UNLEASHED don’t put much of a challenge in their musical cosmos. Fans and willing listeners will get an easy access to discover what these Swedes are about. Right from the outset UNLEASHED have created their very own distinct sound they still remained true. You know what to expect and you will be highly satisfied with what you get. Thus nothing has changed on the ninth record lovely entitled Hammer Battalion. Introducing opener The Greatest Of All Lies downright attacks the listener and just starts an ongoing 45 minutes dance of pure Swedish Death Metal, fast and furious, deep-tuned, groovy as fuck and for sure maltreating everybody’s neck. All of these 13 tracks are more or less pure hymns of Death Metal supremacy its refrains one can sing along in a twinkling of an eye. My personal faves are Your Children Will Burn, the title-track, This Day Belongs To Me and Entering The Hall Of Slain and Midsummer Solstice and… well, as I said, I almost have to name all of them ;)
Song structures are likewise as simple as striking, getting mixed up with many little details and guitar solos. Lyrics are surely not poetical but perfectly suiting the music and the band’s attitude and understandable, even without booklet.
Ok, stylistic experiments or even innovative developments one won’t find on Hammer Battalion, but that’s nothing someone expects from UNLEASHED, quite the contrary, I at least want it exactly the way it is ;) Nevertheless, UNLEASHED still go on to improve and sophisticate their sounds, style and skills, densifying and intensifying the atmosphere on every record. And all these hymns need to be written first, something the Swedes manages over many years now. Just listen to the predecessor Midvinterblot for example.
Hammer Battalion unleashed? Yesssss! And I’m much looking forward to the upcoming tour in support of the new record! ;)