"Upoffthefloor" couldn't be a more fitting title for this release. In fact, this album has been forced to lay upon the floor ever since the bands then label 1500 Records folded back in 2001 just as it was about to see a release. Three years later the red tape has been pruned away and the album is finally hitting stores through Megaforce, even though the band themselves have pretty much dissipated with former members now pursuing their own projects these days.

Given the time that has passed since this album was recorded, there's no question that some of the material sounds a tad dated. But fortunately enough, God Lives Underwater were a band who weren't too intent on writing music that was entirely relevant to the mainstream audience. Featuring a stylized sound that is dark and electronically driven with ample moments of introspection; a wealth of the songs included here come off like nine inch nails-lite. Their bleak sense of loathing and dim hope is shoehorned into groove heavy structures that often glisten with razor sharp guitar riffs and nearly danceable drum breaks. The brooding melodic vocals fit this demeanor well and the material here clearly shows why the band have garnered themselves a loyal cult following that remains to this day, even after such a long bout of relative inactivity.

Ultimately though, in a scene where 'traditional' metal now reigns supreme, the prospect of an album that brings back to mind the late 90's industrial/electro metal sound may not be all that appealing to some. While the tracks here do generally stand the test of time, their general structuring can be a bit restrictive, leaving a taste for freeform creativity to be desired. With other artists like Filter and Celldweller having already plowed this field of music to yield sizable results, there's really not a lot left for God Lives Underwater to cultivate. In its time this album surely would have made a significant impact, but at present, it just doesn't have the edge or bite necessary to really leave a lasting impression - even though it does have its moments.