Extinction(s)


Extinction is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Unearth, released on November 23, 2018, via Century Media. This is their first album to feature bassist Chris O'Toole and the last to feature rhythm guitarist Ken Susi.

Background and recording

Initial information about the follow-up to Watchers of Rule surfaced in early 2018 when Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, ex-guitarist of The Acacia Strain, revealed that he had been helping out with the new Unearth album by bouncing riff ideas with Unearth guitarists Buz McGrath and Ken Susi. In a February 2018 interview, McGrath stated that the band "got probably twenty songs written" for the new album. On March 16, 2018, the band officially signed worldwide deal with Century Media Records and revealed that recording of the new album would be started soon, scheduled for a tentative late summer or early fall 2018 release.
On March 26, 2018, the band entered Graphic Nature Studio with Will Putney to begin recording their new album. Drums were recorded by Adam Dutkiewicz, guitarist of Killswitch Engage. Bass guitar, guitar solo and vocals were tracked at the Brick HitHouse, and strings and piano were done by Randy Slaugh.

Release

On July 2, 2018, the band announced that the new album will be entitled Extinction, and released "Incinerate", the first single of Extinction. On September 18, 2018, the band revealed the release date, tracklist and artwork for Extinction, which would be released on November 23, 2018, through Century Media. A lyric video of the second single "Survivalist" was available for streaming on September 28, 2018. A music video of the song "One with the Sun" was released on November 15, 2018.
The band commented on Extinction:
The band also elaborated on the song "Incinerate":

Critical reception

The album was met with positive reception, with New Noise Magazine writing “The band presents a vast and engaging metallic sound while at the same time maintaining an important edge that never really lets up.” Metal Injection wrote “Metalcore haters will quickly dismiss this album, trotting out the usual lines about creative stagnation and so on. Extinction is clearly an album with an agenda, a series of songs intended to fire up live shows rather than break the mold and change the course of history, but turn it up until your ears bleed and you won’t give more than half a fuck.”

Track listing

Personnel

Unearth
Additional musician
Production