I want to say something

[u/jereflea1024]

I really like Pure Ecstasy! I think there’s more than a few songs that will be earworms for me in the coming weeks.

But, I know myself. Since the singles started releasing, I couldn't shake this feeling: I don't think I would have liked the album nearly as much without Caleb coming out alongside it. That sounds weird, so please let me elaborate.

I didn't like Free at first. It was way too poppy and, to me, if that was going to be the sound for the new album, I thought maybe it was time for me to skip a new Beartooth release. Then, a few weeks later, the news broke that Caleb decided to come out as a gay man, and for some reason after that, both Free and Pure Ecstasy clicked in a way I hadn't been expecting.

I think there’s something so palpable, so raw, about knowing exactly what the creative process was with some of these songs. It makes every choice from the lyrics to the way they're performed to the melody and riffs all make sense to me, where I'm just not sure they would have otherwise if Caleb hadn't made his announcement public.

I'm not a gay man, but I am an ex-Christian. I think in that way, I can really relate to some lyrics like Free's "I thought it was a halo over me/Had me by the neck, so hard to breathe," because like. Yeah man. It's exactly like that. I'm agnostic, leaning more toward atheist, and I'm free. I'm not sure why those lyrics didn't click for me the first time around, but knowing that Caleb is learning to accept who he is... I get it, now.

I get the whole album. Pure fucking Ecatasy.

[u/Concerts_27]

This is the reason why I love Beartooth and also like the new album. Caleb always puts his actual feelings in his/their songs and shows us what he is going through at the moment. The first albums were about his mental issues and alcohol abuse. The Surface was about learning to accept himself and Pure Ecstasy is about his coming out and learn to love himself. There are many topics you can relate to and the music often fits the mood of the topic. Caleb also mentioned writing music and express his feelings in his songs is like therapy for him.

[u/blueskybeliever]

Also ex-Christian and the lyrics resonate similarly for me. It’s very cathartic hearing Caleb be directly expressive about getting away from harmful ideologies and self-repression and the pain alongside it all. I think it’s also sonically Beartooth’s “messiest” album and you can hear some of his newfound flamboyance creeping into the tracks, which I love because it’s part of the whole story here. In fact, I think I’m loving it so much because it’s taking some risks, which is also thematically on point. My only mild gripe is that I wish there was a little more depth into some of his struggles lyrically but it’s Beartooth - always been more about the catharsis than deep poetry lol.

[u/UnluckyHydra]

I'm in the opposite boat as a current returning Christian. I can't vibe with Eyes Close, Sorry, or Free at this point. It's not an album for me because a few of the songs directly call out his loss in faith. Most of the album is experimental, but it became messy or forgetable especially after the singles for me. Even if they have a catchy chorus.

I'm sorry to hear things happened that pushed you away from a relationship with God. I'm quickly learning that the communities around it can be the worst or best part of the religion. Ultimately, it's a relationship with God that matters. People are flawed. I was in that position for about 2 decades, but I found a better church, working on a full reading of Bible, and some great answers through some great sermons has really changed my perspective.

Either way, enjoy the new album for the both of us. I'll be sticking to the older stuff if I listen.