Under the Skin (Code Orange album)

Under the Skin is a live album by American hardcore punk band Code Orange, released on September 4, 2020 through Roadrunner Records. Under the Skin was recorded at the Theatre Factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 30, 2020. The album features acoustic versions of some of the band's songs and one cover song.

Under the Skin
Live album by Code Orange
Released	September 4, 2020
Recorded	July 30, 2020
Venue	Theatre Factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Length	43:12
Label	Roadrunner
Code Orange chronology
Underneath (2020) Under the Skin (2020)
Code Orange video chronology
Last Ones Left: In Fear of the End (2020) Under the Skin (2020)

Background and release

Under the Skin was recorded at the Theatre Factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 30, 2020.[1] The album follows a similar format to MTV Unplugged.[1][2][3] The album was first broadcast live via Twitch.[2] The album was released on September 4, 2020.[1][2][3] The album featured acoustic renditions of songs from the bands discography, as well as a cover of "Down in a Hole" by Alice In Chains.[1][2][3]

Composition

The album features acoustic renditions of songs from the bands discography along with electronic backdops.[1][2][3] The album Kerrang! considers the album to "[hark] back to grunge’s glory-days while loading on electronic motifs."[1] They even called the rendition of "Autumn & Carbine" a "twangy electro-country nightmare."[1] The band utilizes electronic ambience and string on the rendition of "ulfur Surrounding".[4]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Dead Press	[5]
Distorted Sound	10/10[6]
Kerrang!	4/5[1]
Metal Hammer	[4]
Rock Sins	10/10[7]

Under the Skin was met with mostly positive reviews. Jack Fermor-Worrell of Distorted Sound praised the album stating, "Under The Skin is yet another astonishing notch for Code Orange to add to their belt, and further affirmation that this is a collective willing and indeed more than able to go just about anywhere with their sound."[6] Sam Law of Kerrang! complemented the stipped won performances of the album calling the performances "even more powerful."[1]

Stephen Hill of Metal Hammer called the album "a showcase for why they are head and shoulders above their peers."[4] Simon Crampton of 'Rock Sins praised the stripped down nature of the album stating, "they managed to strip down their songs and still manage to make them sound heavy, it’s just a different type of heavy, one wraught with emotions and goose bump inducing atmosphere."[7]

Tess Hofer of Dead Press was more critical of the album, "though certainly offering a different and unheard side of Code Orange, along with allowing to shed and expose what composes the menace of their work, ‘Under The Skin’ is an idea better in theory than in practice. For Code Orange, less is less and more is more."[5]

Track listing

Under the Skin track listing[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bleeding in the Blur (Acoustic)"	4:47
2.	"Who I Am (Acoustic)"	4:10
3.	"Autumn & Carbine (Acoustic)"	3:28
4.	"(Bugs)"	0:24
5.	"Ugly (Acoustic)"	3:17
6.	"Only One Way (Acoustic)"	3:42
7.	"(Quarantine)"	1:12
8.	"Down in a Hole" (Alice in Chains cover)	5:29
9.	"(Peace)"	0:28
10.	"Dreams 1 + 2"	4:44
11.	"(Dr3am)"	0:53
12.	"Sulfur Surrounding (Acoustic)"	3:54
13.	"Under the Skin"	2:41
14.	"Hurt3"	4:03
Total length:		43:12

References

1. Law, Sam (4 September 2020). "Album Review: Code Orange – Under the Skin". Kerrang!. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
2. "Code Orange Announce 'Under the Skin' Live Unplugged". Revolver. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
3. Rodgers, Jack (2 September 2020). "Code Orange Are Releasing Their Special 'Under The Skin' Acoustic Livestream As An Album This Friday". Rock Sound. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
4. Hill, Stephen (4 September 2020). "Code Orange's Under The Skin: modern metal visionaries redraw the boundaries again". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
5. Tess Hofer (5 September 2020). "Album Review: Code Orange – Under The Skin". Dead Press. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
6. Jack Fermor-Worrell (3 September 2020). "Album Review: Under The Skin – Code Orange". Kerrang!. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
7. Crampton, Simon (4 September 2020). "Code Orange – Under the Skin". Rock Sins. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
8. Hadusek, Jon (2 September 2020). "Code Orange Announce Under the Skin Digital Album and DVD, Featuring Alice in Chains Cover: Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 January 2021.

External links