Boundaries – Yearning: the unbeautiful after
Release Date: 17th July 2026
Label: Sumerian Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Metalcore, Progressive Metalcore.
FFO: thrown, Half Me, Varials, Guilt Trip, Bodysnatcher.
Review By: Mike Leighton
Metalcore titans, Boundaries, are slated to drop their heavily anticipated fourth LP Yearning: the unbeautiful after this Friday 17 July 2026. The members of this ensemble are no strangers to letting emotion (rage, pain) fuel their unrelenting heaviness when it comes to their music, and Yearning continues this tradition. Boundaries currently consist of Matthew McDougal on vocals, Cory Emond and Cody Delvecchio on guitars, Nathan Calcagno on bass and vocals, and Tim Sullivan on drums/vocals. This will be the first release since the band signed to Sumerian Records. Signing to Sumerian has really allowed the band to shine on this release as they’ve clearly helped to highlight the varied individual talents of each member, while the band continues to seamlessly blend those same talents into thrilling pieces (as they always have).
Yearning was first introduced to fans through four singles, “Skies cast amber black” being the first and really highlighting Boundaries’ abilities but not pushing past what fans know and love. The next 3 singles, “Death will follow me”, “May this pain never leave”, and “Only endless” all highlight different aspects of this album’s sound from the more melodic metalcore all the way to soul-crushingly heaviness Boundaries are known for. Boundaries never stray too far from their signature sound while still presenting plenty of experimental elements to keep things fresh and exciting. “Death will follow me” was my favorite of the singles because it showcased everything that I fell in love with Boundaries for while also highlighting their growth as songwriters and as a cohesive unit.
The first non-single track that really grabbed me and shattered all expectations I had for this album was “Torn open wide” featuring Make Them Suffer. This track features some great instrumentals, but what really solidified it as a top track was the duality between Matthew and Sean Harmanis, of course, but also the duality between unclean vocals and the clean vocals presented when Alex Reade sings at the end of the track. Her singing, the abrupt shift in the track’s tone, and the beautiful eeriness that came with her vocals really made this track stand out – truly a must-listen for fans! “The leper’s bell” was another album highlight due to the clean vocals; they had a major, almost uplifting, tone to them that juxtaposed Matt’s dark, minor vocals which I found very interesting and made the track a standout one. Another track that highlights how far these guys have come was “Nothing, gathered”. “Nothing, gathered” was, in my opinion, a perfect track, from the composition and technicality to the overall performance. What really made this one stand out to me was the old-school metalcore guitar riffs throughout. Cory and Cody really showcased their abilities on this track; I think fans of older metalcore will come to appreciate it, and it is bound to be a great track to see live!
Overall, Boundaries took the best parts of their last albums and fused them in the perfect blend of heavy vocals, melodic singing and some phenomenal old school metalcore riffs accompanied by a sonic assault of drums. Yearning: the unbeautiful after is an easy contender for album of the year, and personally, I think it will hold up quite well to the test of time. Yearning: the unbeautiful after is the perfect length for an album coming in at just over 47 minutes, it leaves no stone unturned and is some of Boundaries best work to date; showcasing their growth as musicians and willingness to experiment with their sound. I eagerly look forward to what the rest of the fans think and what successes this album brings the band!
(5 / 5)
