As soon as I received the new Boundaries album, I wanted to lock myself away from all of my responsibilities, throw on some headphones, and dive in. I was far from disappointed with the upcoming album, Yearning: the unbeautiful after, which will be released on July 17th, 2026. Boundaries began around 2013 in Hartford, Connecticut. The band has been through some growing pains and lineup changes, but that is not uncommon. Members: Matthew McDougal (vocals), Cory Emond (guitar), Cody Delvecchio guitar, vocals), Nathan Calcagno (bass, vocals) and Tim Sullivan (drums) are the musicians behind Yearning: the unbeautiful after. I went on an incredible journey while listening; allow me to take you with me.
Track one is titled “Malconscience” and begins with almost a menacing drum beat and riff. This song is right in your face and demands your attention. You get your first breakdown of the album about a minute in, and it hits you so hard that your body and neck automatically react. I absolutely love this song; it is a perfect setting for what you are about to embark upon.
“Skies cast amber black” has already been released. It is another heavy, aggressive song with double-bass drumming and glorious riffs. Seeing the positive reception from fans is a breath of fresh air, but also not surprising.
“May this pain never leave” has also been released, and this is the first time you hear any clean vocals. Don’t get too comfortable with those clean vocals, because they are few and far between on Ytbu, which I am more than happy with, given their insane energy and creativity moving forward in the album.
“Torn wide open” features Make Them Suffer, which is the collaboration I didn’t know I needed in my life. This song is so frantic, and I love every second of it. This one is an adventure on its own and might be my favorite on the album if there were any way I could pick. It takes dramatic twists and turns, and it ends with a haunting female vocalist (I assume Alex Reade, since it’s MTS) who interrupts the brutality in the most breathtaking way. “Life is a fucking nightmare, and no one makes it out alive”. Rough, but true. The lyrics match the song’s feel, and I am one hundred percent here for it.
“Bitter ash, bitter love” has the most exciting start, for me. I love the almost reggaeton feel. It is relentless and doesn’t let up. The breakdowns are smoother, but still provocative. At about 1:52, there is a very intriguing melodic riff. It is short, which works perfectly for the song, but it automatically caught my attention. I love it when songs can do that.
“Unequal whole” is a wild ride, too. Melody shifts around every corner, which is all too familiar, but it never gets old. The unnatural compositions are why bands like Boundaries have gained so much love and attention; it keeps you invested and guessing, and I think more music listeners, especially metal fans, want more of it. It is impossible to get bored. There are really short shifts to an almost positive feel, which is what makes it so incredible. You feel the mood shift with the ever-changing soundscapes. I got some In Flames feelings with this one.
“Death will follow me” has also been released, so I won’t go into a long-winded version of what you can already experience for yourself. I will say that while the second has clean vocals, it is still unforgiving.
“The leper’s bell” hits you out of the gate. No room to take a breath, just right into the metal massacre. This one has clean vocals as well, and this chorus breaks your heart. It is the duality of the frustration and sadness we have all felt at times: “Isolate. Shame. I don’t want you to see this side of me underneath my last mistake.” What a picturesque title for a song with so much emotion tied to it.
“Crowned and crucified” features Landon Tewers of The Plot in You. This song is so ingenious. There is a little quiet chug; it is brief, almost like a guitar fill, but it is so fun. Then, at 2:54, it amps up and fries your brain with some extra uniqueness for the rest of the song. To make matters even more crazy, at 3:25, there is a super creepy sound clip that is beyond eerie. I am writing this review at night, after watching a horror movie, so that part really hit its mark.
“Wasted angel” is just pure assault, but in a good way. Once again, they interject brief guitar parts that make the song even more captivating. Then the breakdowns are destructive and magnificent. I would love to be a fly on the wall while they were creating this album.
“Evidence of extinction”. Be still, my beating heart. The start of this song has another quick, creepy sound clip, then its ferocity is unwavering. How is each song even better than the last? Straight sorcery. The drums get some critical attention, and the vocals are unreal. This one really showcases what these guys are capable of. I think this one might be my favorite (she says, for the 10th track).
“Nothing, gathered” begins more structured with a catchy riff and progresses to clean vocals and smooth melodies. It is still a super complicated and impressive song, just with a more consistent groove. Don’t worry, you still get your seductive breakdown. Also, there is still a breathtaking ending to the song that breathes new life into an already great track.
“Only endless” has also been previously released, and I will post the video below. This is their ballad. Is that still a thing? What is funny is that it is still aggressive and savage at times. Just go into this album knowing this is the “slow one”; that is how fucking fantastic this album is.
It ends with “Yearning the unbeautiful after”. Anyone else notice they don’t capitalize anything in the song titles and the album title except the first word? I don’t know why, but I found that clever. If I get a chance to interview one of them, I am going to ask about this. It is clearly deliberate. The title track ends with ruthless verses and a calming chorus. There is a part of these lyrics that really hit me, and while it is in a different context from the rest of the song, I still feel these lyrics are so honest. “I put my faith in a world so fucking heartless. Set me free.” I think many of us feel this these days.
Overall, I cannot speak highly enough of Yearning: the unbeautiful after. I don’t do album reviews very often anymore, so that says a lot about how I feel about this release. I am hoping to have a chance to pick their brains on this, because I have so many questions. You WILL see this on my top albums of the year. It is as close to a masterpiece as you can get, and I cannot wait for you all to hear it in its full glory. Make sure you pick it up on or before the 17th of July, make time to listen all the way through, and share your thoughts with me when you do!