As the final notes ring out on Lost In The Sound Of Separation, it’s clear that Underoath, who’ve built their career on being both heavy and experimental, have delivered their most accomplished album to date. Succinct and resolute, there’s no denying the power of Lost In The Sound Of Separation, as the follow-up to 2006’s rapturously received and gold-certified Define The Great Line.

Underoath, whose last three albums count combined sales in excess of one million copies, have worked diligently to reach this creative apex while building what may be the biggest metalcore following in the world. “Breathing In A New Mentality” launches the new record with an ingenious false start that gives way to innovative ferocity.

“We wanted people to hear it and have a first impression like, ‘Man they must’ve cut a lot of corners,’“ says guitarist McTague of the disc-opener. “And then it kicks in and your entire car, blows up. We wanted to come out, blow them away. Just shut people up. And in doing that, we’ve made the beginning of the record very memorable.”

Beyond exceptional, it’s a breathtaking brain-rattling affirmation that the six men of Tampa, FL-based Underoath vocalist Spencer Chamberlain, guitarist Tim McTague, bassist Grant Brandell, drummer Aaron Gillespie, keyboardist Chris Dudley and guitarist James Smith, have taken a huge creative step forward.

The group recently shot a video for the scathing “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures” with director Walter Robot (Milosh “The City,” Modest Mouse “Missed the Boat,” The Pinkertones “Sexy Robot”) in Los Angeles. Expect more news about the clip soon.

By trusting their instincts, pushing their songcraft to the limit and meticulously perfecting it with Adam Dutkiewicz and Matt Goldman, the band has soared to new artistic heights with Lost In The Sound Of Separation. “The Created Void” offers a melodic reprieve. “Naturally we are a heavy band and we want to put our best foot forward in that respect, McTague says. “I love ‘The Created Void,’ one of the most melodic songs we’ve ever done, the bottom line is everything sounds the way it does on the record because we agreed that’s how it should sound, whether it’s heavy or melodic.”

“We’ve had to work hard at being open-minded about our own art and let it flow naturally”, McTague continues. “We love melodies, but our instincts usually go in the other direction.”

Defying the band’s traditional approach, the uplifting “Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear” is a beautiful near ballad lighter destined to become a fan favorite. “I originally wrote the music without intending for it to be a quote-unquote accessible song,” McTague says of the memorable soundscape. “It was a slow-paced, slowed- down jam-out song.”

With such a diverse musical display coupled with the input of six opinionated souls, the completion of Lost In The Sound Of Separation thanks in part to the skilled mixing of veteran David Bendeth is an epic achievement. “We laboriously toiled over this record,” Gillespie admits.

“Even when we’re in the studio, I don’t think we are all ever totally happy. There is constant change and flux until we’re done. We always push ourselves to make the best music imaginable.”