Act of Depression
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Act of Depression
| type = studio
| artist = Underoath
| cover = UnderoathActofDepression.jpg
| alt =
| recorded = March 1999
| venue =
| studio = Audiolab Studios, Tampa, Florida
| genre = {{hlist|Metalcore|death metal}}
| length = 55:55
| label = Takehold
| producer = James Paul Wisner
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Cries of the Past
| next_year = 2000
}}
Act of Depression is the debut studio album by American rock band Underoath. Released July 4, 1999, through Takehold Records, the album was out of print for some time as there were only 2,000 copies originally released.{{cite web| last= J. Downey| first= Ryan| title= Underoath Biography| website= AllMusic| url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p521422|pure_url=yes}}| access-date=March 23, 2024}} Solid State reissued this album alongside Cries of the Past on August 20, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/cPm1NZt8oA/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/cPm1NZt8oA |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Instagram post by Solid State Records • Jul 26, 2013 at 9:13pm UTC|website=Instagram|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}{{cbignore}}
Background and recording
Underoath formed on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida by vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Luke Morton.{{cite web |url=http://www.mp3.com/artist/underoath/summary/ |title=Underoath Biography |publisher=MP3.com |date=February 22, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207203958/http://www.mp3.com/artist/underoath/summary/ |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://media.altpress.com/specials/podcasts/AP_Podcast_8_UNDEROATH-1.m4a?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110175950/http://media.altpress.com/specials/podcasts/AP_Podcast_8_UNDEROATH-1.m4a|url-status=dead|title=Alternative Press Podcast – UnderOATH Interview|archive-date=January 10, 2016}} Morton was the one who came up with the band's name.{{cite interview| subject= Dudley, Chris| interviewer= Manuel Garcia| title= Underoath Interview May 4, 2006| work= drivenfaroff.com| date= May 4, 2006| url= http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2006/05/07/underoath-interview-may-4th-2006/| access-date= January 12, 2008| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080113013815/http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2006/05/07/underoath-interview-may-4th-2006| archive-date= January 13, 2008| df= mdy-all}} The two would recruit guitarist Corey Steger, bassist Octavio Fernandez, and drummer Aaron Gillespie from Tampa.{{cite interview| subject= Brandell, Grant| interviewer= Music Faith| title= Underoath Interview| work= musicfaith.com| date= July 2006| url= http://www.musicfaith.com/Interviews/7| access-date= January 12, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070403034223/http://www.musicfaith.com/Interviews/7| archive-date= April 3, 2007| url-status= dead}}{{cite web| title= Underoath Bio| publisher= Solid State Records| url= http://www.solidstaterecords.com/artist_bio.php?id=208&expand=1| access-date= January 12, 2008| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071224140211/http://www.solidstaterecords.com/artist_bio.php?id=208&expand=1| archive-date= December 24, 2007| df= mdy-all}} The members were all in high school at the time.{{cite interview| subject= Chamberlain, Spencer| subject2= Gillespie, Aaron| title= Interview With Underoath| work= Europunk.net| date= July 17, 2006| url= http://www.europunk.net/interviews/174| access-date= January 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090212191636/http://www.europunk.net/interviews/174| archive-date= February 12, 2009}}
After a year of touring throughout Florida, the band were signed to the Alabama-based label Takehold Records; around this time, Morton would leave the band. Underoath would record their debut album, Act of Depression, in March 1999. The album was produced by James Paul Wisner at Audiolab Studios in Tampa.{{cite web |publisher=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/act-of-depression-mw0002561200 |title=Act of Depression - Underoath |access-date=March 23, 2024}} Act of Depression would be released four months later on July 4.
Musical content and style
The style of this album has been described as metalcore with death metal influences.{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |year=2002 |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/976 976] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/976 }}
The hidden track in the original release, "Spirit of a Living God" begins with commentary by lead guitarist Corey Steger speaking about his description about God, talks about receiving Jesus Christ and that he dedicates the album to those that were victims to rape, suicide and depression. It features drummer Aaron Gillespie in the background of the commentary singing along with an acoustic guitar. After 15 seconds of silence (3:47 - 4:02), the song itself starts; it is an acoustic rock song that features singing vocals by Gillespie.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Alternative Press
| rev2 = Jesus Freak Hideout
}}
Act of Depression overall received mixed reviews.
Casey Boland of Alternative Press stated that the album sounds "hopelessly dated" by modern standards and that the songs are "complicated seemingly for the sake of being complicated." Boland wrote the album has "flashes of brilliance" but "doesn’t have the creative legs to stand the test of time." Boland concluded his review by saying "Despite its many flaws, Act Of Depression is a curious look at the humble beginnings of an influential band."
Opening track, "Heart of Stone", would later appear on the band's 2012 compilation Anthology: 1999–2013.
In 2023, Act of Depression was ranked last on Revolver's list of Underoath albums "From Worst to Best". The author said that while Underoath never released a bad album, they said Act of Depression was "severely underdeveloped."{{cite mag |magazine=Revolver |last=Enis |first=Eli |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/underoath-albums-ranked-worst-best/ |title=Underoath Albums Ranked: From Worst to Best |date=February 25, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2025}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Underoath
| title1 = Heart of Stone
| length1 = 5:50
| title2 = A Love So Pure
| length2 = 10:39
| title3 = Burden in Your Hands
| length3 = 6:28
| title4 = Innocence Stolen
| length4 = 6:35
| title5 = Act of Depression
| length5 = 10:23
| title6 = Watch Me Die
| length6 = 6:56
| title7 = Spirit of a Living God
| note7 = hidden track; sometimes credited as "Praise"
| length7 = 9:08
| total_length = 55:55
}}
On the 2013 re-release, "Spirit of a Living God" was removed, as well as the audio sample in the beginning of "Innocence Stolen".
Personnel
;Underoath
- Dallas Taylor – lead vocals
- Corey Steger – guitar, backing vocals
- Octavio Fernandez – bass
- Aaron Gillespie – drums, backing vocals on "A Love So Pure", lead vocals on "Spirit of a Living God"
;Additional
- James Paul Wisner – producer
- Greg – engineer
- Josh – mastering
- Tim Baron – illustrations, cover art
- Ryan Clark – reissue art
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Underoath}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Act Of Depression}}
Category:Solid State Records albums