Caleb Shomo warned us: Pure Ecstasy is the album of acceptance, written with Jordan Fish (ex-BMTH) and Misha Mansoor. The result: Beartooth’s poppiest record — and the most divisive of their career.
On one side, the press approves: Kerrang! and Spill Magazine salute (4/5) a committed turn towards stadium rock, PopMatters (7/10) enjoys the tension between aggression and pop, and the critic average sits at an honest 77/100. On the other, fans grumble: 59/100 from users on Album of the Year, where « generic » and « corny lyrics » come up constantly, with « Stadiums » drawing the most fire.
The consensus truth sits in between: when the formula works, Beartooth write the most effective choruses of their career; when it doesn’t, you hear a metalcore band that left metalcore in the locker room. If you come for the aggression of Disgusting, walk away. If you own the guilty pleasure, it delivers.