Unchained
Formed in July of 2010, Unchained is made up of members with a hell of a lot of experience between them, from bands like Ace, Dirty Side and Gorgon – all of which has fed into their own unique sound. Having written their album in a matter of weeks, forming a sound which combines catchy melodic heavy metal with death metal, in the form of Oncoming Chaos. Mixed by Damien Rainaud and mastered by Logan Mader (who has also dealt with Gojira, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy and Devil Driver), this promises to be one hell of an album to check out! I figured the best way forwards was for me to hit play and check out what these guys were producing for myself!
Opening with Infernal Death Machine we’re led into the track with a dark and ominous beginning, suggesting that there is some seriously heavy stuff to follow. Building and growing through the ominous opening moments, the riff which greets us to signal the beginning of the track properly is quite simply stunning, immediately throwing down with a real sense of groove orientated metal which would happily sit on the main stage of a serious metal festival. Heavy, fast, rolling and full of distorted elements, this track seems to grow from start to finish, incorporating the death metal style vocals but combining them with a real sense of melody and power, something which isn’t often achieved. As an opening track, this one seems to suggest damned good things to follow, and presents us with a band that I have a feeling we’re going to be wanting to hear more of!
No Scapegoat To Blame follows on and continues this idea, once again hammering onwards with a heavy assed riff and a sense of pumping, pulsating power. Intricate guitar lines combine with the solid backing riff, elevating the track beyond the sheer heaviness and presenting us with a real sense of melody and musicianship. The sound here reminds me of Dark Tranquility combined with Arch Enemy, the sort of sound which is heavy, but accessible and the sort of thing you could have on in the background when you’re doing something else. Freedom Through Fire once again compounds this idea, opening with another almighty riff and pounding drum combination, this time throwing in some pinch harmonics to elevate the track to a whole new place. Slower and more defined than previously, this track harnesses that death metal power and combines it with a sense of groove orientated metal, the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving, people chanting, and a hell of a reputation growing for the band. To me, this is one of the best tracks on the album, there’s just something about it which seems to work damned well from start to finish, not putting the other tracks down, just standing this one out as one to check out.
Russia, Your Funeral, Death From Above and Stare In The Abyss all present us with further evidence that this is a band we’re going to have to get over here to gig sometime soon, each track presenting us with the bands own take on things and showing that when it comes to combining death and melodic metal, these guys seem to have found the key to success. It’s when The God Delusion takes over the lead though that a whole new high is achieved, opening with a faded in intro before ushering in an almighty smash in the face from a bass heavy riff, this track stands out as another serious high point on the record, and another track which you need to check out. Raw vocals combine with the powerful backing rhythms to form a sound which is heavy, melodic, accessible, and somehow groovy – suggesting that this is going to be circle pit territory when this is played live. The sound of the band on this record is quite simply stunning, showing how professional the production has been on it, and allowing us to hear each of the different elements of the band without any one taking over or blocking anything else out.
Replicant is soon upon us for a moment, almost harks back to 80’s power metal, the opening riff suggesting further that this is a band that draw influence from the likes of Dark Tranquility and form a sound which is based around their peers. Melody is the key to the start here, showing that this is a band with a solid understanding of their craft, and a band that are just setting their sound up properly. Another high point on the record, if you’re looking for a track which seems to show the sound of the band off then this is it – one of my personal favourites for sure. Cosa Nostra keeps this idea going, presenting us with the penultimate track on the record and showing off their softer side for a moment. Harking towards Spanish style guitar work initially, the heavy power which ensues is almost accentuated by the soft opening, leaving the listener unprepared for what follows and thrusting another almightily funky, yet heavy track upon us.
All too soon we reach title track Unchained to close the album, closing the record as it began with a sense of upbeat power, forming into a distorted and technical mix designed to get pits moving, people jumping, and volumes creeping upwards. As this track played out I found myself cranking it up ever higher, daring to listen harder and harder just to make sure I didn’t miss a single part of the track being played out. It’s that old cliché to say that the final track is all about finishing on a high, but the rolling melee of devastation that closes the mix here is exactly that, another serious high point from one almighty record.
I’m dumbfounded at the sound which Unchained seem to have achieved here, as quite simply it’s phenomenal! Heavy, melodic and insanely well produced, this is an album which you need to own, and one which I know I’ll be coming back to time and time again just to make sure I didn’t imagine it. If you’re looking for a new band to check out, or a new sound to experience, then look no further – Unchained are here, ready to go, and are going to blow your mind.
To find out more about Unchained, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Infernal Death Machine we’re led into the track with a dark and ominous beginning, suggesting that there is some seriously heavy stuff to follow. Building and growing through the ominous opening moments, the riff which greets us to signal the beginning of the track properly is quite simply stunning, immediately throwing down with a real sense of groove orientated metal which would happily sit on the main stage of a serious metal festival. Heavy, fast, rolling and full of distorted elements, this track seems to grow from start to finish, incorporating the death metal style vocals but combining them with a real sense of melody and power, something which isn’t often achieved. As an opening track, this one seems to suggest damned good things to follow, and presents us with a band that I have a feeling we’re going to be wanting to hear more of!
No Scapegoat To Blame follows on and continues this idea, once again hammering onwards with a heavy assed riff and a sense of pumping, pulsating power. Intricate guitar lines combine with the solid backing riff, elevating the track beyond the sheer heaviness and presenting us with a real sense of melody and musicianship. The sound here reminds me of Dark Tranquility combined with Arch Enemy, the sort of sound which is heavy, but accessible and the sort of thing you could have on in the background when you’re doing something else. Freedom Through Fire once again compounds this idea, opening with another almighty riff and pounding drum combination, this time throwing in some pinch harmonics to elevate the track to a whole new place. Slower and more defined than previously, this track harnesses that death metal power and combines it with a sense of groove orientated metal, the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving, people chanting, and a hell of a reputation growing for the band. To me, this is one of the best tracks on the album, there’s just something about it which seems to work damned well from start to finish, not putting the other tracks down, just standing this one out as one to check out.
Russia, Your Funeral, Death From Above and Stare In The Abyss all present us with further evidence that this is a band we’re going to have to get over here to gig sometime soon, each track presenting us with the bands own take on things and showing that when it comes to combining death and melodic metal, these guys seem to have found the key to success. It’s when The God Delusion takes over the lead though that a whole new high is achieved, opening with a faded in intro before ushering in an almighty smash in the face from a bass heavy riff, this track stands out as another serious high point on the record, and another track which you need to check out. Raw vocals combine with the powerful backing rhythms to form a sound which is heavy, melodic, accessible, and somehow groovy – suggesting that this is going to be circle pit territory when this is played live. The sound of the band on this record is quite simply stunning, showing how professional the production has been on it, and allowing us to hear each of the different elements of the band without any one taking over or blocking anything else out.
Replicant is soon upon us for a moment, almost harks back to 80’s power metal, the opening riff suggesting further that this is a band that draw influence from the likes of Dark Tranquility and form a sound which is based around their peers. Melody is the key to the start here, showing that this is a band with a solid understanding of their craft, and a band that are just setting their sound up properly. Another high point on the record, if you’re looking for a track which seems to show the sound of the band off then this is it – one of my personal favourites for sure. Cosa Nostra keeps this idea going, presenting us with the penultimate track on the record and showing off their softer side for a moment. Harking towards Spanish style guitar work initially, the heavy power which ensues is almost accentuated by the soft opening, leaving the listener unprepared for what follows and thrusting another almightily funky, yet heavy track upon us.
All too soon we reach title track Unchained to close the album, closing the record as it began with a sense of upbeat power, forming into a distorted and technical mix designed to get pits moving, people jumping, and volumes creeping upwards. As this track played out I found myself cranking it up ever higher, daring to listen harder and harder just to make sure I didn’t miss a single part of the track being played out. It’s that old cliché to say that the final track is all about finishing on a high, but the rolling melee of devastation that closes the mix here is exactly that, another serious high point from one almighty record.
I’m dumbfounded at the sound which Unchained seem to have achieved here, as quite simply it’s phenomenal! Heavy, melodic and insanely well produced, this is an album which you need to own, and one which I know I’ll be coming back to time and time again just to make sure I didn’t imagine it. If you’re looking for a new band to check out, or a new sound to experience, then look no further – Unchained are here, ready to go, and are going to blow your mind.
To find out more about Unchained, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
