Review: Whitechapel gets political on ‘Our Endless War’ album

Stephanie Markham, Verge Editor

Whitechapel has got something to say about the commonplace hypocrisy and idiocies of the nation, and the group is saying it loudly with no trace of sugarcoating and every inclination toward revolution and perhaps a little anarchy.

The deathcore group from Tennessee recently released its fifth studio album, “Our Endless War,” in which it did not hold anything back with its Rage Against the Machine-like criticisms of American government along with some insights into moments of dark, emotional turmoil.

This album, though not very long at scarcely 45 minutes, is packed with palatable heaviness, from triple-guitar harmonies to double bass assaults and masterful guttural vocals.

The album starts off with some march-inducing drum patterns and dramatic guitar notes on the brief instrumental introduction “Rise.”

Then, the band gets right down to business on the title track.

This song is fast paced and relentless, and yet the melodic bridges make it that much stronger and more complete.

And if listeners weren’t angry about anything before hearing this record, “Our Endless War” will certainly get them in the rioting, down-with-the-man kind of mood.

The song boldly states, “We can march at sundown upon Capitol Hill; we’re calling you out. Come face us now and see your true war.”

Perhaps the most clever and telling lines were “My country tis of greed, sweet land of idiocracy.”
Though ripe with these more political, Megadeth moments, this record is critical of not only the nation’s government, but of its people as well.

“Worship the Digital Age” points out how soldiers are fighting wars to defend people who only care about cheap entertainment, which the song suggests could lead to the fall of civilization itself.

The album also contains songs depicting personal struggles such as “A Process So Familiar.”

The song vividly describes the feelings that arise when dealing with problems like anxiety and addiction, and anyone who has ever felt the need to be isolated from the rest of the world will likely relate.

Meanwhile, songs like “Let Me Burn” and “Blackout” describe complicated internal conflicts and emotional distress.

This album is rich in lyrical meaning. There is no filler to be found, and the themes vary enough to take the listener’s mind down any dark avenue it wants to explore.

And Phil Bozeman’s vocals are at a comfortable middle ground between deep, guttural singing and high pitched screaming.

How he gets his voice on that specific level is unknown but certainly appreciated by fans of various metal subgenres and styles.

Critics praise this band as being one that could potentially define the deathcore genre with its distinct sound and musical flexibility.

The group has all the intricate musicianship of a death metal band combined with the ferocity and attitude of hardcore and punk bands.

Though not an incredible breakthrough from the band’s previous releases, “Our Endless War” without a doubt is a complex, well thought out contribution to the metal scene, and hopefully it will be a stepping-stone for the band to bring its sound to the next level in the future.

Stephanie Markham can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].