Album Review: Unleash the Archers – Abyss (Napalm Records)

Less than a year after the release of their cover’s EP Explorers, Canadian melodic power metal quartet Unleash the Archers have sharpened their arrows and hit the bullseye once again with their fifth full-length album, Abyss. Featuring 10 new tracks, this adventure is a concept album and sequel to 2017’s Apex, and was once again recorded with legendary producer Jacob Hansen of Hansen Studios in Denmark.

Abyss is out on August 21st 2020 via Napalm Records.

The guitar melody and wistful vocals of Waking Dream are akin to waking on a fresh morning with sunlight dappling through the window. It’s a very relaxing and comforting start to the track but the dark clouds are not far away as Unleash the Archers build up to a stormy eruption of powerful metal.

It’s a powerful opener and as the synth transitions us from the dream and into the title track, things have become a fair bit more intense. A thumping rhythm that will get the hair flying through the sheer head-banging weight of it all.

Blending the commanding stance of traditional heavy metal with elements of power metal, this is an album of anthems. Anthems that constantly compel to you to move or at least throw a fist up in the air.

Through Stars is a bit more of a power ballad but what it lacks in energy, it makes up for with an enormous chorus. Legacy is a glorious trip into a hyperactive showcase of guitars and drums all while vocalist Brittney uses her voice to help the listener soar. Before Return to Me brings some meat and shows that Unleash the Archers can go as heavy as the best of them when they choose too. A personal favourite as there’s some seriously demonic vocals going on here.

The heftier side of the band is still in place for Soulbound whereas Faster Than Light proves to be an apt title. The pace is hot and the shredding is on another level. An absolute epic that makes you feel ten feet tall. Although, The Wind That Shapes the Land is no slouch in that department even if it slows the pace down a fair bit at first. Give it time though as the drums signal the start of a more galloping beat and aggressive stance.

Finally, it’s the pairing of Carry the Flame and Afterlife to close out a heavy metal banger. The former delivering a masterclass of unifying vocals with Andrew Kingsley joining Brittney to send us into power ballad heaven. While the latter is the most grandiose track on the album thanks to the haunting and epic orchestration by Francesco Ferrini.

If people weren’t talking about Unleash the Archers before, they will be once they hear this album.

Unleash the Archers – Abyss Full Track Listing:

1. Waking Dream
2. Abyss
3. Through Stars
4. Legacy
5. Return To Me
6. Soulbound
7. Faster Than Light
8. The Wind That Shapes The Land
9. Carry The Flame (feat. guitarist Andrew Kingsley on guest vocals)
10. Afterlife (feat. orchestration by Francesco Ferrini)

Links

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