While many are rightfully praising the everlasting
consistency of bands like Immolation, Bolt Thrower, and Cannibal Corpse, among
others, few ever talk about one of the gods of Swedish death metal: Unleashed. “Where
No Life Dwells” was a true classic in the genre, but the band has moved on to a
new sound since then. Recently, Unleashed has crafted music based on ancient
gods, the likes of which set the scene for some epic, stomping death metal. With
“Odalheim”, the band have proven once again that you don’t need to write a
masterpiece, you just need create a consistent record, with perhaps a new bit
of flair to keep things interesting.
The opener, “Fimbulwinter”, shows the band testing the
waters with some black metal elements. Behind a sea of blast beats, the
guitarists use plenty of tremolo picking to create some atmospheric moments. In
addition, vocalist and bassist Johnny Hedlund adds in some higher rasps at
times. Aside from this great track, most of the rest of the album is in line
with what you would expect from Unleashed. Heavy, muted, downpicked riffs set
the stage for the war-themed lyrics and music. The most apt comparison would be
to Amon Amarth, as they share that sheer tenacity for battle in their music. Overall,
however, Unleashed is definitely quite a bit faster, and Hedlund has a greater
vocal range. It's a shining example of melodic death metal that has more emphasis on the death metal part than the melodic part. The songwriting is a mixed bag. There are plenty of good tracks,
but quite a few songs just exist. It’s not a bad thing; the general sound of
the band is enjoyable, though it would have been nice for “Odalheim” to be as
memorable as “As Yggdrasil Trembles” was. While I've never heard of producer
It’s amazing to think that “Odalheim” has been out for
nearly a year and yet I’ve barely heard anything about it. This record is yet
another example of a band who have made a living by staying true to making
great music. If all goes well, hopefully Unleashed can make yet another great
album in a year or twos time. If you haven’t heard this, or any other later
Unleashed, now is the time!
Be sure to check out and like Unleashed on Facebook!
Highlights
"Fimbulwinter"
"Odalheim"
"Germania"
Final Rating
4.0/5 or 80%.