The Above by Code Orange | Album Review

Reviewing the Pittsburgh-based hardcore band’s fifth studio album.

Listen to The Above: Apple Music | Spotify

When Code Orange dropped Underneath back in 2020, they dialed up the aggression with a slew of glitchy, industrial metal bangers. Reinventing their hardcore sound in a way not yet done before by a band of their caliber. Songs like “Swallowing the Rabbit Whole” and “Cold.Metal.Place” were jaw-dropping with their balance of metalcore and distortions. I could easily describe the album as a cyberpunk hellscape. The bar was set for what was to be expected from the Pittsburgh quintet going forward.

Leading up to the release of The Above I couldn’t help but feel they were dialing back a bit with the handful of songs they were dropping. 2021’s standalone single “Out For Blood” was less heavy and more in line with something Powerman 5000 would’ve made back in the early 2000s. The album’s lead single “Take Shape” featuring Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins continued this trend.

Regardless, I was still intrigued as to what Code Orange was going to show us for their next album. Despite them stripping back a lot of their experimentation in favour of something more lax and streamlined, I thoroughly enjoyed this album surprisingly. While there are a few instances that really don’t sit well with me, The Above is a solid addition to Code Orange’s discography.

The Above is very much in line with the style of the aforementioned “Out For Blood”. A bulk of the album has more emphasis on traditional heavy metal as opposed to the frenetic technicalities of its predecessor. While there are some nuances from Underneath, do not go into The Above expecting that same style of industrial metal. Songs such as “The Game” or “Grooming My Replacement” harken back to their hardcore days with chugging guitar riffs and Jami’s guttural vocals.

The album’s more “creative cuts” showcase the band’s attempts to reinvigorate their sound. and it works well here. “A Drone Opting Out Of The Hive” is a rage-inducing banger with chattering effects in the background of its pummeling sounds, making the song all the more anxious. “Mirror” is most likely the closest we’ll get to a full-blown alt-rock track from the band, with guitarist Reba Meyers taking over vocal duties.

I also have to commend how well the songs transition from one another. The switch from the slow-paced album opener “Never Far Apart” to the intensity that is “Theatre Of Cruelty” is practically seamless and will most certainly catch you off guard.

There’s a strong 90s influence in the production here, but unfortunately when The Above attempts to fully embrace that style, the album falters for me. The grungy appeal of “Circle Through” or the Nine Inch Nails-esque “Snapshot” are both very formulaic in structure and their place towards the end of the album is quite awkward. Speaking of which, this is where the album really starts to lose steam. After a relentless first half, the last few tracks disappointingly end the album on a sour note.

Code Orange’s songwriting has also been a highlight of their music. There are bouts of misanthropy and anger scattered throughout The Above. Whether it’s the existential crisis of having no free will on “But A Dream…” or the unnerving reminder that Code Orange has consumed us all on “Grooming My Replacement”. It’s your standard affair that the band has dabbled before in the past, and fittingly works well on this new album.

By far the standout track lyrically has got to go to “Mirror”, between the song’s alt-rock-inspired production (a left curve following the previous tracks) Reba Meyers takes center stage as she questions happiness. Do you feel fulfilled after achieving that goal? or are you just as empty as you were before? Factoring in her improved vocals here makes it one of the essential songs on the album.

Overall, despite my initial doubts before listening I thoroughly enjoyed this latest offering from Code Orange. It might not be as sonically diverse or as experimental as 2020’s Underneath but that’s totally fine. The band still manages to challenge your expectations with its more traditional hardcore sound and the 90’s metal influence throughout. While the production is lacking in some parts, especially towards the album’s end, The Above is a solid addition to Code Orange’s repertoire.

For my final rating, I’m giving The Above an 8/10. Personally, it’s one of the better metal albums I’ve heard this year, and one I find myself revisiting quite often at the time of this review. Code Orange is constantly reinvigorating their sound, and finding new ways to surprise their listeners. The Above is definitely going to be a shock to some fans, and I can only imagine what they’ll come up with next in the future.

Final Rating: 8/10

Favourite Tracks: Theatre Of Cruelty, Mirror, A Drone Opting Out Of The Hive, The Game, Grooming My Replacement.