Unleashed
Midvinterblot

THE REVIEW

The Unleashed are considered, among the aficionados of "Swedish" Death Metal, as a kind of "homeland glory," or a pillar of the genre, with their very particular attitude, which traces its footsteps, on one hand, in a cultural hinterland rooted in mythology and Nordic cults, expressing itself in a fierce militant anti-Christianity, and, on the other hand, in a sonic intransigence which, far from being considered an end in itself, has its strengths in few and clear chapters: heavy and powerful Death Metal, distortion at the limit of endurance, zero contaminations, zero desire to appear as "innovative," zero concessions to easy singable melodies, even if fierce.

In this, Unleashed differ from the rest of the bands of their time, which, perhaps not everyone knows, were born from the dissolution of Nihilist, which, at their end, generated two realities destined over time to be in antithesis: Unleashed, indeed, and Entombed. So we are talking about a formation that we will undoubtedly define as historical, which has never intended to exploit or "contaminate" its sound, always presenting it in a fierce and well-played context, with the typical attitude of certain Black Metal bands, but without drawing upon them in any significant way. And everything surrounding these four figures reflects the concept of "purism": the typical formation with two guitars, a singer who is also the bassist, and drums; lyrics centered on a somewhat garish but always clear and focused critique, "dirty" and furious growl, neither dark nor grandguignolesque, a drum that hits acceleration after acceleration without ever forgetting the double bass drum, scraping and distorted guitars, yet fluid in their furious races.

Their new work "Midvinterblot" is nothing more than an addition, not a step forward mind you, in the career of the Stockholm band. And the songs contained within are an uninterrupted sequence of frontal assaults and good technique, with very well-structured and engaging final solos. They move from the first "Blood of Lies", up to "Midvinterblot" with a murderous and engaging fury that alone is worth buying the CD, then from "Triumph of Genocide", up to "Valhalla Awaits" without boring but also without managing to excite. Certainly, the goodwill and genuineness of Unleashed is perceivable in every groove, but, perhaps, the whole results in being too anonymous, too ostentatious, too predictable to be considered truly beautiful and successful. And this is perhaps the sore point that will inevitably condemn Unleashed to be considered as a sort of "prehistoric Amon Amarth."

For those who have never wanted to hear about contaminations and modernizations and their discography includes Suffocation, Malevolent Creation, Autopsy, and generally all the old school Death that had the sole commandment of "speed at any cost" and "steamroller" heaviness, then they will surely feel in good hands by inserting the CD into the player and will not be disappointed: Unleashed, with their career (which has also had ups and downs, and the penultimate "Sworn Allegiance" had shown that they still had a lot to say...), are here to show that it is not necessary to merge with other genres to be powerful and deliberately at the center of the scene.

Honesty is enough, always and everywhere.