The Unguided-Fragile Immortality

Napalm Records
2014

Formed in 2010, following Richard Sjunnesson departure from Sonic Syndicate over an apparent disagreement over the new musical direction that was being chosen by said band, Sweden's The Unguided, which also features Roger Sjunnesson and former members of Sonic Syndicate, are a difficult band to put to paper. Dubbed "melodic death metal" by many, which would seem to be lazy description given everything that this band brings to the party (or at least on their sophomore full-length album "Fragile Immortality"), this Swedish band stretches the musical boundaries of death metal while unleashing an album that is far too good to be ignored! After a few spins of this release (the first full-length studio album from The Unguided since 2011's "Hell Frost") "Fragile Immortality" left me with more than just a favorable impression! Is this another album in the early running then for my 2014 "Best Of" list? I'd say so. Music-wise Sweden's The Unguided could be seen as Sonic Syndicate part two. Or at least where Sonic Syndicate should have headed before they went off into this odd pop direction! That much I do realize. But, before we look over why I love this release so much let's look at who is who in this Swedish metal band. Harsh vocals are taken care of by Richard Sjunnesson (ex-Fallen Angels, ex-Amaranthe (live), ex-Faithful Darkness, ex-Sonic Syndicate) while Roland Johansson (ex-Sonic Syndicate, ex-Dodge), who is also the band's lead guitarist, handles the clean ones. Meanwhile Richard's brother Roger (ex-Sonic Syndicate, ex-Fallen Angels) plays rhythm guitar and performs the keyboard parts while Henric Liljesand (Cipher System, ex-Eternal Grief, Lavett, ex-Nightrage, ex-Dead by April) plays bass. Drum duties fall to the capable hands of Richard Schill (Acacia, Level Above Human, Vile Scar, ex-Livsnekad, ex-Shining, ex-Spawn of Possession). OK, with that out of the way let's see if I can (hopefully) pin-point what it is about The Unguided that I find so appealing. I admit (begrudgingly) that you could start with "melodic death metal". All of the elements that make for a good melodic death metal band are here. Great musicians playing death metal with clean lines and precision-timing. Melodic passages that give way to brutal lead guitar solos (Roland Johansson provides seriously wicked guitar work throughout this album!) and keyboard parts that create beauty out of what would otherwise be seen as pure darkness. The new band has all that down pat. However, a release like this one is also different then the bulk of melodic death metal bands thanks to the expert way in which the band utilizes both harsh and clean. The harsh vocals provided by Richard Sjunnesson are pure death growls. It's death metal 101 and Richard does it near perfectly. Then you have the clean vocals of Roland Johansson and, to put in bluntly, here we have an individual who could EASILY be fronting his own heavy/power metal outfit! Yes, he is that good! It's not enough that you have one band that is blessed with TWO excellent lead singers. All of which shows how good a band like The Unguided is in just in regards to that one department alone! But, and this will sound weird coming from me, the one thing that really kicks up this release another notch isn't the vocal interplay but rather the very cool keyboards! The best way I could describe them (and this is odd folks) is if you were to pluck the keyboard parts from some of the better synth rock/new wave acts of eighties and (maybe) some of the more unique keyboard work of  90's alternative rock/shoeglaze bands and, after giving them a more "modern metal" once-over, squished them into a Swedish melodic death band with dreams of world conquest! On one hand it's weird and yet, somehow and someway, it's always quite infectious! When it's placed next to metallic, near thrash-like guitar riffs you would think that it wouldn't work right? But it really does and it's that kind of balance which, just like the harsh and clean vocal combination, lifts this one above merely "interesting" into "excellent"! Needless to say "Fragile Immortality" is one new release that is highly recommended!

Taketh-Ignorance Is Strength

Self-Release
2013

Swedish act Taketh, which features three former members of Pergamon (which released a demo and EP in their time together), offer up their second full-length release with "Ignorance Is Strength". Reportedly it took only 15 days to record the follow-up to their 2005 debut album, "Freakshow", but you'd never be able to tell from the sounds on this one. Taketh features David Dahl on lead vocals, Dahl's brother Johan on drums, guitarists Johan Ejnarsson and Atahan Tolunay and bass player Mikael Lindquist. It was the Dahl brothers and Mikael Lindquist who previously played in Pergamon and, if descriptions of Pergamon are to be believed, it was only the name change that separated these two acts. Melodic death metal is a bit of a blanket statement when it comes to both bands although it's close enough in a sort of horseshoes and hand-grenades kind of way. If anything Taketh offers a hair or two of an electric sound on this album as well as clean/harsh vocals which gives "Ignorance Is Strength" an obvious metalcore vibe. Given the 15 day recording process this one is rather impressive although those searching for something new and/or groundbreaking in the field of melodic death metal would most likely be disappointed by this release.Still, David Dahl's vocals are perfectly suited for this kind of deathly chaos and the rest of the band (especially the two guitarists) put in everything they've got to make the album enjoyable if nothing else. You can find out more about the band and pick up a copy of their new album at the link below. While it might sound as if I'm being a bit harsh when it comes to this bunch that's not really the case. Truth is I liked to this album and would be inclined to listen to it again. It's only that honesty is always the best policy and while this is a fine album all around it's not something I would suggest breaking your piggy bank for. If you're a fan of Swedish death metal then you might consider checking this one out, but there are much better options out there if you're looking to build up your personal collection.


http://taketh.bandcamp.com/ 

Darkane-The Sinister Supremacy

Prosthetic Records
2013

For the uninitiated Darkane, which was formed from the ashes of Agretator back in 1998, is a Swedish melodic death metal/progressive thrash act. That's quite the mouthful, description-wise at least, but it all boils down to a veteran act that has been at it for a long time. In fact their first full-length album, "Rusted Angel", was released back at the tail end of 1999. That album, which was really well-received by fans, featured vocalist Lawrence Mackrory. After that one album Mackrory would be gone but the rest of the group remained fairly stable. Now here it is 14 something years later and the group is back where it all started. Album number six sees the welcomed return of  lead vocalist Lawrence Mackrory then and man alive it sure does sound as if his return has invigorated Darkane! It's as if someone woke the sleeping giant that had been  laying dormant in Darkane as the way this album cuts through the sky it's nothing short of inspired! It's been 5 long years since this Swedish 5-piece last put out an album ("Demonic Art" which received mixed reviews) so this album's sense of underlying sense of urgency makes sense. While I lost track of the band after "Rusted Angel", which was an album that I, at some point along the way of moving between this house and that house and so one, had and then misplaced (it was/is on iTunes so I ended up just downloading it eventually), I can tell you that the some metallic excitement that I felt back then is here on "The Sinister Supremacy". As that last sentence was a bit of a long winded run off I do humbly apologize. When it comes to heavy metal and the like though there is still a passion burning in my gut so when good albums come along like this one (unexpectedly I might add) it still rattles these old bones of mine and brings a smile to my face. All of which brings us right back around to this album. Darkane, in a fashion that seems as if the material on hand was given plenty of time to mature (from reviews of their last album, which again was 5 years ago!, it definitely comes across as if this new one is more well-written and better executed then their last album), has a really good release on their hands here. We can only hope that vocalist Lawrence Mackrory sticks around this time as no one, or at least this particular someone, wants to see the band returning to uninspired and cold metal.

The Resistance-Scars

Armoury Records
2013

I really enjoyed the blitzkrieg metal assault that was "Risen From Treason" (link below to that review).  Now The Resistance is back with the follow-up to that hardcore/thrash-infused EP. The only issue I had with the groups last last EP was it's short length. For a debut-release "Risen From Treason" was too much of a teaser. "Scars", with it's 12-tracks of punch you in the face metal, doesn't have that problem at all. Thankfully the sonic assault is longer and, dare I say, much more intense! Vocalist Marco Aro (ex-The Haunted, Facedown) leads this motley bunch of metal misfits into battle and from the word go (or in this case "fire in the hole!") it's nothing but one brutalizing track after another. Good clean, brutalizing metallic fun. Founded by former In Flames’ founder, main songwriter and guitarist Jesper Strömblad in 2011 the band also includes guitarist Glenn Ljungström (ex-In Flames), and drummer Chris Barkensjö (ex-Kaamos, ex-Repugnant). The unholy racket that comes thrashing out of these Scandinavia’s instruments is technically skilled in nature, but it's played in such a fast and furious fashion that it makes your ears bleed! While the band's EP had me thinking more along the lines of hardcore/thrash this new album cranks things up a hundred times over into a hardcore/thrash/death fusion that is seriously insane, sick and down-right twisted! Imagine old-school Swedish death metal bands like Entombed, Grave and Dismember getting sonically raped by Pantera and Slayer. However this all takes place in an alternative universe/time-line where Slayer's greatest influence was a more straight-faced and angry S.O.D. Yeah, "Scars" is a nasty little album folks. It's intense, dark and angry from the opening moments of "Clearing the Slate" until it closes with "(I Will) Die Alone" (something I fear could be my theme song). It's close to 40 minutes of beat-down, thrash your ass off,  over the top death metal from seasoned professionals. One can only dare to imagine the impact (or more likely chaos!) The Resistance will have when they play material from "Scars" live. No doubt there will be bloodshed and mayhem in the pits. Sounds like a good time to me! This LP is highly recommended for those looking for the musically equivalent of metallic anarchy!

https://www.facebook.com/theresistanceswe

http://www.eaglerockent.com/

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Resistance-Rise+From+Treason

Vampire-Vampire

Ljudkassett
2012

All pertinent information (as far as release information, quantities, etc) on this 4-track release can be found below. Yes, I just pulled that whole bit below off of the Metal Archives and slammed it down! That doesn't matter. These facts matter-1) Swedish 2) Death Metal 3)Thrash and 4)Anonymous members with names like "Command" and "Hand Of Doom". Swirl those thoughts around in your head for awhile. Now envision all of that in a kick-ass, almost punk, garage days, demo kind of way and you've got Vampire. Yes, I'm late to the game with this 3-piece outfit, but better late then never right? Now, all you need to do is this: Listen to it. Love it. Live it. No need to thank me.
http://tothedeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vampire





"Other" information:
Per the Metal Archives: Tape limited to 200 copies, available in two versions - 100 copies on red and 100 copies on white cassettes. 100 extra copies were made after the original 200 were sold out.

Produced by Vampire in 2012. Mastered at Svenska Grammofonstudion.

Re-released on 23 December 2012 as 7" EP in 500 copies on To the Death Records. Includes the song "Jaws of the Unknown".

Colors: Goat Yellow, second yellow, red, and black
Limited to 700 copies in yellow [two variations], 200 red, and 100 black. The black version
comes with a patch

The Resistance-Rise From Treason

Armoury Records
2013

When you've got a band that includes vocalist Marco Aro (ex-The Haunted, Facedown), two musicians with ties to In Flames (In Flames' founder Jesper Strömblad and ex-In Flames member Glenn Ljungström both play guitar for this new band) and drummer Chris Barkensjö (ex-Kaamos, ex-Repugnant) it would be almost impossible to walk away with a bad project. Up front the only problem that "Rise From Treason" has is it's short length. This EP just does not offer the listener enough crushing metal to completely satisfy the cravings it leaves you with. This fierce new band combines a heavy dose of street-level, in-your-face hardcore with old school Swedish death metal. With the slight addition of traditional heavy metal riffs, and even some blood-soaked death n' roll, you'll quickly find that you hunger for more. It's just not enough! Especially when everything just clicks for this Swedish monster of a band. From the opening of this EP there's so much intensity that it can't help but grab your attention and shake it violently around. Vocalist Marco Aro leads things in an effortless manor. With a death/thrash-type delivery that, while raw on occasion, is loud and commanding the group's name comes off as quite fitting. Not to be outdone by Aro the band offers up some sick, slash-happy leads and pummeling percussion.  With one foot firmly planted in Swedish death metal and the other one dug deep into metal-tinged hardcore there is this overall feeling of real down and dirty music. From "My Fire" to "Slugger" this is a fist-fighting metal release that points toward a future of powerful releases from these talented musicians. Again, the only downside is this EP's short length. Thankfully
a full-length album is set for release later in 2013. If this next year flies by as quickly as 2012 did then, Lord willing and the dead don't rise, it won't be long before The Resistance will have more to their name then just this four-track digital download/limited edition 7″ vinyl. While we wait for it this will have to make due. Still, it's a fair enough warning I offer for those looking to indulge in this bad mother of an EP. It will leave you wanting more so be aware of what is to come. This one is brutal, smash and bash metal so be prepared to hit the replay button a ton of times like I have on this Tuesday morning!




 

http://www.facebook.com/theresistanceswe 
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