BOUNDARIES - Yearning: The Unbeautiful After (Sumerian Records)

Boundaries Deliver Their Most Complete Statement Yet

The Riff Doctor's verdict:

RRRR

There are plenty of heavy bands capable of writing crushing breakdowns or delivering relentless aggression, but very few manage to balance sheer violence with genuine emotional weight. On their fourth full-length album, Yearning: the unbeautiful after—and their first release since signing with Sumerian Records—Connecticut metalcore outfit Boundaries sound more confident than ever, refining the formula that has steadily earned them a reputation as one of the genre's most exciting modern acts.

Born from personal grief following the tragic loss of close friends, the album carries a sense of urgency that never feels manufactured. Rather than simply using heaviness for its own sake, Boundaries channel frustration, mourning and introspection into fourteen tracks that constantly shift between suffocating brutality and moments of surprising vulnerability. It is an emotionally charged record that earns its impact through honesty rather than excess.

Photo: Sarah Holick. Boundaries - Matthew McDougal (vocals) • Cory Emond (guitar) • Cody DelVecchio (guitar) • Nathan Calcagno (bass) • Tim Sullivan (drums & clean vocals)

Much of that success comes down to the band's songwriting. The riffs are punishing without becoming repetitive, the breakdowns land with devastating precision, and the rhythm section keeps every song moving with controlled intensity. Producer Drew Fulk deserves plenty of credit too, delivering a mix that feels massive while preserving every layer of the band's dynamic approach. The album sounds modern and polished, but never sterile, allowing every crushing guitar tone, frantic drum pattern and anguished vocal line to hit exactly as intended.

Matthew McDougal once again proves himself to be one of the most compelling vocalists in contemporary metalcore. His ferocious screams remain the emotional backbone of the record, but the expanded use of clean vocals throughout the album adds another dimension rather than softening the band's identity. Instead of interrupting the aggression, the melodic passages create tension, making the inevitable return to chaos feel even more impactful.

The opening tracks immediately establish that balance. Skies Cast Amber Black wastes no time introducing the album's uncompromising atmosphere, while Death Will Follow Me—already one of the record's standout singles—perfectly encapsulates everything Boundaries have been building towards over the last few years. Crushing riffs collide with memorable melodic hooks, creating a song that feels both emotionally raw and impossible to shake after the first listen.

Elsewhere, Only Endless emerges as one of the album's most captivating moments. Slowing the pace without sacrificing emotional intensity, the track showcases Boundaries' growing confidence in exploring melody. The hypnotic clean vocals provided by drummer Tim Sullivan add a whole new dimension to the band's sound, creating a striking contrast with Matthew McDougal's ferocious delivery. That interplay between melody and aggression makes Only Endless one of the album's most memorable and emotionally resonant performances.

The guest appearances are equally well integrated. Landon Tewers of The Plot In You brings added emotional depth to Crowned and Crucified, while the collaboration with Make Them Suffer on Torn Wide Open injects even more intensity into an already explosive record. Neither feature feels like a marketing exercise; both serve the songs and complement the album's overarching atmosphere.

The closing title track ties the entire journey together, reflecting on the consequences of the choices we make and the time we dedicate to the things that define us. It provides a fitting conclusion to an album that constantly asks uncomfortable questions without pretending to offer easy answers.

Yearning: the unbeautiful after may not reinvent metalcore, nor does it need to. What it does is refine every aspect of Boundaries' identity into what is arguably their most complete and emotionally resonant record to date. Fans looking for relentless heaviness will find plenty to enjoy, while those willing to embrace the band's growing melodic confidence will discover an album with far more depth than its crushing exterior initially suggests.

With this release, Boundaries have not only made an impressive debut under the Sumerian Records banner, but also strengthened their position among the new generation of bands pushing modern metalcore forward. If this is the direction they continue to pursue, their future looks every bit as exciting as their present.

Jose Crespo for The Riff Collective