UnderOath: Defying pre-conceived notions
October 26th, 2006 - Written by AngelTo tell you the truth, when given the opportunity to interview this month’s Feature artists - UnderOath, I had low expectations. I wasn’t familiar with the band and the little I did know, didn’t inspire me much. Metal music isn’t really my scene, although I can appreciate certain aspects of it, and the whole ‘Christian’ thing left me a little leery. I’m not sure why; I’ve been exposed to religion my entire life and albeit non-practicing, I grew up in a Christian household. In fact I can say that although non-religious, I very much respect the ideals of the Christian faiths.
Despite priding myself on my open-mindedness and the fact that one of CONFRONT Magazine’s mottos is to defy stereotypes, I sometimes succumb to the easiness of harboring presumptive notions and misguided judgments. Like many out there, my opinion of these Florida natives was based on one fact alone. I heard the word Christian and my guard was up.
In the days leading up to the interview, I was very nervous. Interviewing a band whose musical genre is known to you is one thing, but interviewing a band you are unfamiliar with, whose music eludes your auditory comprehension and whose open religious beliefs register automatic warning signals in your brain, is another. I spent a lot of time doing research and reading any material I could get my hands on. Eventually, I stumbled upon a few lyric sites and began reading the texts that comprise UnderOath’s 2006 release Define the Great Line. Although musically I had difficulties relating, lyrically their words touched me. I found nothing of the blatant preaching I was expecting. In fact, I could identify with much of the questioning, self doubt and desire to believe that can be found in frontman Spencer Chamberlain’s words. Relieved, I was now excited at the premise of meeting these guys.
The room in which the interview took place was a dark and dingy basement/dressing room area that UnderOath shared with Moneen and Silverstein, their opening acts on this stop of the tour. Our meeting began when Grant and James joined me at a large table in the middle of the room and stretched over its surface to shake my hand politely. Both looked sleepy and tired but were in good spirits.
I had debated a long time whether or not I should let them know of my less than versed knowledge of the metal genre, concluding that a little disclosure was better than false pretense. In my enthusiasm, what came out was “I have to be completely honest and tell you that I don’t really like your music”. Awkward! In an Olympics-worthy back pedaling effort, I quickly turned my addle-brained remark into a question and asked what they would say to someone like me, in order to incite them to give their music another listen.
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