Don’t let the band name fool you. The German outfit Undertow sounds nothing like Tool. The album opens strongly with the beautiful ‘A.F.A.I.K.’. Thinking the album can keep up this level is wishful thinking, ‘Slope’, ‘Code-X’ and ‘Gone’ (with Kirk Windstein from Crowbar singing along) are songs well worth your time but too many songs are so/so. In general you’ll find well-structured metal songs on Unit E, often slow paced and not seldom draped in catchy vocal lines and melodic doom core style guitar sounds. Singer/guitar player Joachim Baschin has a recognisable and convincing voice (a James Hetfield/Layne Staley hybrid). Undertow comes pretty close to Crowbar but lacks the necessary intensity and pure sludge that Crowbar so easily produce.

However, Undertows music, message and overall atmosphere are more straight in your face and have little room for musical details. Points could have been won on the production of the album. With a thin drum sound and too much emphasis on the guitar sound, the album smacks you around for a while but doesn’t have the power to knock you out. Unfortunately in most songs they’re relying too much on the same ideas and with an average playing time of more than 5 minutes (track one only lasts 13 seconds) per song Unit E has become an album with just as many ups as downs.