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Unleashed - Sworn Allegiance review



Reviewer:
8.0

102 users:
8.05
Band: Unleashed
Album: Sworn Allegiance
Release date: July 2004


01. Winterland
02. Destruction (Of The Race Of Men)
03. Only The Dead
04. The Longships Are Coming
05. Helljoy
06. Insane For Blood
07. I Bring You Death
08. Attack!
09. CEO
10. One Night In Nazareth
11. Praised Be The Lord
12. Metalheads
13. To Miklagård
14. Long Live The Beast

I have to be honest with all of you, I'm not the Metal authority that you all believe, I'm not all-knowing, and I haven't heard every single Metal record in history, yes I know that many that look up to me will be disappointed, but I have to come clean here, I just can't hold it anymore, all my fans, please forgive me, because I don't know every band in the universe even if it's very well known, and Unleashed is one of them.

As stated before, this is my first encounter with the Swedish combo, and to be honest with all of you, I wasn't expecting nothing good, I mean, I though that this was another super hyper fast undecipherable Death Metal release, but after a couple of spins I must say that I'm impressed!

Before listening the Cd I took a look at the cover art, which I found really ugly, also a quick look upon the booklet and lyrics made me realize that this wasn't your typical Death "let's-rejoice-in-the-ashes-of-destruction-and-sacrifice" Metal, actually the lyrics were about subjects like Scandinavian myths, Vikings, and some Tolkien too, good twist from the gore lyrics we're used to.

Musically the band doesn't play brutal Death Metal, they have good melodic breaks and thrashy riffs, all of this paired with excellent and understandable vocals, from the opener "Winterland" passing through "The Longships Are Coming" and "Attack" you're in for a roller coaster. Other killer song is "Metalheads" although it has really silly lyrics in my opinion.

These guys truly belong to the Swedish school of Death Metal, their Death Metal is both brutal and melodic, the production is tight and crisp, and most of their laics are interesting. If you, like me never listened this band before, give it a try, because this album will please you extreme Metal maniacs, and you too, mild mannered Metal fan.

Written by Undercraft | 10.12.2004





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