Six Feet Under - Unborn (2013)

   When Chris Barnes formed Six Feet Under, it became clear that it's going to be way more audience friendlier by its retired, middle speed groovy themes than Cannibal Corpse. Party compatible music in the Obituary way, so to say. But despite the slowly but determined uprising success and mainstream status that the band earned eventually, it was also clear that this style cannot offer many opportunities, especially if a band is formed by Al Bundy-like boomers. With time the whole thing collapsed into forgettable boredom, and not even the "Graveyard Classics" albums have been able to change that, though the idea seemed to be interesting and funny at first. 

   However, after reaching the very depths, something happened to Six Feet Under that allowed the band to rewrite unwritten rules: a lineup change that had very advantageous effect on their music. Getting rid of the former rhythm section (Greg Gall - drums, Terry Butler - bass) turned out to be the best thing that happened with the band so far. It might be not an exaggeration to say that the band's 11th full-length album (Graveyard Classics included) "Undead" became the best Six Feet Under album so far. On the following album "Unborn" this line was continued but extended even further, and embedded into better sound. If it's about old bands with longer discography, usually the early albums are the best ones (with a few exceptions, like Pantera), and lineup changes also rarely leading to such refreshing results. And a musically uprising series of albums are even less likely to happen, but this is exactly what happened. Previously their repetitive, monotonous groovy themes have been so dead, that the band's name sounded pretty accurate from other perspectives too, but since "Undead" yet unheard diversity filled these themes with life. Such a drastic drastic change is one thing, but so diverse groove metal is also pretty unusual. Stepping back to the more complex themes of old school death metal, and involving other, more technical influences by the new band members worked just perfectly alongside the groovy basics. "Unborn" (and "Undead") are recommended even for those, who haven't been impressed by older Six Feet Under records.