The Surface (album)

The Surface is the fifth studio album by American rock band Beartooth. The album was released on October 13, 2023, through Red Bull Records and was produced by Caleb Shomo.

The Surface
Studio album by
Beartooth
ReleasedOctober 13, 2023 (2023-10-13)
Genre
Length37:29
LabelRed Bull
ProducerCaleb Shomo
Beartooth chronology
Below
(2021)		 The Surface
(2023)
Singles from The Surface
  1. "Riptide"
    Released: July 12, 2022
  2. "Sunshine!"
    Released: April 21, 2023
  3. "Might Love Myself"
    Released: July 21, 2023
  4. "Doubt Me"
    Released: August 25, 2023
  5. "The Better Me"
    Released: September 15, 2023

Background and promotion

On July 12, 2022, the band released the first single "Riptide" and an accompanying music video.[2][3][4] On April 21, 2023, Beartooth unveiled the second single titled "Sunshine!".[5][6][7] On July 21, the band released the third single "Might Love Myself" and its corresponding music video. At the same time, they officially announced the album itself and release date, whilst also revealing the album cover and the track list.[8][9][10][11]

On August 25, the band released the fourth single "Doubt Me" along with a music video.[12][13] On September 15, one month before the album release, the band released the fifth single "The Better Me" featuring Hardy.[14][15] The music video for "I Was Alive" was released October 13, 2023, coinciding with the album release.[16][17]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net7.5/10[18]
Distorted Sound9/10[1]
Kerrang![19]
Metal Hammer[20]
Riff7/10[21]
Rock Sins9/10[22]
Spill Magazine[23]
Wall of Sound9/10[24]

The Surface received generally positive reviews from critics. Anne Erickson of Blabbermouth.net called The Surface "an engaging album that takes some twists and turns...What's more, mixing more traditional metalcore, for which Beartooth are known, with dashes of country and straight-ahead rock make for a great blend, making The Surface a mesmerizing listen."[18] Katie Bird of Distorted Sound stated that "Whilst a couple of the songs don't quite hit all the right notes, the rest of the album is masterful...The band do try new things, but these just hint at what's to come, which leaves the future open. Beartooth have come a long way since 2012, and it is a joy to see them finally finding the light after so long in the dark."[1] Jake Richardson writing for Kerrang! considered the release to be "[...] a collection of tracks that are the best and most consistent Beartooth have ever sounded on record. The impression these songs make is instant, but scratch beneath the surface, and there's so much more to love about the heart, hurt and craft that has gone into this album."[19]

Metal Hammer gave the album a positive review and stated that "As a whole, The Surface is a sharp, poignant and blazingly cathartic celebration of life, warts and all."[20] Mike DeWald of Riff felt that Beartooth "[achieved] musical maturity and growth" with The Surface.[21] Simon Crampton of Rock Sins stated, "They manage to make music that is deeply personal, excruciatingly honest, accessible, catchy as hell and still heavier than most of what their peers are doing. This is another instant classic from a band that seems incapable of delivering anything less."[22] Melinda Welsh of Spill Magazine felt that lyrically, [Shomo shows] incredible strides on his journey to find a better version of himself."[23] Paul Brown of Wall of Sound was postive towards the album saying: "the innovation [Caleb Shomo] has made through the storytelling of this Disgusting, Aggressive, Disease, Below, The Surface needs to be commended. The way he's taken us on an adventure of highs, and plenty of dark and twisted lows is nothing short of inspirational. By capping it all off with this closing chapter, we see a role model in the making hellbent on encouraging positive change in the world and the way we look at ourselves in the mirror."[24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Caleb Shomo, except where noted

The Surface track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Surface" 3:54
2."Riptide" 3:31
3."Doubt Me" 3:10
4."The Better Me" (featuring Hardy) 3:15
5."Might Love Myself" 3:39
6."Sunshine!" 3:18
7."What's Killing You" 3:52
8."Look the Other Way"Shomo, Oshie Bichar3:07
9."What Are You Waiting For"Shomo, Drew Fulk3:05
10."My New Reality"Shomo, Richard Scarborough3:20
11."I Was Alive"Shomo, Fulk3:18
Total length:37:29

Personnel

Beartooth

  • Caleb Shomo – lead vocals, production, mastering, mixing, engineering
  • Zach Huston – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Will Deely – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Oshie Bichar – bass, backing vocals, additional production
  • Connor Denis – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

  • Hardy – guest vocals on track 4

Additional personnel

  • James Musshorn – additional engineering

Charts
Chart performance for The Surface
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] 38
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 24
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 24
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[28] 19
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] 12
US Billboard 200[30] 42
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31] 7
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[32] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[33] 6

References
  1. Bird, Katie (October 13, 2023). "Album Review: The Surface – Beartooth". Distorted Sound Mag. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  2. "Beartooth Surprise-Releases New Single 'Riptide'". Blabbermouth.net. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  3. Shutler, Ali (July 12, 2022). "Beartooth on surprise Backstreet Boys-inspired track 'Riptide': "There's no need to be scared of taking it too far"". NME. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  4. "Beartooth Streaming New Single "Sunshine!"". The PRP. April 20, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  5. Hartmann, Graham (April 21, 2023). "Hear Beartooth's unexpectedly happy new song "Sunshine!"". Revolver. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  6. Wilson-Taylor, James (April 21, 2023). "Beartooth Drop Singalong New Single 'Sunshine'". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  7. "Beartooth Debut Music Video For New Single "Riptide"". The PRP. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  8. "Beartooth Announces New Album 'The Surface', Shares 'Might Love Myself' Single". Blabbermouth.net. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. Carter, Emily (July 21, 2023). "Beartooth have announced their new album, The Surface". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  10. Wilson-Taylor, James (July 21, 2023). "Beartooth Announce New Album 'The Surface'". Rock Sound. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  11. "Beartooth's New Album "The Surface" Due In October, "Might Love Myself" Music Video Debuts". The PRP. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  12. Brown, Paul (August 25, 2023). "Beartooth Drop First-Ever F-Bomb on Self-Appreciation Anthem 'Doubt Me'". Wall of Sound. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  13. "Beartooth Unveil "Doubt Me" Music Video". The PRP. August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  14. Brown, Paul (September 15, 2023). "Beartooth Unveils First-Ever Collaboration with Country Rocker HARDY on 'The Better Me'". Wall of Sound. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  15. "Beartooth Team With Hardy On New Track "The Better Me"". The PRP. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  16. "Beartooth Reveal "I Was Alive" Music Video". The PRP. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  17. "Beartooth drop "I Was Alive" music video along with 'The Surface' album release". Lambgoat. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  18. Erickson, Anne (October 13, 2023). "Beartooth The Surface". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  19. Richardson, Jake (October 12, 2023). "Album review: Beartooth – The Surface". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  20. Swingle, Emily (October 11, 2023). "Beartooth's The Surface is a sharp, poignant and blazingly cathartic celebration of life, warts and all". Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  21. DeWald, Mike (October 7, 2023). "Album Review: Beartooth scratches beyond 'The Surface' on new LP". Riff. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  22. Crampton, Simon (October 13, 2023). "Beartooth – The Surface". Rock Sins. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  23. Welsh, Melinda (October 12, 2023). "Spill Album Review: Beartooth– The Surface". Spill Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  24. Brown, Paul (October 6, 2023). "Beartooth – The Surface (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  25. "Austriancharts.at – Beartooth – The Surface" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Beartooth – The Surface" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  28. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  29. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  30. "Beartooth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  31. "Beartooth Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  32. "Beartooth Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  33. "Beartooth Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
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