Underoath: Aaron, or no Aaron, that is the Question!

For years, I listened to Underoath because of Aaron Gillespie. I'm a huge fan of his drumming, personally because I am a drummer myself. He is what inspired me, next to Dave Grohl to play. I was disappointed to hear he left the band, especially because they have been in my life and helped me through the tough times. When Disambiguation was released, I had my doubts. Where would the band be without the founder? I gave the CD a listen, and to my surprise, they are even better without him. Spencer Chamberlain, vocalist for the band , now shines on a level I never thought he could. Alternative Press stated he was a mix of Anthony Green (Circa Survive) and Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) in their December 2010 issue and I cannot argue. He pulls out these intense vocals screaming things like "I tore out my lying eyes so they locked me up preying on the innocent" in Illuminator. Being one of the best tracks, with lyrics like "How do I know what side I'm on," anyone that listens to Illuminator can feel the oh so human pull of good and evil inside themselves shatter the air around them. This is a common theme in Underoath's music, much displayed in 2006's Define the Great Line, an album I recommend to anyone. Underoath has definitely grown as a band, and has made it through Spencer's well known heroin addiction and Gillespie's split from the line up. When I met the band in 2008 at the Mayhem Festival, I expected very cool guys. What did I get? Spencer telling the crowd happy spring break in August, and Aaron with an attitude looking and sounding annoyed when I asked for a picture as he signed my CD. I was kind of disappointed, but I had seen them before at Warped Tour, and I have to say that show was a million times better, and so was the next years when they came back. It was obviously time for a split, considering all of the tension in articles and interviews and converstions on stage. Any fan could see that Aaron wasn't happy and needed a change. I don't know if he will find the same success that came with Underoath, but I do know that Underoath is better than ever without him, and I cannot wait to see them again. What do you think? Better with or without him?