed in the first ever Sounds Of The Underground Tour with numerous bands like Norma Jean, GWAR, and All That Remains.

Re-issues:

A special edition of the album was released on October 18, 2005. It contained two bonus tracks, and a DVD featuring live performances, backstage footage, interviews, an inside look to the recording of the album and four music videos.

Critical Reception:

In his review for AllMusic, Alex Henderson writes;

“The Oncoming Storm” is all about the thrill of pure, raw exhilaration as well as emotional catharsis; Phipps' nonstop screaming is very cathartic for Unearth and their fans in the mosh pit. “The Oncoming Storm” falls short of remarkable, but it's a noteworthy, generally decent demonstration of metalcore's harshly exhilarating powers.”

Public Reception:

“The Oncoming Storm” was well received by the public. On RateYourMusic the album has an average rating of 3.43 of 5, based on more than 850 ratings, and on Sputnikmusic the album has an "excellent" average rating of 3.9 of 5, based on more than 1100 ratings.

On July 7, 2004 Nielsen SoundScan reported that UNEARTH's "The Oncoming Storm" sold 13,285 copies after its release and entered the Billboard album charts at No. 105.

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “The Oncoming Storm” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-oncoming-storm/57941883

Click this link to listen to “The Oncoming Storm” via Spotify: The Oncoming Storm https://open.spotify.com/album/24Zs2FvnL9o50PoFvsnozL

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Black Hearts Now Reign”: https://youtu.be/DpQrdopjkak

Click this link to watch the official music video for “The Great Dividers”: https://youtu.be/Je-3J6xn4Wg

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Zombie Autopilot”: https://youtu.be/gYKlEPrGTpg

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Endless”: https://youtu.be/vqjkBqvDq6U

Click this link to follow Unearth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unearthofficial

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Unearth — The Oncoming Storm

Background:

Touring:

Re-issues:

Critical Reception:

Public Reception:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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