The Story of The Surface: By Beartooth

Hey, I'm back with another album review, this time I'd like to talk about the story behind The Surface by Beartooth, which isn't seen really as a concept album, but I believe that it shows the signs to be one. I'll briefly go over my views on each song to add to the whole story.

Timeline/Story: Look The Other Way, Sunshine!, The Better Me, Doubt Me, The Surface, Riptide, Might Love Myself, My New Reality*, ATTN.* (*these two are interchangeable), What's Killing You, What Are You Waiting For, I Was Alive

The Surface
This first song shows the protagonist, who in my eyes is Caleb Shomo, the lead singer. He's talking about how much of his life, he spent below the surface which is a metaphor as depression is often viewed as an ocean. He's trapped below the surface dealing with problems like depression, but finally after years of being under the surface, he's emerged and can look onto life with a better view.

Riptide
To begin, a riptide is a dangerous vortex in the water that can suck you under the surface. Riptide shows a glimpse into the feeling of dealing with depression and using it as a tool. This really works when talking about music, because Caleb is tired of making depression sound fine or okay through his music. He's tired of pretending it's okay that he constantly is feeling terrible because of depression, akin to a riptide pulling him back under the surface.

Doubt Me
This song is a personal favorite, this deals with Caleb abandoning everyone who has doubted him or helped bring him deeper into depression. He's now at a point in his life where he can look back and use everyone's doubt to fuel his fire for life. He's at a point where nobody can doubt him again, because he's finally found hope.

The Better Me
This song told a bit to grow on me, but this song is one of the best for dealing with depression. This song, like Riptide talks from a past point, presumably before The Surface, where Caleb is done being this person who is facing so many problems. He now swears to become the better version of himself where he is happy and hopeful.

Might Love Myself
This is another song that told a while to grow on me. This song takes place after Riptide, where after getting above the waters, he is in need of something to take the place of his depression, where he would hate himself. Now that he's finally beaten it and is becoming a better person, he has decided to take a shot at loving himself.

Sunshine!
Sunshine is a weird song to place on a timeline, but I view this as taking place right before he breaks through the surface. During a depressive episode, he decides enough is enough, and he needs something to help warm him up. Another metaphor for depression being cold and he wants some sunshine to warm him up. The warmth, I personally view as Beartooth, which gave him a escape to talk about his problems.

What's Killing You
I personally view this song as being near the end of this story, where he sees depression killing everyone around him, whether those people are family, friends or fans of Beartooth. He sees what's killing everyone, and it's killing him to watch people not be able to pull themselves above the surface.

Look The Other Way
I think this song is the catalyst which begins the story of this album. He either snapped at someone or something else happened which caused Caleb's entire world to collapse. This also introduces another character being his wife. During the final chorus, he reveals he feels like he is pushing his lover away due to his problems and showing everyone his darkest parts. This song to me, is extremely beautiful and really shows what depression can do to someone.

What Are You Waiting For
Another song near the end of the album, I view this song as an anthem to people who are waiting for something or someone to help them climb out of the depths. He's saying to everyone that there's no need to wait for something, the time is now to make your life better. Another of my personal favorites, it's such a good song.

My New Reality
This song begins the "final act" where he has already begun to get better, and sees this "new life," where he has finally found hope. A big part of the song is how this life used to be a dream. A dream to his depressed self where maybe one day, everything will get better, but now that dream has become his reality.

I Was Alive
This song has always been the finale to me, the perfect closer. This song to me is actually written to Caleb, he's reminding himself that he isn't going to live his life in fear, live like a zombie with depression. He's going to finally take life by the reigns and live it to the fullest, so when he dies, he knows that he didn't just live. He was alive.

ATTN.
This song came out as the only deluxe edition single, and this takes place somewhere in the middle of the album. I personally view this as a call for attention when he was finally getting himself help and getting to a better place. This song also talks about Caleb's personal journey before this album was released, the year he took to get better, work on his life and fall in love again.

Conclusion:
I personally think The Surface is such a good album, which really shows the journey of someone who faced deep depression but now has pulled himself out of the depths and is finally happy again. Now, Caleb is looking back and wants to help others get out of the depths to save everyone he can. This is personally, one of my favorite albums ever, you can tell that this album comes from Caleb's heart and from a better place.