Dave Nadolski - Vocals
Matt Nadolski - Guitar
Brandon Sidebottom - Guitar
Kenn Davis - Bass
Justin Hayden - Drums

            Under the Flood is among many new bands this year alone (as is the case in the past years) that are releasing their debut album. We here at Steal the Spotlight have review over a dozen debut albums this year. Where does Under the Flood rank among those bands? That’s a good question, but a hard one too. Under the Flood formed in 2005, found the perfect line up, started playing local shows and even some big national tours then they recorded their album, but without a label. Late in 2007 Koch Records called and the band signed with them and released their debut album in May of 2008. The Virginia band begins their album with a track named “In Vain.” It is a great opening act for this young up and coming band. They show that they are for real with their attention to melody and solid sound. It offers a wonderful chorus that you will find yourself getting into deeply. The title track spins off second. “The Witness” gives a taste of the smoothness of Dave’s voice and the cohesiveness of the band. “Remedy” introduces a sweet sounding track that exerts the passion and emotion that the band has placed over each and every song. Dave’s vocals are mixed well with the backing vocals and the music is smooth through each transition. The band comes back with a strong “Blown Away,” which does just what the title states. The song will get stuck in your head and you won’t be able to get it out, except this time it’s a good thing. The song is super infectious. The second half of the album starts with the track “Halos.” It’s a slower track with soul as “Signs” is a hard track with layers of vocals that flow like a river till the very end. “Endless” adds a new touch to the bands music as it introduces a piano. It is another passionate track lead by impressive vocals of frontman Dave Nadolski. In spots he sounds much like current tour mate Scott Stevens of The Exies (Cage Rattle’s Most Wanted Tour with The Exies, Deepfield, and Nonpoint). The album comes to an end with the song “The Bottom.” It’s the longest of the album and it like almost every track flow brilliantly, lead by vocals and steady guitar play. Overall this is a solid debut album with much to deliver to the fans. Perfectly laid vocals mixed well with smooth guitar play and steady drums. The band hits a path and sticks with it which is good and bad. You know what you are getting with them, a mature sound ready to blast the airwaves, but it’s bad in the sense that it will get very monotonous and lose its lackluster. More experimenting, more intense sound will further escalate the sound of the slower tracks. That will further enhance where they stand in the industry.    

Rating:  7 out of 10

My favorite tracks:

In Vain, Remedy, Endless

Track List:

1.      In Vain

2.      The Witness

3.      Open Me Up

4.      Remedy

5.      Blown Away

6.      Halos

7.      Stranded

8.      Signs

9.      Endless

10.  The Bottom