Unexpect
Utopia

The Unexpect are a bunch of freaking lunatics. But maybe, when they were younger, they weren't quite as crazy.

It's 1999 when this multifaceted Canadian band releases their first work on their own, already featuring the schizophrenic sound that will distinguish them in the years to come, when they will release that psychopathic masterpiece called "In A Flesh Aquarium".

"Utopia" is not a great album, let's say it right away. The songs still have an almost regular structure, only hinting at the band's future madness with some sudden tempo changes and some frantic screams scattered here and there. Despite these few traits of originality, this self-produced record offers a Symphonic Black Metal perhaps too reliant on keyboards and violins, as seen in the transcendental "Palace Of Dancing Souls", a lengthy instrumental piece featuring a dreamy piano accompanied by string instruments.

The nine-string bass also does not find its proper space, overshadowed by other instruments, while the singer's voice, who will later leave the band to be replaced, is used almost exclusively for clean singing, thus making some tracks incredibly close to Gothic Metal. Some songs, like "Metamorphosis", also have a sense of déjà vu.

In short, this "Utopia" is an undoubtedly sufficient album, but still raw and only gives us a small taste of what Unexpect will become in the future. I hope the band's next release, coming out soon, will not disappoint us.