UNLEASHED — Sworn Allegiance

UNLEASHED

Sworn Allegiance (2004)

Label: Century Media/Fono
★★★★ 8/10
By Scorpio

Track Listing

  1. Winterland
  2. Destruction (Of The Race Of Men)
  3. Only The Dead
  4. The Longships Are Coming
  5. Helljoy
  6. Insane For Blood
  7. I Bring You Death
  8. Attack!
  9. CEO
  10. One Night In Nazareth
  11. Praised Be The Lord
  12. Metalheads
  13. To Miklagard
  14. Long Live The Beast

15 years on the global metal scene, 7 albums -- that's the track record with which the legendary Swedish death metallers UNLEASHED approached the end of 2004. The stylish cover art depicting Thor's hammer with glowing eyes puts you on alert and makes your heart tremble. Everything we love about this band remains present on the new record. Old-school death metal with guitars that are occasionally thrashy, occasionally blackened and blurred. Dark, mesmerizing slow passages appear here and there. And the solo guitar passages are absolutely beautiful! Vocal variations range from a low growl to full-on guttural roar. The lyrical themes are extraordinarily broad: Tolkien's "Battle of Helm's Deep," human emotions, necrophilia, Christianity, Vikings. "Metalheads" is a song about fans, for fans. "To Miklagard" describes the Vikings' journey to Istanbul. It was a pleasant surprise to find Dnjpr, Kyiv mentioned in the lyrics. The booklet contains commentary on every song.

Legend!