:: Underoath - 777

Underoath

Although hinting at greatness with their sophomore effort ‘They’re Only Chasing Safety’, it wasn’t until the release of their third effort ‘Define The Great Line’ in 2006 that Florida based Christian post-hardcore/metalcore act Underoath delivered on the promise of their previous album’s potential. In the eighteen months since the release of ‘Define The Great Line’, the sextet have toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia, all the while documenting their exploits both on and off the road for their first official DVD release ‘777’. Split into three parts, ‘777’ opens up with a forty-three minute documentary ‘Moments Suspended In Time’, covering the group’s European tour prior to the new album’s release right through to a trip to Sweden to film a couple of promotional video clips.

Although promising to be an in-depth and interesting documentary, ‘777’ is uninformative and, quite frankly, more than a little boring. The footage of the band signing albums on the day of release of the ‘Hot Topic’ store lends an air of anticipation to the DVD, but it’s short lived with the bulk of the footage that follows coming across as random footage of the band waiting around backstage, catching trains/visiting tourist traps, hanging around airports and jumping off cliffs/swimming. There are a few moments of goofing around, but it’s hardly what you would call memorable or funny. The documentary does pick up a little with the footage of the band at Popcore Film Studio’s in Sweden to film two promotional video clips, but it’s not enough on its own to save the documentary.

The thirty-minute ‘MySpace Secret Show’ however is a little more rewarding, if a little on the short side. Professionally shot in St. Petersburg, Florida, the seven song set has some strong live performances from the band, but still doesn’t quite feel like a genuine Underoath live experience as a whole. The DVD finishes with promotional video clips for ‘Writing On The Walls’, ‘In Regards To Myself’ and ‘You’re Ever So Inviting’, all of which are pretty cool. Overall, ‘777’ is a disappointment. I can’t help but feel that after watching this, I still don’t have a sense for what the band is like on a personal level. And coupled with the fact that there’s little live footage, you have to ask why you would even bother with this release in the first place? For diehard Underoath fans, ‘777’ may very well be a must buy. But for the rest, save your money for the release of their next album, which is due sometime around mid 2008.