UNLEASHED
Now, who doesn’t love a concept album? And when there’s a bit of mythology thrown in there then that just sweetens the deal. Unleashed may not annunciate as much as they could on ‘Odalheim’ to be able to understand everything that’s being said but the press sheet says it’s based around Norse mythology and I have no reason to not believe it. Seeing as the world pretty much ended on their last album, we have to go to Ragnarok for this one or not a lot would happen.
Although they are pigeon-holed as being a death metal band, there’ s actually a lot more going on here than you’d expect from a standard fare death metal album with hints of black metal incorporated into the sound. Not that that’s something that’s never been done before but it’s still appreciated.
This probably isn’t the best way to describe something that’s trying to be grim, but there is something lovable about ‘Odalheim’. Despite the harsh vocals and heavy instrumentation, there’s a certain warmth to the sound that almost softens it. It’s not 100% in your face death metal; there are elements of light and shade, particularly in intros such as ‘The Hour of Defeat’. Intro aside, it’s a heavy song, even in its lighter moments, but there’s enough progression and anthemic sense of purpose that it’s one of the most instantly captivating songs on the album.
Although there is a similar sound to some of the lead riffs they actually manage to get away with it somehow. They throw some curve balls such as the into to ‘The Soil of Our Fathers’ that has an almost Latin feel to it, which doesn’t obviously fit in to the Norse concept but is actually quite a nice touch. In summary: very good, well done. Plus if you’re a fan of guitar solos then there’s a fair amount for you to enjoy because Unleashed may be many things but scared of a guitar solo they are not.
Although they are pigeon-holed as being a death metal band, there’ s actually a lot more going on here than you’d expect from a standard fare death metal album with hints of black metal incorporated into the sound. Not that that’s something that’s never been done before but it’s still appreciated.
This probably isn’t the best way to describe something that’s trying to be grim, but there is something lovable about ‘Odalheim’. Despite the harsh vocals and heavy instrumentation, there’s a certain warmth to the sound that almost softens it. It’s not 100% in your face death metal; there are elements of light and shade, particularly in intros such as ‘The Hour of Defeat’. Intro aside, it’s a heavy song, even in its lighter moments, but there’s enough progression and anthemic sense of purpose that it’s one of the most instantly captivating songs on the album.
Although there is a similar sound to some of the lead riffs they actually manage to get away with it somehow. They throw some curve balls such as the into to ‘The Soil of Our Fathers’ that has an almost Latin feel to it, which doesn’t obviously fit in to the Norse concept but is actually quite a nice touch. In summary: very good, well done. Plus if you’re a fan of guitar solos then there’s a fair amount for you to enjoy because Unleashed may be many things but scared of a guitar solo they are not.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Nuclear Blast
Album
ODALHEIM
Review by Siân Williams
RUNNING TIME:
42:52
RELEASE DATE:
20th April 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Fimbulwinter
2) Odalheim
3) White Christ
4) The Hour of Defeat
5) Gathering the Battalions
6) Vinland
7) Rise of the Maya Warriors
8) By Celtic and British Shores
9) The Soil of Our Fathers
10) Germania
11) The Great Battle of Odalheim
2) Odalheim
3) White Christ
4) The Hour of Defeat
5) Gathering the Battalions
6) Vinland
7) Rise of the Maya Warriors
8) By Celtic and British Shores
9) The Soil of Our Fathers
10) Germania
11) The Great Battle of Odalheim
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"This probably isn’t the best way to describe something that’s trying to be grim, but there is something lovable about ‘Odalheim’. Despite the harsh vocals and heavy instrumentation, there’s a certain warmth to the sound that almost softens it. It’s not 100% in your face death metal..."
