After three years since their last album, Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids ) returns with a new fusion of industrial metal and metalcore . Released on March 13th, Underneath was hailed as one of the most anticipated albums of the year in its genre, especially notable for its release trajectory: a complex and well-crafted alternate reality game made via Discord.
Announced by the band in December 2019, the website whatisreallyunderneath went live to attract fans and get them started with the game. With the first click, you find yourself in a room with mysterious figures called 'Mudmen', which are 3D elements referencing the group's music videos. Like a kind of 360 VR, it's possible to see the entire environment where text codes, a phone number, videos, and even their Discord link are hidden.
The use of the platform was essential for the game, as there are bots programmed to accept the codes and give rewards to the players. Robbie Grantham , 27, from Georgia, United States, participated in this event from beginning to end. He was one of the first to receive a USB drive from the band with various pieces of information to continue solving the puzzles, and as the game progressed, other participants joined in to decipher the codes.
Code Orange held online Q&A sessions, rewarding the first ten fans who deciphered the messages with video clip props, photographs, and letters containing more clues for the following stages. The website underwent minor changes and updates as time passed and as the singles "Underneath," "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole," and "Sulfur Surrounding" were released. With each single, different rewards were distributed to those who managed to decipher the puzzles first.
For Robbie, a longtime fan, it was fun to participate in something so different, and it gave fans the opportunity to communicate with the band more directly. "The music is heavy and the lyrics are dark, but the overall message is about being the best version of yourself, despite the pressure the world puts on you," he said.
The entire concept of Underneath is based on the addictive, continuous use of technology, which consumes us and robs us of our originality. Other related themes, such as toxic relationships, futurism, lack of connection, and the feeling of being smaller in an ever-growing world (a particularly strong feeling in the track "Sliver"), are also intrinsic.
While the lyrics are heavy and reflective about what the world is becoming, the melodies blend nu-metal, screamo, and hardcore punk with the aforementioned genres. Many electronic and melodic metalcore elements remain strong, however, glitches, synthetic effects, and breaks of total silence take the songs in a different direction.
It's easy to say that Code Orange brought a breath of fresh air to the genre, but it didn't please everyone. Many critics saw Underneath as innovative and creative in its approach, while others said that the inspirations from Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains , and even Deftones became too apparent, used as crutches, and the album became a copy. It's up to the listener to judge based on their own references.
