that's a really intense and kind of shitty way to put it. Bands usually stay style-adjacent as a way to retain fans. UO went from their heaviest and most creative sound to radio rock that is incredibly similar to Spencer's other project and some fans wish he would have left this sound there. Would it be them using "mental gymnastics" if it was a twangy country album and fans thought Aaron was trying to turn UO into The Almost? Those projects exist for a reason, and this album could have continued the progression of this band instead of becoming a hybrid of projects.
Finally gave this a listen on a run today and i really, really enjoyed it. In Motion, ihateit, and Teeth are my favorites so far.
So, what, you guys want two separate band names that are made up of the exact same 6 people? It's not just Aaron and Spencer who wrote this.
Like, I'm picturing a co-headling tour where "radio friendly Underoath" plays a set and goes "THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT!" and then the lights go dark, turn back on, and they're literally all standing in the exact same spots, the only difference being a change in backdrop for the "totally separate band" that says "HEAVY Underoath". C'mon, the 6 of them enjoy playing and writing together, this is silly. They can do whatever the fuck they want.
I want Thrice to re release all their albums under different band names since each album sounds so different.
Drove my wife somewhere tonight and had this playing quietly in the background. When we got home she asked me why she had a Linkin Park song stuck in her head...
Go listen to Bon Iver - Bon Iver, then Bon Iver - 22, a Million. Then come back and tell me if he gave a shit to stay, "style-adjacent," (a less obvious way to pretty much say "put into a box - sonically, styltistically, and creatively"), to retain fans. Bands change their sound as they mature, as their tastes change, or as they become uninspired to play the same shit over & over. If Spencer screams all his vocals on this album (like They're Only Chasing Safety), and Aaron is the only one who performs the cleans, none of you say shit & you all call it the darker sequel to They're Only Chasing Saftey.
Not to mention that bands are influenced by their respective side projects all the time. Hell Jim Adkins and Ryan Key pulled from songs that were originally side project songs and made them into JEW and Yellowcard songs respectively. (Not that much on here sounds like Sleepwave really at all. The closest ones to that sound are Rapture and Wake Me imo. Everything else is considerably different.)
Also, it's been 8 years since they released Disambiguation, and 10 years since the last time Spencer and Aaron wrote together for LITSOS. I can't imagine coming together and trying to pick up where you left off. That seems unnatural. A lot of life has happened in between that, and your tastes and what inspires you can change greatly.
Exactly the reason why I think their next album will be even better than this one. They've gotten the initial sequences all worked through: •the reunion •the tours •new writing •new album •new album tour (soon) Which means they're only getting more cohesive and comfortable with themselves.