Since their inception, Florida's Underoath has evolved from a run-of-the-mill Christian metalcore band into a fluid, dynamic, and energized rock group that adeptly blends emotive melody, charged punk rock rhythm, and chunky, engaging bottom end. Underoath formed in 1998 in vocalist Dallas Taylor's bedroom. Within a year, the group -- with guitarist Tim McTague, drummer Aaron Gillespie, and keyboardist Christopher Dudley -- had inked a deal with Alabama's Takehold record label. In July 1999, Underoath released the six-song Act of Depression CD, which sold over 2,000 copies. The five-song Cries of the Past followed a year later, selling over 3,000 copies.

In 2003, Underoath supported The Changing of Times through their first stint on the Vans Warped Tour, but their participation in the tour came to a screeching halt when lead singer Dallas Taylor controversially left the band. Reasons for Dallas leaving the band are explained in Alternative Press [#219]. Taylor was asked to leave Underoath by guitarist Timothy McTague after a disagreement within the band. Taylor is now the lead singer for Southern metalcore outfit Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.

Underoath dropped off the rest of the Warped Tour and the band’s future was in considerable doubt. However, the band then went on a supporting tour with Atreyu that fall with Winter Solstice vocalist Matt Tarpey as the temporary vocalist. Then later in the year, at the CMJ Fest in New York City, the band reappeared with new lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain, formerly of This Runs Through.

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