REVIEW: UnityTX - Somewhere, In Between…
- Julia Brunton
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
UNITYTX look for catharsis on their sophomore album Somewhere, In Between…, creating fourteen tracks at the highest quality of modern Nu-Metal. Every number on Somewhere, In Between is in equal parts raw and resolute, set onto their signature hip hop/metal fusion which has only become heavier and more layered between album one and album two.
From album opener Sabotage the swinging metal soundscape catches the attention with a high pitched scrubbed electro-melody for an introduction; before the minute mark of Somewhere, In Between the first breakdown hits featuring a rich lower toned scream and the first of a few barks of the album. This flows straight into first single Heinous, a “this is where we’re at” track not afraid to get in your face, already describing itself in its sample as a “textbook sign of aggression” as SHAOLIN G speaks on isolation and inner turmoil. The scream/rap harmonies are sharp as are the punchy drums throughout the choruses.
Lucid in one word is cold: the chorus is screamed as its first introduction on an icy, high pitched power guitar soundscape while the hook of “I feel it creeping down my spine/ I see the very thing I fear becoming my demise” having a pursuing feeling within it that aids in the 100 mile an hour driving bear. Lucid feels like a squaring of the feet as along with this feeling of perusal there is a want to persevere present within its lyrics, and features more sung clean vocals, which fit well within the track and become a new feature of UNITYTX’s sophomore album.
Second single is Body Roc which is interesting in its double entendre, with the gravelly rap on top of a lower pitched beat giving a flirtatious feel to this “I am him” track. This feeling flows well with Paranoia, which brings the guitars and drums back for the only clearly romantic relationship themed song, keeping the feeling of isolation and misinterpretation present in Somewhere, In Between as it details the frustration of trying to build a relationship with someone expecting the maltreatment of their previous experiences.
At this point in Somewhere, In Between the idea misinterpretation and demonisation feels clear, making Fuck Tha World a perfect response as it approaches its halfway point. At this point the tempo begins to slow, with rich power chords making up the intro before a testimonial inviting the listener to be pushed to breaking point then needing to atone for the shards cutting other people. This breaking point becomes clear by the midway point as SHAOLIN G raves in the middle of the song, declaring himself finished with the voices from the outside before the final refrain goes from a clean vocal to a spat screamed one, reaching lower pitches that finishes Fuck tha world on a sharp note of discontentment.
Testimonial is also the word for the rawest track on Somewhere, In Between Ready to Die pt2. The organ-like synths affront the ears before a clear picture into suicidal ideation, explaining in plain terms “feeling incomplete” and the why and hows of wanting to take ones own life. On top of the organ like synths is a melody that’s violin reminiscent and structured like the jaws theme song, completing a creeping soundscape as if Ready to Die pt2’s themes are coming up behind UNITY TX.
The second act of Somewhere, In Between opens with Enjoy Tha Show, and marks a shift into the what’s to come rather than what has happened before, picking up the pace with a higher tempo and the announcement that they’ll be “I’m expressing myself/standing my ground” in its chorus and being unapologetic in staying loud. The floor lead drums chop and change around the kit for the intro then focus on a sharp hi-hat led drumline with hidden-snare motifs, transforming in the breakdown and final third with the introduction of the double bass drum that showcase Jonathan Flores’ ability to mix hip-hop and metal drumming conventions seamlessly.
Partial-title track In Between… marks the return of the lower scream as well as the clean vocal as it faces UNITY TX’s demons head on. It feels more optimistic than the tracks previous, declaring that it’s “time to deal with the pain” and needing to keep going. In Between… feels like a Beautiful Oblivion track but better written with the clean vocals lifting atop the swinging guitars and crash-heavy drum lines, adding to the transcendent themes of the lyrics and ending too soon despite being one of the longer tracks on Somewhere, In Between.
Fitting for the narrative theme the next three tracks regress into the anger that isolation bring - Come N Go (Nu Jax) speaks on those in your life switching up, picking up the pace and focusing more on a metal soundscape that has a wonderfully Madboy EP feeling to it, while Inside Out brings on LA electro-rockers HOUSE OF PROTECTION maintains the energy with a promise of not slowing it down over 2 unrelenting minutes, gut-punching breakdown punctuated perfectly by its midpoint arf. Final single STFU is the biggest track on the album production-wise, filling its soundscape with slow power chords and heavy china cymbals creating an intensity as the verses builds tension and speaks on not seeking to be looked up to. It takes the themes of isolation and performs them rather than seeks to remedy. The trio are short, angry, and create energy as UNITY TX set up to finish their sophomore album.
Contempt is a forty second interlude before album closer Crash N Burn, priming for the final track with gothic beats before the final drumline starts. The vocals mix the rap and the low scream present throughout perfectly, slowing the tempo for this final track to foreground the tension that UNITY TX are speaking on as they muse on “covering everything in gasoline and burn[ing] it all.” The beat switches into a 6-beat bar seamlessly as Crash and Burn prepares for its crescendo, the chorus devolving more and more into screams; the spoken word takes the time to ask what crashing and burning will mean before launching into a breakdown no less than gnarly - drop kick a baby, end a bloodline gnarly - swinging as SHAOLIN G growls the final bridge and finishes on it being “never f*cking enough.”
UNITY TX are looking for their flowers, and Somewhere, In Between shows they’re more than deserving. A band that has spent a decade perfecting their sound, hopefully their steady build will turn into the explosion to which they are entitled as the metal community returns to nu-metal into the 2020s. In any case, Somewhere, In Between is already a strong contender for album of the year, and we can’t wait for them to come back to the UK.
Score: 9/10
Somewhere, In Between will be released on Friday 13th March 2026 via Pure Noise Records.
Words: Julia Brunton
Photos: UnityTX
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