Band:	Confessor
Album:	Unraveled
Style:	Doom metal
Release date:	October 17, 2005
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Cross The Bar
02. Until Tomorrow
03. Wig Stand
04. Blueprint Soul
05. The Downside
06. Sour Times
07. Hibernation
08. Strata Of Fear
09. The Secret [bonus]

A Diving Confessional…

Doom metal reveals great bands and stories of resilience. Like life, it's enduring and powerful. Confessor, a band from Raleigh, North Carolina, stands out with their intricate and technically sophisticated approach, blending traditional doom and progressive metal. Their debut album, Condemned from 1991, showcased their technical musical skill; unfortunately, they disbanded in 1994, only to reunite in 2002.

Their second full-length album, Unraveled (which followed appearances on several compilations and demos), showcases their evolution. Initially labeled as a doom metal band in the late '80s and early '90s, Unraveled sees the band lean in a more progressive direction after having endured several lineup changes and a breakup in 1992, with only the death of longtime guitarist Ivan Colon in 2002 sparking their reunion.

Unraveled presents dark, immersive tracks that allow vocalist Scott Jeffreys’ emotional delivery to shine. With great riffs, memorable guitar solos, and deep bass blended with intricate drumming, it creates a dense sonic landscape that remains cohesive and engaging. Tracks like “Blueprint Soul” and “Sour Times” exhibit the band's doom influences, while “Hibernation” and “Downside” demonstrate their technical prog skills, particularly in the innovative drumming by Steve Shelton. Shelton, a legend among drummers of the style, allegedly stated in an Earache interview, "I kind of learned how to play drums in Confessor, and I really liked how the entire feel of the part can change with a slightly different snare placement or by adding or subtracting a note." His unique style is the beating heart of Confessor, writing the rules that tech-prog drummers have been following ever since.

Unraveled lives up to the hype. It pleases established fans of Condemned while attracting new listeners with the band’s refreshed sound. Scott Jeffreys' vocals have matured from their wild, high-pitched origins to a more controlled, lower-register style that is more accessible. Though the music is more dissonant and experimental than their previous work, it retains a distinctiveness and showcases their technical skill. Broadly speaking, Unraveled is a blend of technical, unconventional doom metal with a special flavor.

Confessor have been overlooked in the past, but Unraveled demands recognition. Each track seems to unravel another layer of the band's depth, making it a compelling listen from start to finish, and solidifying its place as a must-listen in the doom metal genre.

Confessor has had a noticeable absence of activity since their 2012 EP, but whispers of a new album are circulating. Patience is key, and if the rumors hold true, we can anticipate a rewarding outcome. The enigmatic world of doom metal continues to unveil its mysteries, and shape the destinies of those who venture into its depths.